WEA Courses

Victorian Britain became the workshop of the World and one of the greatest industrial, scientific and technological powers of the age but how did this happen ? In this course we shall examine how the adoption of steam power created the 'Factory System', created the world's first modern railway network and changed the world forever. We shall also look at the new developments in technology and how they changed every day life, and created the Victorian middle classes and modern cities.

There are a number of issues which are of great moral concern today. This course is an introduction to some of these issues:    the family ; abortion ; euthanasia;  (experiments on) animals ;  immigration ; multiculturalism; freedom of speech and religion ;  capital punishment ; war ; and world hunger. In each case , we'll arrive at an understanding of the issue and then (in the main) consider the case for and against.

Huntley and Palmer was one of Reading's '4bs' of biscuits, beer, bulbs and bricks fame.  However, it was neither the oldest of the four or the one that could claim to have been in business the longest, but it was by far the town's largest employer by the turn of the 20th century and perhaps the one ‘b’ that is most fondly remembered.  Generations of the same family worked at the factory on the King's Road, many workers lived close by in Newtown and Redlands and today there are still those who remember the men and women who worked there.

This is a chance to explore stories of people who are often overlooked – and who some would rather forget. We will explore opposition and resistance to World War One, from conscientious objectors who refused to fight to women peace activists who held an international peace congress in the Netherlands, from religious groups that split over the war to soldiers who mutinied. We will focus on Britain, although international comparisons and influences will also be mentioned.

The century after 1550 saw many newly wealthy families, who had often benefitted from the dissolution of the monasteries, create splendid new country houses such as Longleat to show their wealth and power. These houses were increasingly influenced by ideas from the Renaissance. We will see how these houses reflected their owners’ lives and aspirations, including the Cecil family as chief ministers to Elizabeth I and James I, builders of great houses including Burghley and Hatfield.

The Stonehenge landscape as seen today, took around 1,500 years to develop by people of different cultures and beliefs This day school will attempt to unravel the competing theories that exist on its purpose and offer a view of why it is where it is; the stages of its development; and its place in British prehistory. In addition, Stonehenge will be considered in the wider context of the spread of farming from the so-called fertile crescent in modern day Iraq throughout Europe and the associated appearance of similar megalithic monuments.

Wagner holds a unique place in the history of opera and was a major influence on those who came after. He was fascinated by myths and their ability to explore life's deep questions. His early operas were derivative in style and unsuccessful. But beginning with 'The Flying Dutchman', he started to build his own style, and this and later operas are based on ancient myths which he moulded into his own versions to create his 'music dramas'.