At Home in the Institution

In June 1897 a Salvation Army officer was on patrol in the East End with the District Inspector of Police. At around nine o’clock in the evening they walked east down Commercial Road and turned into Medland Street. Here, they came upon Medland Hall – the Congregational Union Refuge Hall and one of the few … More ‘Coffin’ beds and exhibiting material life in a Victorian homeless shelter

Why should we study past material worlds? What is it they have to offer and what are the benefits of doing history in this way? This is not a new approach to the past. It’s long been pursued by archaeologists, architectural historians, curators and so on. But it has only been taken up by historians … More Why should historians study the material world? Or thoughts on desks