Bath Royal Literary & Scientific Institution

📖 Mrs Dalloway: The Centenary Year – Art, Modernism & War
🔗www.brlsi.org/whatso...

Join Sarah Latham Phillips for an illustrated talk marking 100 years of Mrs Dalloway, exploring Virginia Woolf’s modernist masterpiece through the lens of art, literature, and war.
#dalloway #woolf #Bath

Sept @ BRLSI:
🌀 Shamanism (Sept 2)
📚 Big Read: Aspern Papers (Sept 3)
🏛️ The Sack of Bath (Sept 3)
🌌 Misaligned Planets (Sept 5)
🌍 Public Space for All (Sept 9)
🦴 Petrification fossil exhibition continues!
🎟️ brlsi.org

#BathEvents #BRLSI

🐚🐊 Come on a free family friendly tour of our fossil exhibition and find out about the Origins of Life!

🦕 See the life-sized Rhizodus!
🐬 Meet the Dolphin from Twerton, 🌿 marvel at the ferns of Radstock, and more!

📅 Mini tours on August 12th, 14th, 19th,21st
🔗 www.brlsi.org/whats-on/

🎲✨Game On !
Join us at the Academy of Imagination to make, play and share games!

📅 Thursday 7th August
🕙 Morning: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
🕑 Afternoon: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
🔗 www.brlsi.org/whats-on/
#AcademyOfImagination #SummerEvents

SAVE THE DATE! Renaissance: Journeys of Discovery is a yearlong programme of events celebrating the art, ideas, science and politics of the Renaissance. Over 30 brilliant speakers, including @Guardian art critic Jonathan Jones
🎟️https://www.brlsi.org/renaissance/

🦴✨ Storytelling with Objects !
Join us at the Academy of Imagination for a magical workshop where fossils, bones & rocks become the keys to whole new worlds... 🐉🪨🌿
🔗 www.brlsi.org/whats-on/

#StorytellingWithObjects #CreativeKids #FamilyWorkshop #AcademyOfImagination #SummerEvents

✨ This Summer at BRLSI with The Academy of Imagination!
See what's on for children and families...
👉www.brlsi.org/series...

🪨 Petrification: Our Fossil Exhibition Continues!
Open Mon–Sat 10am–4pm until October!
#BRLSI #summerholidays

Agricola in Scotland – how the Romans subdued the Far North – Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution Agricola was the great Flavian warrior governor of Britain, tasked by the emperor Vespasian with conquering the far north of its main island for the first time. Initially campaigning in Wales and then the north of modern England to secure his rear, he launched his first assault into modern Scotland at the end of the 70s AD. Ultimately, primary sources say he defeated the combined armies of the natives in far north at the Battle of Mons Graupius in AD 83. After this, the successful conquest of the whole island was declared, Agricola commanded the Classis Britannia (the Roman navy in Britain) to circumnavigate the whole province for the first time, and Domitian ordered a monumental arch to be built at Richborough on the east coast of Kent to celebrate the Roman triumph. This became the imperial gateway into Roman Britain. In this talk Simon Elliott will show how new archaeological evidence can show us how Agricola was able to campaign so far north of the imperial frontier and in such numbers, with over 30,000 men, plus the fleet, and the exact routes he followed. Simon’s new Agricola in Scotland book is published in July by Pen & Sword.

How did the Romans push deep into ancient Scotland, and win?

Historian and archaeologist Simon Elliott uncovers the bold campaign of Agricola, the Roman general who led over 30,000 men into the wild north during the 1st century AD.
www.brlsi.org/whatso...

#RomanHistory #Agricola #AncientScotland

What makes a city thrive, and what do we risk losing? Join architect Bob Allies tomorrow at #BRLSI as he explores how cities evolve and respond to today’s challenges. 🎟 £3–£6 | Hosted with Transition Bath. Book: www.brlsi.org/whatso... #sustainability #urbanism

The British and Commonwealth Navies in Korea (Korean War series 3) – Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution The Korean War was predominantly a land-based conflict fought under the flag of the United Nations and the Royal and Commonwealth Navies played a significant, but often unreported at the time, role in...

