This presentation takes a tour of the former Royal Gunpowder Factory at Waltham Abbey. It examines both the history of the site and the development of gunpowder and chemical explosives including nitro-glycerine, guncotton and cordite. It looks at the canals and boats that formed the backbone of the transport system within the site.

A talk which explores how our colourful Christmas traditions and customs came into being and how they are celebrated. The presentation also includes some of the lesser-known folklore including Jesse Trees, Chrismons, Mumming Plays and Wassailing.

About the Speaker

Mark is a freelance artist, designer-silversmith and semi-retired university lecturer who has enjoyed a wide-ranging teaching career. Until the summer of 2009, he was a Principal Lecturer in the Sir John Cass Department of Art, Media and Design at London Metropolitan University. He currently lectures part-time at the Goldsmiths’ Centre in London and is a visiting lecturer at Birmingham City University.

He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Horners. Mark is also a folklorist and has been an active member of the Folklore Society since 1987, speaking regularly at their conferences around the UK. Mark has a particular interest in unusual local customs and rituals and in 2013 he published a book on the folklore and popular customs of the church. Furthermore, he is a pharologist (passionate about lighthouses!) being an active member of the Association of Lighthouse Keepers and a founding member of the World Lighthouse Society.