Forthcoming Events
Women’s History Month Talks
To celebrate Women’s History Month this March, I will be doing a number of talks, both online and in person.
Saturday 11 March 2023
To celebrate International Women’s Day, I will be talking at Sherwood Forest about the Women of Magna Carta. You will hear about Matilda de Braose, Nicholaa de la Haye and … just maybe, I will tell you about Maid Marian’s Magna Carta links.
The event is free to attend and will be child friendly – mostly (there may be a couple of grisly bits but nothing too gruesome). My talk starts at 12.45pm and should last about an hour – and there will be chance to ask questions afterwards.
For more details, visit the Sherwood Forest website.
Thursday 16 March 2023
Women’s History Month – Women of Tudor Lincolnshire.
Online Talk: 7-8pm (UK Time)
The first of two talks as part of Women’s History Month for Heritage Lincolnshire. In Women of Tudor Lincolnshire, I look at the remarkable lives of four Tudor women with strong inks to Lincolnshire.
Anne Askew embraced the Protestant faith and suffered torture and execution as a consequence. Katherine Willoughby, Duchess of Suffolk, was a Puritan who used her position and influence to help her fellow puritans. Katherine Parr and Rose Hickman were both at different times residents of Gainsborough Old Hall. Katherine went on to be Queen of England and Henry VIII’s last wife.
Tickets cost £8 member / £10 non-member and are available from the Heritage Lincolnshire online shop.
For more information, and a host of other talks, visit Heritage Lincolnshire.
Thursday 30 March 2023
Women’s History Month – Women of Influence in 13th century England
Online Talk: 7-8pm (UK Time)
The second of my talks for Heritage Lincolnshire in March. In Women of Influence in 13th Century England I look at how events in the lives of Maud de Braose, Nicholaa de la Haye and Ela of Salisbury helped to shape the century. Maud’s tragic death influenced clauses in the 1215 Magna Carta. Nicholaa de la Haye’s stoic defence of Lincoln Castle led to the defeat of French invaders and Ela of Salisbury was both a great countess, sheriff and abbess.
Tickets cost £8 member / £10 non-member and are available in our online shop. If this isn’t the first time you have paid more, become a member and start saving as you learn!
For more information, and a host of other talks, visit Heritage Lincolnshire.
Unfortunately, these talk will not be recorded for later viewing, so please do come along on the night if you can. It would be great to see you! To reserve a place, book here!
Wednesday 26 April 2023
Hay Castle Talk
I am excited to be telling the story of Matilda de Braose at her own Castle of Hay. Details are yet to be finalised, so listen out for announcements.
May 2023
Book Launch
I am so excited to be finalising the details for the official launch of King John’s Right-Hand Lady: The Story of Nicholaa de la Haye. It will be in Lincoln and details will be announced shortly.
So watch this space!
Monday 5 June 2023
Towton Battlefield Society Talk
7.30-9pm
I will be talking about Yorkshire’s Medieval Heroines, including Isabel de Warenne, Joan Beaufort and Maud Clifford.
For more details, check out the Towton Battlefield Society’s website.
Saturday 10 June 2023
Boston (Lincolnshire) History Festival
1.15-2.15pm
Sharon Bennett Connolly is the author of several historical non-fiction books including Heroines of the Medieval World. Her latest book, King John’s Right-Hand Lady: the Story of Nicholaa de la Haye, will be out in May 2023.
1217: In a time when men fought and women stayed home, Nicholaa de la Haye held Lincoln Castle against all-comers. Nicholaa’s biographer, Sharon Bennett Connolly tells us how her strength and tenacity saved England at one of the lowest points in its history.
For more information, click here!
Check out the Festival line up here!
Saturday 24 June 2023
Sherwood Forest
A family friendly talk about the amazing Nicholaa de la Haye!
Detail to be announced shortly.
Thursday 12 October
The Women of the Norman Conquest
Online Talk: 7-8pm (UK Time)
I am back with Heritage Lincolnshire for my last talk of the year.
In The Women of the Norman Conquest I take a fresh look at the Norman Conquest through the eyes of the women whose experiences influenced events. Lady Godiva, Emma of Normandy and Gytha of Wessex were three women who played central roles in the events leading up to 1066. This talk helps to celebrate the anniversary of the Battle of Hastings.
Unfortunately, these talk will not be recorded for later viewing, so please do come along on the night if you can. It would be great to see you! To reserve a place, book here!
Historical Writers Forum
Historical Writers Forum continues its programme of Zoom talks. You can find what we’ve done so far on our YouTube Channel.
On 26 March 2023, we will be doing an Admin Special Celebrating Women in History.
Tickets will be available later this week.
A Slice of Medieval
Towards the end of 2022, my good friend and fellow author, Derek Birks and I started a podcast.