🌊🚢 Join us at BRLSI tomorrow for an evening on the pivotal role of The British and Commonwealth Navies during the Korean War. David Verghese will explore how these naval forces ensured maritime security and supported UN efforts. www.brlsi.org/whatson/the-...
#KoreanWar #NavalHistory #UNSeaPower

Were ancient civilisations more shamanistic than we think?
Researcher Richard Valentine explores how shamanism may have shaped beliefs from the Palaeolithic to the Axial Age, linking archaeology, psychology, and ancient texts from Greece to India.
🎟️ www.brlsi.org/whatso...
#Ancient #Shamanism

Agricola in Scotland – how the Romans subdued the Far North – Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution Agricola was the great Flavian warrior governor of Britain, tasked by the emperor Vespasian with conquering the far north of its main island for the first time. Initially campaigning in Wales and then the north of modern England to secure his rear, he launched his first assault into modern Scotland at the end of the 70s AD. Ultimately, primary sources say he defeated the combined armies of the natives in far north at the Battle of Mons Graupius in AD 83. After this, the successful conquest of the whole island was declared, Agricola commanded the Classis Britannia (the Roman navy in Britain) to circumnavigate the whole province for the first time, and Domitian ordered a monumental arch to be built at Richborough on the east coast of Kent to celebrate the Roman triumph. This became the imperial gateway into Roman Britain. In this talk Simon Elliott will show how new archaeological evidence can show us how Agricola was able to campaign so far north of the imperial frontier and in such numbers, with over 30,000 men, plus the fleet, and the exact routes he followed. Simon’s new Agricola in Scotland book is published in July by Pen & Sword.

How did Rome conquer the far north of Britain? Historian Simon Elliott reveals how Agricola led 30,000+ troops deep into Scotland-and won. 📅 Mon 28 July, 7:30pm BST | 🎟️ £3–£6. www.brlsi.org/whatso... #RomanHistory #Agricola #Scotland

What makes a city thrive, and what do we risk losing? Join architect Bob Allies on 24 July in Bath as he explores how cities evolve and respond to today’s challenges. 🎟 £3–£6 | Hosted with Transition Bath. Book: www.brlsi.org/whatso... #sustainability #urbanism

The British and Commonwealth Navies in Korea (Korean War series 3) – Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution The Korean War was predominantly a land-based conflict fought under the flag of the United Nations and the Royal and Commonwealth Navies played a significant, but often unreported at the time, role in denying Communist forces use of the sea. A total of 76 naval and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships took part in the three-year period until an armistice was reached. The Korean war can be categorised as one of differing military phases – each calling for a specific naval effort at certain times. Two aspects were constant  however; namely the blockade of Communist-held ports and the continuous naval bombardment of enemy utilised land routes. During the Korean War there was no challenge to the UN command of the seas around the Korean peninsula – restating the long-held truth that Sea Power has remained Britain’s most timely contribution to her Allies in time of conflict. David Verghese is a naval researcher and biographer.

🚢🌊 Join us for another Military History event : The British and Commonwealth Navies in Korea on Wed, July 23.⚓ Hear about the untold story of how naval forces played a pivotal role in the Korean War, ensuring UN command of the seas. www.brlsi.org/whatso... #KoreanWar #SeaPower #NavalHistory

🎪 Behind the Scenes: The Life of a Festival Organiser
📅 Friday 18 July
🕢 7:30 – 9:00 PM BST

Ever wondered what it takes to run a music festival?
Join Owain Jones, co-founder and long-time organiser of The #PristonMusicFestival...

www.brlsi.org/whatson/behi...

#PristonFestival #Festival

Is gossip just idle chat, or a pathway to knowledge? Join Dr Kathryn Waddington on 22 July as she explores gossip’s surprising role in workplace culture and psychology. #GossipAndGeography #PsychologyTalk

🔗 www.brlsi.org/whatso...

Global Discord: the new geopolitics – Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution In this talk, Paul Tucker will update the four scenarios for international politics and economics set out in his book Global Discord. They are: lingering status quo, superpower struggle, new Cold War, and new world order - with each looking different after events of the past few months. The international trading and financial system has entered a new phase, but so, more profoundly, have the military and security relationships on which commerce and even our daily lives ultimately depend. Paul Tucker, author and Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School.

