Research in history and art history

Internationally recognised research excellence in the fields of social and cultural history

History at Plymouth has an established tradition of internationally recognised research excellence in the fields of social and cultural history – which broadly defined encompasses expertise in early modern religion, gender and sexuality, Victorian and twentieth-century British society, politics, crime and law; modern labour history, popular politics, modern US politics and civil rights – as well as in modern political, maritime, military and diplomatic history, the British Empire and modern China and Japan. We also have research strengths in Heritage, Public History and Oral History, Eighteenth-Century Architectural History, Maritime History, and Archives and Digital Humanities.
History at Plymouth houses Cornerstone Heritage, Plymouth Heritage Praxis, and is the academic home of Histories of the Unexpected  (directed by James Daybell and TV presenter, historian and Honorary Research Fellow at Plymouth, Sam Willis).

Research highlights

Cornerstone Heritage Cornerstone Heritage
 The University of Plymouth's research centre in cultural heritage – how we live with, use and understand the past through things, spaces, traditions and memory.

Professor Dan Maudlin Professor Dan Maudlin
 VIDEO: Professor Daniel Maudlin, Researcher and Lecturer in History and Cultural Heritage, takes us on an historical tour of Powderham Castle.

Professor James Daybell Professor James Daybell
 Professor in Early Modern British History, James Daybell, was one of the first researchers to establish the field of early modern women’s letter writing, uncovering the hidden histories of women and their roles within society.

Exploring the truth behind the pirate stereotype Exploring the truth behind the pirate stereotype
 From wooden legs to walking the plank, Dr Elaine Murphy unpacks the myths which have influenced our representation of the classic pirate

Historian publishes first comprehensive study of American troops in Northern Ireland during World War II Historian publishes first comprehensive study of American troops in Northern Ireland during World War II
 On the 80th anniversary of the arrival of American soldiers in Northern Ireland in the wake of Pearl Harbor, historian Simon Topping, has shed new light on this often-neglected story with a groundbreaking new book

Dr Peter Bokody Dr Peter Bokody
 Lecturer in Art History and a specialist of the Italian Renaissance, talks about his research in medieval and renaissance art

Research impact

Researchers in History are actively engaged with stakeholders outside the University context, to contribute to meaningful and tangible benefits for people, the environment, and communities. 
REF2021 Impact Case Study
Professor James Daybell, New Technologies and changing lives: Histories of the Unexpected.
History research specialisms and associated staff

Early modern

James Daybell
Daniel Maudlin
Elaine Murphy
Jameson Tucker

Modern

Darren Aoki
Sandra Barkhof
Harry Bennett
Claire Fitzpatrick
James Gregory
Louis Halewood
Hannah Theaker
Simon Topping

Maritime history

• Elaine Murphy
• Harry Bennett
• Louis Halewood

War and society

• Elaine Murphy
• Harry Bennett
• Sandra Barkhof

Early Modern Europe

• Jameson Tucker
• James Daybell
• Daniel Maudlin
• Elaine Murphy

Gender history

• James Daybell
• Darren Aoki
• Elaine Murphy

History of sexuality

• Darren Aoki

Crime and society

• James Gregory

History of the book and Renaissance letters

• James Daybell
• Jameson Tucker

Diplomatic and political history

• Harry Bennett
• James Daybell
• Louis Halewood
• Simon Topping

Global and transnational histories

• Darren Aoki
• Sandra Barkhof
• Hannah Theaker

Modern German history

• Sandra Barkhof

Early modern Irish and modern Irish history

• Elaine Murphy
• Claire Fitzpatrick

Early modern British history

• Elaine Murphy
• James Daybell
• Daniel Maudlin

Modern British history

• James Gregory
• Louis Halewood
• Daniel Maudlin

Modern Japan

• Darren Aoki
• Sandra Barkhof

History of the USA and transatlantic cultures

• Simon Topping
• Harry Bennett
• Daniel Maudlin

Early modern French history

• Jameson Tucker

Material culture and histories of British / transatlantic landscape and building

• Daniel Maudlin
• James Daybell

Cultural and social history

• James Daybell
• Darren Aoki
• Dan Maudlin
• Jameson Tucker
• James Gregory
• Hannah Theaker

Oral history

• Darren Aoki
• Hannah Theaker

Heritage, public history and local history

• James Gregory
• Jameson Tucker
• James Daybell
• Daniel Maudlin

Modern Chinese history

• Hannah Theaker

Art history research specialisms

  • The history of collecting and curating.
  • Postcolonialism and art history.
  • Meta-painting in Western visual culture.
  • Political iconography and representations of sexual violence in Medieval and Renaissance Italy.
  • The reception of the Renaissance and Renaissance artists from 1750 to the present.
  • The history and practice of art historical writing in Europe in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Our researchers

Postgraduate research opportunities

Related articles

Digital research repository

The School of Society and Culture (SSC) is home to a diverse collection of researchers working in the social sciences, humanities and performing arts. We’re dedicated to advancing knowledge for public benefit, driving meaningful change in our society and enriching communities (be they near us or an ocean away). Visit our our digital repository of staff research to watch short videos from academics working across the School’s disciplines: Anthropology, Art History, Computer Music, Creative Writing, Criminology, English, Environmental Cultures, Heritage, History, International Relations, Law, Music, Politics, Sociology, Theatre and Performance.