The Harlaxton Symposium is an interdisciplinary gathering of academics, students and enthusiasts which meets annually to celebrate medieval history, art, literature and architecture through a programme of papers selected around a chosen theme.
The Symposium, which began in 1984, was the brain-child of Dr. Pamela Tudor-Craig, Lady Wedgwood, and the host of the four- day conference has always been Harlaxton College in Lincolnshire, a delightful Victorian Baroque mansion which is now the British campus of the University of Evansville, Indiana.
The old manor house is a Grade I listed building and while every effort has been made to provide ease of access throughout, it is an old building with long, winding corridors and many steps. Those with limited mobility are strongly advised to contact the conference organisers with any specific requests prior to booking.
Delegates are automatically allocated single rooms unless they have arranged to share when booking. Bedrooms are located in the main building and in the nearby Carriage House and are in a student dorm format with shared bathrooms close to all rooms. The rooms are basic and delegates are encouraged to bring their own ‘hotel extras’ (if required) such as hair dryers, toiletries etc. Harlaxton is a sun-trap in late July and it is strongly recommended that delegates remain well hydrated and, if they wish, bring portable fans.
Harlaxton has long been able to boast a strong participation by international scholars from educational establishments as far afield as America and Australia. In recent years, the profile of the conference has increased, and the high standard of papers delivered – as well as the varied programme which always includes a conference dinner and an outing – creates a forum for friendly intellectual debate which attracts people back to Harlaxton year after year.
In 2014 the Barrie Dobson Scholarship was launched in the memory of our former chairman. Student applications are encouraged and further information can be found by following the link at the top of this page.
The proceedings of each conference are published, and since 1989 they have been published in a series entitled Harlaxton Medieval Studies by Shaun Tyas of Donington, Lincs. Many previous volumes are still available (see previous and forthcoming publications).