🌍 Global Discord: The New Geopolitics
🗓 TOMORROW -Tuesday 15 July
📍 BRLSI
🎟️www.brlsi.org/whatso...
How is the world order shifting in real time? Join Sir Paul Tucker, author and Fellow at the @harvardkennedy.bsky.social‬ for his talk tomorrow evening.

From Vladimir “the Great” to Vladimir Putin – Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution The medieval “Rus” state (origin of both Russia and Ukraine) was founded by Vikings, who met Islamic traders on the Volga, besieged Constantinople, appeared in Baghdad on camels, and converted to Orthodox Christianity in 988. Then, in the 1240s, “Kyivan Rus” was devastated by the Mongol invasions and the political centre of gravity shifted to Moscow. The “Rus” legacy has been referenced, since the 16th century, by Russian rulers seeking to enhance their power and validate their claims to the Ukrainian lands, most recently by Vladimir Putin. Martyn Whittock examines this deep story and its modern impact. Martyn, a reelance historian, columnist and commentator, has a particular interest in “deep stories”; the way in which history is used to frame modern identities. His recent books exploring this concept: Trump and the Puritans (2020), American Vikings (2023) and now Vikings in the East: From Vladimir the Great to Vladimir Putin – the Origins of a Contested Legacy in Russia and Ukraine (Biteback, London, 2025). Vikings in the East is his fifty-eighth book.

📜 From Vladimir “the Great” to Vladimir Putin
TOMORROW -Monday 14 July | 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
🎟 www.brlsi.org/whatso...

Join acclaimed historian @martynwhittock for an evening talk tracing the dramatic story of the “Rus” — the medieval state that gave rise to both Russia and Ukraine.

Second oldest object in the BRLSI collection!🌍
Now on display in “Petrification: Fossils and the Revelation of Deep Time” exhibition-
📷 This banded ironstone from Siberia is nearly 2.5 billion years old and marks a dramatic turning point in Earth’s history.
#PetrificationExhibition #DeepTime

Volunteer sought to lead on BRLSI cultural activities! – Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution

📣 Volunteer Leadership Opportunity!
We're looking for a volunteer to take on a senior leadership role guiding and shaping the future of our cultural and educational activities.
www.brlsi.org/volunteer-so...
🗓️ Deadline: 17 July

#BRLSI #Volunteer #Bath #Museum

The Glosters at Imjin: The Battle that Shaped a War
📅 Wed 16 July | 🕢 7:30–9:00 PM
Matthew Holden tells the story of the Glosters’ legendary stand in Korea - bravery that shaped a war and forged a lasting bond with South Korea.
🎟️www.brlsi.org/whatso...

🌍 Global Discord: The New Geopolitics
Sir Paul Tucker (@harvardkennedy.bsky.social‬) updates four global scenarios from Global Discord in light of recent shifts in trade, security, and power. 🗓 Tue 15 July | 🕢 7:30–9:00 PM

From Vladimir “the Great” to Vladimir Putin – Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution The medieval “Rus” state (origin of both Russia and Ukraine) was founded by Vikings, who met Islamic traders on the Volga, besieged Constantinople, appeared in Baghdad on camels, and converted to Orth...

📜 From Vladimir “the Great” to Vladimir Putin
Monday 14 July | 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
🎟 www.brlsi.org/whatson/from...

Join acclaimed historian @martynwhittock for an evening talk tracing the dramatic story of the “Rus” — the medieval state that gave rise to both Russia and Ukraine.

From Vladimir “the Great” to Vladimir Putin – Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution The medieval “Rus” state (origin of both Russia and Ukraine) was founded by Vikings, who met Islamic traders on the Volga, besieged Constantinople, appeared in Baghdad on camels, and converted to Orthodox Christianity in 988. Then, in the 1240s, “Kyivan Rus” was devastated by the Mongol invasions and the political centre of gravity shifted to Moscow. The “Rus” legacy has been referenced, since the 16th century, by Russian rulers seeking to enhance their power and validate their claims to the Ukrainian lands, most recently by Vladimir Putin. Martyn Whittock examines this deep story and its modern impact. Martyn, a reelance historian, columnist and commentator, has a particular interest in “deep stories”; the way in which history is used to frame modern identities. His recent books exploring this concept: Trump and the Puritans (2020), American Vikings (2023) and now Vikings in the East: From Vladimir the Great to Vladimir Putin – the Origins of a Contested Legacy in Russia and Ukraine (Biteback, London, 2025). Vikings in the East is his fifty-eighth book.

