Profile Summary
Dr Gillian Draper researches and teaches on medieval and early modern history, mainly that of Kent and Sussex. As well as being a Visiting Research Fellow at the Centre for Kent History and Heritage, Canterbury Christ Church University, she is an Associate Lecturer at the University of Kent.
Gillian is the Events and Development Officer of the British Association for Local History. As such, she speaks at and participates in the organisation of events from major genealogical fairs to academic conferences. She also works as independent consultant on documentary sources for archaeology units and bodies such as English Heritage.
She is a convenor of the Locality and Region seminar, Institute of Historical Research, University of London. Gillian is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries.
Teaching
The medieval landscape and local history; church, chantries and education in the Middle Ages; castle life; Huguenots and other ‘strangers’; peasants, path and pilgrimage; Kentish merchants, Chaucer and Canterbury; the history and archaeology of Knole House, Kent (NT); documents, sources and palaeography.
Research interests
- Historic literacy and schooling
- Towns and ports in the Middle Ages
- Rural and urban medieval settlement
- Medieval maritime history
- The Cinque Ports and Romney Marsh