A Slice of Medieval combines History and Historical Fiction to give you an entertaining look at the past. With special guests including Elizabeth Chadwick and Matthew Harffy and topics including the Anarchy, the Wars of the Roses, and Magna Carta there is something for everyone!
And there’s more to come!
Do have a listen at A Slice of Medieval
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Past Events
Friday 28th May 2020: I presented the David hey Memorial Lecture as part of Doncaster Heritage Festival, held virtually due to the COVID crisis. Entitled Warenne: The Earls of Surrey and Conisbrough Castle, the lecture is still available to watch on YouTube.
Sunday 15th July 2018: Historical Panel Event with Elizabeth Chadwick at Newark Town Hall as part of the 2018 Newark Book Festival.
With Nick Quantrill as chair, Elizabeth and I talked about our books and love of history. We also discussed our different approaches to history, fact and fiction and our research techniques, followed by a Q&A session and a book signing.
On Saturday, 14th October 2017, Conisbrough Castle was the venue for the book launch for Heroines of the Medieval World. In the glorious sunshine, the Castle looked spectacular, the ideal setting for a history talk.
I grew up just 5 miles from Conisbrough Castle and so, as a child, every summer holiday included a picnic at the castle and a climb to the top of the keep. As a student I volunteered at the castle, helping out at events and giving guided tours to school groups. In those days, the castle was just a shell, with green slime on the walls, but now it has floors inside, a roof to protect it from the elements and visual displays throughout. The Visitor Centre has a small museum with a cartoon strip telling the castle’s story and interactive displays for the kids. Conisbrough Castle’s only claim to fame seemed to be its link to Sir Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe, in which it played the part of a Saxon stronghold.
However, Conisbrough had been very much a Norman stronghold since the Conquest, given as a prize to one of William the Conquerors’ most loyal followers, William de Warenne, first earl of Warenne and Surrey. My talk took place on the 951st anniversary of the Battle of Hastings, the day the Castle changed hands. On the morning of the battle, it belonged to Harold II, but by the end of the day Harold had lost the kingdom and his life and Conisbrough was a prize of war.
The talk was aimed at demonstrating the many links that Conisbrough Castle has to the major events in English medieval history, from the Norman Conquest, to the disastrous reign of Edward II and the civil war which became known as the Wars of the Roses. Conisbrough Castle and its former residents have a rich history and it was a pleasure to bring just a few moments of it to life. Attended by over 50 people, the audience was made up of friends, family, readers of my book and blog – historytheinterestingbits.com – and visitors who had called at the Castle because it was a gorgeous Saturday afternoon. And they were aged from 3 to 73!
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My books
Signed, dedicated copies of all my books are available, please get in touch by completing the contact me form.
Coming 30 May 2023!
King John’s Right-Hand Lady: The Story of Nicholaa de la Haye is now available for pre-order from Pen & Sword Books and Amazon UK. (I will hopefully have a US release date shortly)
In a time when men fought and women stayed home, Nicholaa de la Haye held Lincoln Castle against all-comers. Not once, but three times, earning herself the ironic praise that she acted ‘manfully’. Nicholaa gained prominence in the First Baron’s War, the civil war that followed the sealing of Magna Carta in 1215.
A truly remarkable lady, Nicholaa was the first woman to be appointed sheriff in her own right. Her strength and tenacity saved England at one of the lowest points in its history. Nicholaa de la Haye is one woman in English history whose story needs to be told…
Also by Sharon Bennett Connolly:
Defenders of the Norman Crown: The Rise and Fall of the Warenne Earls of Surrey tells the fascinating story of the Warenne dynasty, of the successes and failures of one of the most powerful families in England, from its origins in Normandy, through the Conquest, Magna Carta, the wars and marriages that led to its ultimate demise in the reign of Edward III. Defenders of the Norman Crown: Rise and Fall of the Warenne Earls of Surrey is now available from Pen & Sword Books, Amazon in the UK and US, Bookshop.org and Book Depository.
Ladies of Magna Carta: Women of Influence in Thirteenth Century England looks into the relationships of the various noble families of the 13th century, and how they were affected by the Barons’ Wars, Magna Carta and its aftermath; the bonds that were formed and those that were broken. It is now available in paperback and hardback from Pen & Sword, Amazon, Bookshop.org and from Book Depository worldwide.
Heroines of the Medieval World tells the stories of some of the most remarkable women from Medieval history, from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Julian of Norwich. Available now from Amberley Publishing and Amazon, Bookshop.org and from Book Depository worldwide.
Silk and the Sword: The Women of the Norman Conquest traces the fortunes of the women who had a significant role to play in the momentous events of 1066. Available now from Amazon, Amberley Publishing, Bookshop.org and Book Depository.
Alternate Endings: An anthology of historical fiction short stories including Long Live the King… which is my take what might have happened had King John not died in October 1216. Available in paperback and kindle from Amazon.
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©2023 Sharon Bennett Connolly FRHistS
History... the interesting bits! 