History

history spelt with block letter

Our popular history courses offer the chance to delve into a moment in time and explore lots of interesting stories from the period.

You will find courses that explore Greek epics, the renaissance in Italy, 15th Century England, major world powers and women in the military.

Courses will investigate key events and the climate around them, look at some of the compelling characters and uncover some interesting stories from the period.

Our History courses and workshops are a window to some of the most amazing people and periods.

Courses 2025/26

Bristol Adult Learning Courses 2025/26 - PREVIEW ONLY

You can LOOK but you can’t BOOK! Booking for 2025/25 courses will open on Tuesday 8 July at 9:30am but you can browse the new courses in advance.

Women in the Classical World (SRS1)

Description: Women's voices still speak to us across the centuries from the classical world. We will glimpse the lives of an eclectic selection of women drawn from both the Greek and Roman worlds.

Tutor: Richard Stride Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 23 Sep 2025 (Autumn) Times: Tue 10:00-12:00 Duration: 10 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £165 (Concession: £100)

The colourful life of Cleopatra and her times (SRS3)

Description: A two-part course looking at the life and times of Cleopatra.

Tutor: Richard Stride Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 23 Sep 2025 (Autumn) Times: Tue 12:45-15:15 Duration: 2 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £42 (Concession: £26)

England without a king: Cromwell, the Puritans, and the Restoration (SRS11)

Description: Delving into the exciting world of England in the 1650's - a time of radical change and interesting ideas.

Tutor: Richard Stride Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 24 Sep 2025 (Autumn) Times: Wed 10:00-12:00 Duration: 10 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £165 (Concession: £100)

Great Britain’s place in the world, 1800 - 1875 (SNH4)

Description: This course will look at the dynamic links between economic/industrial, political, technological, demographic, military and social changes affecting Britain between 1800 and 1875. We will also review how these changes influenced Britain’s foreign policy and its place in the world.

Tutor: Neil Harrison Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 25 Sep 2025 (Autumn) Times: Thu 13:00-15:00 Duration: 10 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £165 (Concession: £100)

The Spanish Civil War (HSG1)

Description: This course aims to understand the enduring debate about the civil war in Spanish society by analysing the conflict and its consequences and how they conditioned Spain’s past and present-day society.

Tutor: Gorka Diaz Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 26 Sep 2025 (Autumn) Times: Fri 12:45-14:45 Duration: 5 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £84 (Concession: £50)

Major World Powers from Napoleon to Kaiser Wilhelm II, 1805-1914 (SNH1)

Description: This course will cover national and international power between 1805 and 1914 and will cover the dynamic links between economic, political, social and military changes in the major world powers during this time period.

Tutor: Neil Harrison Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 26 Sep 2025 (Autumn) Times: Fri 13:00-15:00 Duration: 10 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £165 (Concession: £100)

Neoclassism: Art in the age of Napoleon and Jane Austen (SRS9)

Description: What do the great neoclassical artists tell us about the world they lived in? The work of David, Gros, Ingres, Vigee le Brun and many others.

Tutor: Richard Stride Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 07 Oct 2025 (Autumn) Times: Tue 13:00-15:00 Duration: 3 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £50 (Concession: £30)

Roman history: the first five Roman emperors, from Julius Caesar to Claudius (SRS5)

Description: The dramatic lives of the first five Roman emperors: colourful tales of families, power, lust, madness and murder.

Tutor: Richard Stride Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 04 Nov 2025 (Autumn) Times: Tue 13:00-15:00 Duration: 5 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £84 (Concession: £50)

Florence and the dawn of the Renaissance (SRS13)

Description: Why did the renaissance start in Florence? Florentine art and history at the time of artists Botticelli, Masaccio, Fra Angelico, Uccello and others.

Tutor: Richard Stride Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 05 Nov 2025 (Autumn) Times: Wed 13:00-15:00 Duration: 2 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £34 (Concession: £20)

Franco's dictatorship and Spain's transition to democracy (HSG2)

Description: This course aims to explore the periods of Franco’s dictatorship and Spain’s transition to democracy.

