2 May
Hatfield Park Lecture Series: Jacobean Spycraft & The Gunpowder Plot
Join a panel of expert historians as they uncover the secrets behind the infamous Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Referencing original documents from the Cecil Papers held in the Hatfield House Archives, the panel will explore the investigation led by Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, the conspirators involved, and the evidence held against them.
Event Details:
- Date: Friday 2nd May
- Time: 6pm until 9pm
- Location: Hatfield House, Hatfield Park
- Ticket Price: £50
This exclusive event will feature talks from three eminent scholars and professionals:
- Stephen Alford: Stephen Alford is the author of seven books on Tudor history, including Burghley: William Cecil at the Court of Elizabeth I (2008), The Watchers (2012), and most recently, All His Spies: The Secret World of Robert Cecil (2024). He taught for fifteen years at Cambridge University and since 2012, has served as Professor of Early Modern British History at the University of Leeds.
- Catherine Jenkinson: Catherine Jenkinson is a College Lecturer and Julian Schild Junior Research Fellow in History at Pembroke College, Oxford. She is also a researcher on the Oxford John Fell-funded project, (Hi)stories of Violence: Myth-Making, Imprisonment, and the Cultural Identity of the Tower of London, which is a collaboration between Oxford, Historic Royal Palaces and the Royal Armouries. Catherine’s doctoral research focused on the Tower’s use as a prison in late Tudor and early Stuart England, including during the period of the Gunpowder Plot.
- Nadine Akkerman: Professor of Early Modern Literature & Culture at Leiden University, a textual historian and an award-winning author. She is both the biographer of Elizabeth Stuart, the princess whom the Gunpowder plotters would have crowned their puppet-queen, as well as the editor of her vast correspondence. Other celebrated works include Invisible Agents: Women and Espionage in 17th-century Britain, while The Economist rated her latest book, Spycraft: Tricks & Tools of the Dangerous Trade, co-written with Pete Langman, as one of the top 5 non-fiction books of 2024.
Arrival Time: From 6pm for a champagne reception, in The Armoury
Lecture: Starts at 6:30pm, followed by a Q&A session, concluding the event at 9pm
How to Book:
Spaces for this exclusive event are limited. Click the link to purchase tickets and join us for an evening of treachery and treason.
What to Expect:
This event is perfect for anyone with a passion for history. Whether you’re an academic, a student, or simply a curious visitor, you’ll gain valuable insights into the gunpowder plot.
Don’t miss this exclusive look into one of history’s most infamous conspiracies!
