Janet grew up in the post-WW2 years looking at the ground - daughter of Sussex archaeologists Eric and Hilda Holden. Most of her early memories are of Sussex history, field-walking with her parents and observing, later taking part in, archaeological excavations all over the county. A vivid early memory from the age of six is going down a Neolithic flint mine with her father, crawling into a gallery clutching a red deer antler pick and a shoulder blade shovel, pretending to be a flint miner. Other memories are travels to Stone Henge where she could lean on the stones, Dorset, to wonder about the Cerne Abbas giant (useful new knowledge for an 11 year old) and to realise that the Long Man of Wilmington in Sussex was rather different. For some time he stepped over a female skeleton (c.AD 1000) very carefully in her home in Hove, in order to reach the piano for her daily practice. This talk takes us back to a quieter time with little traffic, no health and safety, and when every outing seemed to be tinged with excitement and mystery. see www.sussexhistorytalks.co.uk for more details
Views: 922 | Enquiries: 2I am an independent historian, giving illustrated talks in Sussex (sometimes nipping into Surrey and Kent) for 35 years. I have a PhD in early-modern Sussex inn and tavern history and give more general talks about the history of English inn signs as well as those in Sussex. I am at present looking at the art of the inn sign. My MA dissertation is about Elizabethan courtier (or con-man!) Sir Thomas Sherley of Wiston House (West Sussex). I worked as Archivist at Lancing College, also teaching local history and palaeography in adult education at the University of Sussex. I am President of the Brighton & Hove Archaeological Society. I am a member of the Wealden Buildings Study Group, and am particularly interested in the ritual protection of the home. I hold a Diploma in English Local History and speak on a variety of subjects connected with Sussex and the South-East, some covering other parts of England - see the variety of talks listed on my website - www.sussexhistorytalks.co.uk - I have given many talks using ZOOM and can also host sessions. Due to my interest in and knowledge of inns, taverns and alehouses and all manner of drinking establishments in England, I have been in more pubs than most people - mainly for research purposes...
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