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Classics at Durham: ancient connections and a bright future
Our region’s long and rich classical history is inspiring the next generation of classics students. North East England’s ancient structures and settlements including Hadrian’s Wall have inspired many through the ages.
Our Classics and Ancient History Department is ranked sixth in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024, attracts some of the most prominent classics researchers in the world, and offers outstanding degree programmes.
Now some of our researchers have produced a short documentary exploring these connections.
Introducing ‘Classics in the North East’
The ‘Classics in the North East’ film is based on research for the book A People’s History of Classics, which was written by our own Professor Edith Hall and Dr Henry Stead, from the University of St Andrews.
It was a collaboration between Advocating Classics Education (ACE), Professor Hall and her colleagues Professor Arlene Holmes-Henderson and Dr Rory McInnes-Gibbons, who are also passionate about broadening access to classics study.
The film explores how North East England is uniquely linked to classical art, literature and architecture, and how this prevails into the contemporary arts scene. Professor Hall discusses how Ancient Greek democracy inspired the Penshaw Monument structure, near Durham, and how the region’s coal miners also discovered Roman artefacts, some of which are now displayed in museums across the region.
Extending access to Classics
This documentary is part of a wider project aimed at widening access to classics education in state schools.
As part of this initiative, we recently hosted a the North East Sixth Form Classics summit for comprehensive school students. Pupils attended from the Durham Sixth Form Centre, St Anthony’s Girls’ Catholic Academy and Durham Johnston Comprehensive School.
Over two days, students had the opportunity to visit our Oriental Museum, as well as the Northumberland sites of Housesteads and Chesters Roman Fort, sampling the incredible classical assets we have on our doorstep in North East England.
As Professor Edith Hall comments in the film: “Temples and fish markets, poetry and paintings, theatres, museums and schools: the North East is the country’s leading regional centre for Classics.”
Find out more
- Watch the Classics in the North East film.
- Learn more about Advocating Classics Education (ACE).
- Feeling inspired? Visit our Classics and Ancient History webpages for more information on our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
Watch the video:
