English Palaeography Course - Autumn Term 2025

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. Weeks 1-8 cover the main hands found in English documents written between 1500-1700. The course culminates in Week 9 with an informal test. Weekly classes begin on Wednesday 8th October and run until 3 December.

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 £300 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 for this course will open as soon as dates are confirmed. For further details specific to the syllabus, do contact the convenor, Dr Tim Wade.

Schedule (all classes will be taught on Wednesdays, 5-6.30pm UK time):

• Class 1. 8 Oct: Introduction to early modern handwriting styles and terminology
• Class 2. 15 Oct: Italic hand
• Class 3. 22 Oct: Anglicana
• Class 4. 29 Oct: Court hands
• Class 5. 5 Nov: Secretary
• Class 6. 12 Nov: Secretary
• Class 7. 19 Nov: Mixed hands
• Class 8. 26 Nov: Round hands
• Class 9. 3 Dec: Informal test