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A conference to celebrate the conversion of the North to ChristianityOrganised by Pocklington District Heritage Trust and sponsored by The Sutton Hoo Society, the conference will hear six presentations, from recognised experts in their field, illustrating the kingdom of Northumbria in a time of change. Christianity arrives and creates huge changes for the kingdom. The lectures will introduce new ideas and showcase recent discoveries from archaeology in the region.
The conference, from 9.30am to 4.15 pm on Friday 13th November 2026, is the first event of a two-day heritage festival at Pocklington, and there will also be displays, stalls and exhibitions on show, including a ‘pop-up’ travelling museum of local archaeological items sponsored by SPF grant funding.
A limited number of tickets are available locally at RM English in Railway Street, Pocklington for £10 (cash only). Online tickets are £10 + booking fee :-
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-anglo-saxon-kingdom-of-northumbria-tickets-2000178590006
Refreshments will be available during the day, but delegates need to source their own lunch. A lunchtime pass to Burnby Hall Gardens and its café is included in the conference ticket price. Also included is free car parking in the gardens car park.
The speakers
Dr. Peter Halkon - Lead PDHT Archaeologist and Chair of the East Riding Archaeological Society, formerly Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at Hull University, Peter is an Emeritus Fellow University of Hull and Hon. Research Fellow, Department of Archaeology, University of York. He has been researching the landscape archaeology of the Foulness Valley and western Yorkshire Wolds for over forty years, a region which contains some of the earliest Anglo-Saxon cemeteries and intruiging evidence for British'survival'.
Max Adams – Max Adams is the author of a number of critically acclaimed books on Dark Age history includingThe King in the North, In the Land of Giants and The First Kingdom. He has appeared on many TV documentaries about Dark Age history and is Visiting Fellow in the School of History, Classics and Archaeology at Newcastle University.
Prof. David Petts - Associate Professor Department of Archaeology, University of DurhamDavid has a particular interest in the development of Christianity. He ahs carried out fieldwork on the Holy Island on the site of the early medieval monastery of Lindisfarne. Other research interests include Ad Gefrin (Yeavering) and he is Chair Society for Church Archaeology.
Prof. Dominic Powlesland - Dominic Powlesland, FSA, landscape archaeologist based in North Yorkshire. He has contributed to the methodologies of field archaeology and landscape survey, particularly geophysics and the use of computers when recording and processing archaeological data. He is the director of the Landscape Research Centre and visiting professor at the universities of York, Leeds, Huddersfield and Vienna. 2019 was awarded the Landscape Archaeology Medal by the British Academy.
Dr. Jon Kenny - Winner of the 2015 Council for British Archaeology Marsh Award for Community Archaeologist of the Year, Jon has inspired many groups to explore their heritage in the Yorkshire region. After working with the Archaeology Data Service and then the York Archaeological Trust, he set up his own business supporting Community Archaeology.
Due to health reasons, Ashley Rickman is replaced by Leon Corneille-Cowell
Leon Corneille-Cowell is an archaeologist and zooarchaeologist who specialises in human/animal bone, funerary remains, early medieval Britain and the archaeology of Yorkshire. He is editor of CBA Yorkshire’s annual journal Forum and has an edited volume ‘The future researching the past: proceedings of the CBA Yorkshire student showcase 2025’.
This talk, based on research by PDHT trustee Alex Harvey will discuss the Pocela Panel. A gold Jewelled panel found by a metal detector in 2013 and acquired by the trust in 2024. This talk will discuss the significance of the object and how it evidences status and trade in both a regional and national context.’
Agenda:
9.30 – 9.50
Registration
9.50-10.00
Welcome and introduction
10.00-10.40
Coifi’s Landscape from the Parisi to Deira
Peter Halkon
10.40 -11.20
King Edwin and the historical background to the conversion
Max Adams
11.20 -11.40
COFFEE
11.40 -12.20
The Anglian cemetery and settlement at West Heslerton
Dominic Powlesland
12.20 -1.00
Excavations at Lindisfarne
David Petts
1.00 – 2.20
LUNCH
2.20 - 3.00
Skipwith one of Oswiu's Minsters?
Jon Kenny
3.00 - 3.40
The Pocela Panel in context
Leon Corneille-Cowell
3.40 - 4.00
TEA
4.00 - 4.15
Panel of speakers and closing remarks
Do not miss this opportunity to attend a prestigious conference to be held in Pocklington.
Download the poster here:
https://pocklingtonhistory.com/events/Anglo-Saxon%20Northumbria%20Conference%20Poster.png
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Event venue
Burnby Hall Community Centre, Burnby Hall Gardens, The Balk, York, YO42 2QF, United Kingdom
Tickets
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