Miss Madeleine Burgess
Qualifications
- MA: Medieval Studies
2021鈥�2022 - BA: History
2018鈥�2022
Research Interests
My research interests are based around cultural studies in medieval Britain (1066-1535). For my PhD thesis, I am examining church bells in medieval Britain, investigating their uses, soundscape, and creation with an interdisciplinary focus. This was initially investigated as a pilot study during my Master's dissertation.
I am currently under the co-supervision of Prof. Sue Niebrzydowski and Dr. Euryn Roberts.
Activities
2026
The study of the sound of English church bells is a developing area, with scholarly interest largely limited to the metallurgy of bells, synthesising the sound of cracked bells, and recreating their soundscape (Carvalho et al., 2021; Mileson, 2012; Stafford et al., 1996). Other than the general volume of church bells and introductory studies, little work has been done to assess medieval contemporaries鈥� perceptions of the sound of church bells (Arnold and Goodson, 2012; Mortimer, 2009; Smith, 1999). Furthermore, studies on church bells generally accept that bells are to be in tune with one another with no critical analysis in relation to this, limiting themselves to introductory studies on how a bell could be tuned (Audy and Audy, 2006). This paper aims to address this gap in research by employing an interdisciplinary approach to evaluate mentions of church bells in chronicles, close rolls, and churchwarden accounts to determine the significance that their tone and tune had to medieval contemporaries. Within the period of study, there is a clear development in wanting to control the tone and tune of church bells; this is seen with bell founders being bound financially to create bells of a certain tone, of bells being commissioned by kings to be in tune with the other bells in a ring, and by wanting to control and alter the tone and volume of bells by installing muffles by the end of the period.
6 Jan 2026
Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)
2025
Research Report Collection of the CAHSS 2025 Conference hosted at 成人VR视频 in March 2025.
May 2025 鈥� 2026
Links:
Activity: Editorial activity (Editorial board member)
2024
French translation of my November article for the conversation.
5 Dec 2024
Links:
The article explores the symbolic restoration of Notre-Dame鈥檚 bells before its reopening. Highlighting their historical, religious, and cultural significance鈥攆rom medieval blessings to protection and communication鈥攖he article connects their profound legacy to the cathedral鈥檚 rebirth following the 2019 fire.
29 Nov 2024
Links:
2023
Attended and worked for the WISERD Annual Conference, held at 成人VR视频.
28 Jun 2023 鈥� 29 Jun 2023
Activity: Participation in Academic conference (Participant)Gave a paper titled 'Uses of Church Bells in Medieval England, 1066-1535: The Development of Timekeeping' in the 2023 'Growth' CAHB Conference.
22 Mar 2023
Activity: Participation in Academic conference (Speaker)