May Day: Early 19th Century Traditions
Laying May branches Whilst many associate traditional celebrations of May Day with maypoles and Morris dancers, one early nineteenth century custom featured ‘Mayers’ (those included in May Day celebrations) arising at dawn to place branches of May outside neighbouring dwellings. Performed as a symbolic gesture, the larger the branch placed at the door, the greater […]
Photo Gallery: Queen Elizabeth II opens the Percy Gee Building, 1958
Since today is Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday, Special Collections Assistant Ian Swirles has been searching the University Archives for photographs of Her Majesty visiting the University. Among the highlights are a series of images from May 1958, taken when the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were on campus to open the Percy Gee Building. […]
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