Tutor: Gorka Diaz Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 07 Nov 2025 (Autumn) Times: Fri 12:45-14:45 Duration: 5 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £84 (Concession: £50)

The Crusades (SRS2)

Description: A dramatic period when Christian Europe clashed with the Islamic East; an extraordinary story populated with intriguing and fascinating characters.

Tutor: Richard Stride Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 13 Jan 2026 (Spring) Times: Tue 10:00-12:00 Duration: 10 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £165 (Concession: £100)

'No place for ladies' – 19th century women and their military adventures (SRS8)

Description: The lives of six extraordinary women whose fates were intertwined with early19th century wars.

Tutor: Richard Stride Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 13 Jan 2026 (Spring) Times: Tue 13:00-15:00 Duration: 6 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £100 (Concession: £60)

The colourful life of Cleopatra and her times (SRS4)

Description: A two-part course looking at the life and times of Cleopatra.

Tutor: Richard Stride Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 14 Jan 2026 (Spring) Times: Wed 18:45-21:00 Duration: 2 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £38 (Concession: £25)

Charles II & James II: Restoration England 1660-1688 (SRS12)

Description: Fire, plague, affairs, plots - it's all here. An overview of this colourful period.

Tutor: Richard Stride Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 14 Jan 2026 (Spring) Times: Wed 10:00-12:00 Duration: 10 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £165 (Concession: £100)

Great Britain’s place in the world, 1875 – 1945 (SNH5)

Description: This course will look at the dynamic links between economic/industrial, political, technological, demographic, military and social changes affecting Britain between 1875 and 1945. We will also review how these changes influenced Britain’s foreign policy and its place in the world.

Tutor: Neil Harrison Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 15 Jan 2026 (Spring) Times: Thu 13:00-15:00 Duration: 10 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £165 (Concession: £100)

Major World Powers from Lenin to Hitler, 1914-1939 (SNH2)

Description: This course will cover national and international power between 1914 and 1939 and will cover the dynamic links between economic, political, social and military changes in the major world powers during this time period.

Tutor: Neil Harrison Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 16 Jan 2026 (Spring) Times: Fri 13:00-15:00 Duration: 10 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £165 (Concession: £100)

Neoclassism: Art in the age of Napoleon and Jane Austen (SRS10)

Description: What do the great neoclassical artists tell us about the world they lived in? The work of David, Gros, Ingres, Vigee le Brun and many others.

Tutor: Richard Stride Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 28 Jan 2026 (Spring) Times: Wed 19:00-21:00 Duration: 3 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £50 (Concession: £30)

Ancient Sparta (SRS7)

Description: Who were the Spartans? We look at Spartan society, including their unique family and education systems, and ask why they were feared, but also admired for their 'laconic' sense of humour.

Tutor: Richard Stride Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 25 Feb 2026 (Spring) Times: Wed 19:00-21:00 Duration: 5 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £84 (Concession: £50)

An Introduction to Greek Theatre (SRS6)

Description: An introduction to how and why Greek theatre provides the cornerstone for all our drama and comedy today.

Tutor: Richard Stride Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 03 Mar 2026 (Spring) Times: Tue 13:00-15:00 Duration: 4 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £66 (Concession: £40)

Great Britain’s place in the world, 1945 – 2050 (SNH6)

Description: This course will look at the dynamic links between economic/industrial, political, technological, demographic, military and social changes affecting Britain between 1945 and 2050. We will also review how these changes influenced Britain’s foreign policy and its place in the world.

Tutor: Neil Harrison Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 23 Apr 2026 (Summer) Times: Thu 13:00-15:00 Duration: 10 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £165 (Concession: £100)

Major World Powers from Churchill to Gorbachev, 1939-1991 (SNH3)

Description: This course will cover national and international power between 1939 and 1991 and will cover the dynamic links between economic, political, social and military changes in the major world powers during this time period.

Tutor: Neil Harrison Location: Stoke Lodge (BS9 1BN)

Start Date: 24 Apr 2026 (Summer) Times: Fri 13:00-15:00 Duration: 10 week(s)

Availability: Places available Fee: £165 (Concession: £100)

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