Kings, Commoners & Corporations

The Crown And The Commons: Holding Monarchy To Account In 18th Century England – Steve Poole

Eighteenth century English men and women understood their allegiance to the Crown in contractual terms. Their allegiance to the King, in other words, was conditional upon the King looking after the interests of the Commons and defending Constitutional liberty. In theory then, their allegiance was dissolved if the King failed to perform. And in these circumstances, radical constitutionalists might make it their patriotic duty to oppose him. The State’s word for that was invariably ‘Treason’; the popular term was ‘resisting tyranny’. In considering the relationship between King George III and some of his more troublesome subjects, this talk connects a ‘mad’ needlewoman with the London Corresponding Society and Colonel Despard. Monarchy as David Starkey never imagined it.

Listen to this talk:

• Download Steve Poole’s talk (1hr, 10.5mb mp3 file)

The Day House And The Kingswood Commons – Steve Mills

This seminar will cover the use of common land in English Forests.  We shall examine the numerous resources open to squatters in Forests, and especially the common rights behind one-day houses.  We will also look at free miners, and similar rights in other forests and commons.  A local history of defence of these rights in Kingswood is also of importance.

Listen to this talk:

• Download Steve Mills’ talk (45mins, 8mb mp3 file)

Corporations: A Brief History – Dan Bennett

A very brief history of the development of Corporations 1600-1989. What are Corporations? Where did they come from? How did they achieve so much power?

Listen to this talk:

• Download Dan Bennett’s talk (1hr 10mins, 12.3mb mp3 file)