📜 From Vladimir “the Great” to Vladimir Putin
Monday 14 July | 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
🎟 www.brlsi.org/whatso...

Join acclaimed historian Martyn Whittock for an evening talk tracing the dramatic story of the “Rus” — the medieval state that gave rise to both Russia and Ukraine.

As international trading and financial system enter a new global phase, Sir Paul Tucker, author and former Deputy Governor of the Bank of England for Financial Stability will be at the BRLSI to update us on the four key scenarios for international politics and economics set out in his book Global Di Interview with Sir Paul Tucker | Ahead of his BRLSI Talk -Global Discord: The New Geopolitics

🎥Ahead of his talk at BRLSI on Tues 15 July, Sir Paul Tucker sat down with Andreas Wasmuht to discuss the shifting global order and his book Global Discord:

📺 Watch the full interview on YouTube now:
👉👉youtu.be/KFt3waC2aVU

Origins of the Korean War (Korean War series 1) – Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution To launch BRLSI’s Forgotten War season, this talks takes a detailed look at how and why the Korean War happened and how the various combattants (including the UK) became embroiled. Francis Pike is an economic and global political advisor, having worked with governments and financial institutions all over the world. He is a widely published journalist and is a regular contributor to The Spectator. He is the author of two highly regarded history books: Empires at War: A Short History of Modern Asia since World War II and Hirohito’s War: The Pacific War 1941 – 1945 and is an expert on the Second World war in the Pacific Theatre.

🌍 Join us on a journey through the history of the #KoreanWarOrigins with Francis Pike on July 9. Explore the complexities of global conflict and discover how various nations, including the UK, were drawn into this pivotal moment in history. 🎟️
www.brlsi.org/whatso...
#ForgottenWar #HistoryMatters

🎙️ BRLSI News & Views! How war-torn Bath helped starving Dutch children. Join us 10 July at BRLSI for a talk on the powerful story of Bath’s post-WWII aid to Alkmaar, sparked by refugee #EliPrins.
www.brlsi.org/alkmaa...

#VEDay80 #BathEvents

📘🔍Here are just a handful of the talks upcoming... Check out the full list👉www.brlsi.org/whats-on/
#BRLSIEvents #LearnSomethingNew #Talks #Lectures #Workshops #Arts #Exhibitions #Walks #Tours #Courses

How war-torn Bath opened its hearts to starving Dutch children – Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution Were you aware that as battle raged in Europe, war-weary Bath opened its heart to famished civilians in a Nazi-occupied city? In World War II, Bathonians forgot their own shortages, fought bureaucracy and dug deep for the Dutch people of Alkmaar. Then, after liberation, shocked Bath aid organisers discovered Alkmaar children shoeless and dressed in tatters. They offered fifty youngsters a slap-up Bath Christmas after five years of privation and warm-hearted households back in Bath opened their homes. The following year, the Dutch invited one hundred Bath children to Holland, beginning an 80-year friendship. Chris Davies, Chair of the Bath-Alkmaar Twinning Association, recounts the decades-old story of defiance of red tape, fund-raising grit, a Dutch queen, a warm-hearted General, and the barrel-organ that persuaded Bathonians to donate pennies to the cause.

In WWII local people rallied to help children in Nazi-occupied Alkmaar, Holland. After the war, 50 Dutch children were welcomed to Bath, starting an 80-year friendship between the two cities.
Join Chris Davies, Chair #AlkmaarTwinningAssociation as he shares this story
👉 www.brlsi.org/whatso...

🎻 Join Emma Steenkamp, a gifted 17-year-old violinist from South Africa and student at #WellsCathedralSchool, for an evening of live classical music and meaningful conversation on Friday 27th June...

www.brlsi.org/whatso...

#EchoesOfTomorrow #EmmaSteenkamp #LiveClassicalMusic