Worlds above and below: The Invisible Heritage of Alderley Edge
The magical side of Alderley Edge is experienced in many ways. How do these encounters affect our perception and lives?
A talk given by Dr Victoria Flood, an Associate Professor in Medieval and Early Modern Literature at the University of Birmingham
Sat, 25 March 2023, 15:00 – 16:00 GMT
Venue: Terra Nova School On A535 main road between Twemlow and Jodrell Bank observatory Jodrell Bank CW4 8BT
Have you ever wandered through the woodlands and rocky outcrops of Alderley Edge and felt something of its magical atmosphere; or heard and read stories of the legend of Alderley and been affected by the prophesies contained in them?
This talk explores the ways in which people have encountered the medieval prophecies associated with the ‘Legend of Alderley’ at the Edge from the eighteenth century to the present, and the effect such encounters have had on their lives and beliefs.
Drawing on their oral histories and creative responses, gathered through extensive research, it explores the ways in which legendary content can help us to write public history, and reassess our own relationship to the medieval past. It also invites you to share your own legends of the Edge, as part of the Invisible Worlds project.
About Invisible Worlds
Invisible Worlds is an Arts and Humanities Research Council-funded collaboration between an interdisciplinary team of researchers at the University of Birmingham, the Institute of Historical Research at the University of London, and the University of Lincoln, alongside cultural partners, and creative practitioners working with visual media, soundscapes, and storytelling. As part of its public response work, the project has produced an Augmented Reality app inviting you to tell your stories of the Edge. For more information please visit https://www.invisibleworlds.ac.uk/
About Dr Victoria Flood
Dr Victoria Flood is an Associate Professor in Medieval and Early Modern Literature at the University of Birmingham. Her research explores the relationship between place and text, and cross-border transmission and translation, with a particular focus on legendary, political content; alongside applications of legendary medieval content in contemporary digital heritage interpretations. Her first book, Prophecy, Politics, and Place in Medieval England, was published in 2016; and her second, Fantastic Histories, is forthcoming 2023.
There is free parking on site.
Refreshments will be available after the talk, including teas, coffees and cake. There will also be a book stand.