Promoting interdisciplinary study of the Middle Ages by bringing together specialists from several different subject areas within Cardiff University to collaborate in research and graduate teaching.
We aim to promote interdisciplinary studies of the Middle Ages, bringing together specialists from various subject areas within the University to collaborate on high-quality research and graduate teaching. Members of the Centre include staff and postgraduate students from the Schools of History, Archaeology and Religious Studies, English, Communication, and Philosophy, as well as Welsh.
We run a regular programme of research seminars, providing a focus for collaboration and discussion as well as an opportunity to bring scholars to the University from overseas. Our academic and social events are open to, and well supported by, non-University medievalists in the region.
We are a research collective with expertise across a range of areas related to the Middle Ages, with a focus on the literatures, languages, histories and material cultures of Wales and the British Isles, Europe, and Byzantium, 500-1500. This includes the following clusters:
- Languages and Linguistics (Middle Welsh, Old Norse, Old English, Middle English, Old French)
- Arthuriana
- The Supernatural and Religion
- Saints and their Cults
- Crusades
- Diplomacy and International Relations
- Environmental Humanities
- Gender and Alterity
- Medievalism
The Centre for Medieval Studies is co-directed by Professor Sara Pons-Sanz (English Language), David Callander (Welsh) and Liam Lewis (English Literature).
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Meet the team
Academic staff
Dr Rob Gossedge
Dean of Undergraduate Studies for the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, Senior Lecturer
Postgraduate students
Events
SSHOE Summer School in the History of English
This summer school (29 June to 3 July 2026) is aimed at students with limited knowledge of the history of English, who would like to know more about this exciting field of research. Students are expected to have been nominated by their home institution.
If you would like further information, please contact Prof Sara Pons-Sanz.
Register for the summer school using the sign-up form.
Henry Loyn Lecture
The Centre for Medieval Studies organises the biennial Henry Loyn Memorial Lecture. In April 2026, this lecture will be delivered by Professor John Hines.
Details of the 2026 Henry Loyn Memorial Lecture will be posted here in due course.
Seminar Programme 2025-26
We run a regular programme of research seminars with external and internal speakers from across our different subject areas.
All regular talks on Tuesdays begin at 17:15.
Autumn Semester
7 October, John Percival Building, room 1.57
Professor Carl Phelpstead (Cardiff)
‘If you will listen patiently’: Conversion, Conversation, and Cosmopolitanism in Old Icelandic Sagas of Apostles.
11 November, John Percival Building, room 2.51
Seb Dows-Miller (UCL)
Scribal Abbreviation in Manuscripts and Its Role as a Source of Data for Quantitative Palaeography
9 December, John Percival Building, room 2.51
Naomi Howells (Exeter)
Stories of Salerno: Medieval Healing, Gender and Cultural Exchange in The Trotula and Twelfth-Century Romance
Spring Semester
3 February, (4pm) John Percival Building, room 1.29
Matt Lampitt (Bristol)
'The Spectres of French'
School of Welsh Research Seminar
10 March
Jenny Benham (Cardiff)
‘Bird, Fly, Messenger, Spy. How did Espionage Impact the Course of History in the Middle Ages’
14 April
Medieval Get-Together! Collaborative Planning Event
Conferences and Workshops
In 2025-26, we are collaborating with the GW4 (University of Bristol and University of Exeter) to host training in Digital Humanities for medievalists. These workshops have included hands-on training, talks on various aspects, and an opportunity for participants to network with medievalists from different institutions.
17 October
GW4 Workshop on Digital Humanities. Funded by the GW4 network 'Medieval Studies Mobilising Digital Humanities'
In April 2026, the Centre will support the hosting of an interdisciplinary Conference on Medieval Wales. Speakers from a range of disciplines (including history, archaeology and literature) will present papers on the most recent research on medieval Wales.
Recent Publications
- Callander, D. , Lewis, B. and Rowland, J. eds. 2025. Lliaws rhith: astudiaethau ar lenyddiaeth Gymraeg a Cheltaidd / studies in Welsh and Celtic literature cyflwynedig i'r athro Marged Haycock. Gwasg Prifysgol Cymru.
- Gordon, S. 2025. Sexual sin and the walking dead in the Chronicle of Lanercost. Viator 55 (2)
- Gordon, S. 2025. The revenant in Europe: Medieval England. In: Bacon, S. ed. The Palgrave Handbook of the Zombie. Cham: Palgrave. , pp.61-77. (10.1007/978-3-032-05696-2_2)
- Pons-Sanz, S. 2025. Norse-derived terms in the Ormulum: A reappraisal. York: Arc Humanities Press. (10.2307/jj.24382401)
- Webster, P. 2025. The Military Orders and the Minority of King Henry III. In: Edbury, P. and Webster, P. eds. Military Orders and Crusades: Essays Presented to Helen J. Nicholson. Routledge. , pp.129-145. (10.4324/9781003376286-13)
- Wright, E. et al., 2025. What does a bear baiting assemblage look like? Interdisciplinary analysis of an early modern “sport”. Antiquity 99 (404), pp.536-552. (10.15184/aqy.2024.228)
Other outputs from Centre members:
- A book chapter on ‘Medieval Legal Treatises from the Latin East in the Langue d’Oil’ in the book L’Experience des croisades et les échanges culturels au Moyen Âge tardif.
- A podcast: ‘Deus Vult! The Templars in Cyprus’ with Andreas Charalambous (43 minutes)
Schools
Next steps
Research that matters
Our research makes a difference to people’s lives as we work across disciplines to tackle major challenges facing society, the economy and our environment.
Postgraduate research
Our research degrees give the opportunity to investigate a specific topic in depth among field-leading researchers.
Our research impact
Our research case studies highlight some of the areas where we deliver positive research impact.