English Palaeography Course - 2026-27 Academic Year

This interactive course takes place online via Microsoft Teams. In each seminar the group will read early modern documents together with the help of the instructor. This is an intensive, five-day course course designed to get students up to speed with reading English documents written between 1500-1700. It covers the main hands in use in this period and is well suited to beginners and graduate students. The course is currently proposed to run from Monday 4 January 2027 to Friday 8 January 2027.

This course, run by Warwick's Centre for the Study of the Renaissance, does not confer university credits. However, on the basis of students' attendance and performance in the final test, the CSR will issue a certificate of completion and of having passed the course.

Participants will pay £200 for the course before the beginning of term. Participants whose institution belongs to the Newberry Library Consortium may be eligible to receive consortium grants to cover the cost of the course. (Contact your local consortium representative for details.) Warwick PhD Students will not have to pay the course fees.

Applications are open for the 4-8th January 2027 course. Apply HERE. Deadline for applications, Mon 23rd November.

For further details specific to the syllabus, do contact the convenor, Dr Tim Wade.

All classes will be taught from 5-6.30pm (UK time). Schedule:

• Class 1: Monday 4 January: Introduction to palaeography
• Class 2: Tuesday 5 January: Italic hands (1500-1700)
• Class 3: Wednesday 6 January: Earlier secretary hands (c.1500-50)
• Class 4: Thursday 7 January: Later secretary hands (c.1550-1600s)
• Class 5: Friday 8 January: Mixed hands (1600-1700)

Please note: each class will also include practical information on matters such as transcription styles, abbreviations and other facets of deciphering early modern documents.