Available talks by Michael Astrop
History above Your Head – The Origins and Oddities of English Inn Signs
Inns were rarely named by accident but were inspired by religion, royalty, heroes and the occasional scandal. This highly visual talk, with a quiz, explains how inns signs originate and traces their development from the Romans to the present day.
The Origins and Evidence for Robin Hood and his Merry Men
The tales of Robin Hood and his Merry men are integral part of England’s history as is the Sherwood Forest where he is said to have roamed, but is the tale true? What is the evidence, what is fable and what is the tale passed on from Green man origins? This enthralling talk explores evidence and lays it out for all to see.
The Search for King Arthur – Historical Figure or One of Myth and Legend?
This fascinating talk looks at the evidence for story of Camelot, Arthur and the members of the roundtable from before Geoffrey of Monmouth’s history and Chretien de Troye’s additions to up-to-date research that puts Camelot at Slack near Huddersfield.
Dick Turpin, Knight or Rogue of the Road
Dick Turpin lives on in our collective imagination more as a myth than as a man. Nearly everything we know about him – or think we know about him – is false. This talk examines both the fact and fiction to see what the reality is.
The Match Girls Strike and How It Changed British Labour History
In the summer of 1888, fourteen hundred young women and girls, walked out of an East End match factory and into the history books. Their actions continue to exert a powerful hold over the public imagination to this day and this talk captures every element of their struggle.
The Birth of Great Yorkshire Brands
Think of a well-known Yorkshire name and ask where did it come from – this talk will answer the questions - based on the ‘How it all began’ books of Maurice Baren it comes with a quiz to keep all engaged.
Lady Killers – The Stories of Female Murderers
A truly gripping talk covers the true stories of murder by women, from poison to shootings, with a solve the crime option for the audience to participate.
The Life and Times of Buffalo Bill Cody
There is much controversy about the role that William Cody played in the destruction of the native American people, but some say he was a conservationist, a proponent of American Indian treaty rights, a supporter of the women’s suffrage movement and a quaker vehemently opposed to slavery. This talk tries to untangle the truth from the romantic fiction and places Cody in the correct context of the emerging west.
Harald Harada – The Last Viking
An amazing tale of adventures and battles as a young man he joined the Varangian Guard, an elite class of largely Norse fighters who protected the Byzantine rulers, and then fought for the crown of Norway, eventually dying at Stamford Bridge in 1066.
The Origins of the Traditions of Christmas
Ideal for a festive meeting, this talk goes back to the Tudor period and looks at the development of Christmas through the Victorian period to the present day.