During the week of 20th-24th June, the successful applicants conducted research into six nineteenth-century military memorials, with an aim to offer fresh perspectives on the visual representation of British imperialism within the Cathedral. The interns studied how language and visual imagery have been deployed and to what effect, as well as exploring the ‘hidden’ narratives which lie beyond the immediate commemoration of individuals.
Through documenting and re-evaluating the legacies of Empire within the Cathedral, the interns will make a valuable contribution to improving understanding of the Cathedral’s historic links to colonialism, and highlight the enduring impact of these monuments on our interpretation of the past today.
Reflecting on her experience, doctoral student, Huiling Zhang, writes:
“The placement at Winchester Cathedral granted me an unusual opportunity to look at colonialism and imperialism. As a Roman historian and Latin epigraphist, I have always found military history of the 19th century a bit remote.
“It was not until I finally spent some time looking into the campaigns and missions behind these memorials in the Cathedral that I realised the extent to which we are still influenced by an imperial narrative. Imperialism means one-sided stories; behind a ‘blissful’ ignorance, there was—and still is—a river of sorrow and humiliation. This work placement strengthens my vocation as a social historian to reveal the stories of the historically neglected and repressed.”
Andrew Doll, a DPhil candidate at Lincoln College, agrees. He adds:
“It’s fantastic that Winchester Cathedral is taking serious and proactive steps to think about its contested heritage. When I heard about this placement, I was excited by the opportunity to get involved in such an important and valuable project. I hope our work will be as useful to the Cathedral as it has been enjoyable for us.”
Ruta Ashworth studies Theology and Religion. She was struck by the number of memorials present:
“As well as taking in the beauty of the Cathedral I was surprised by just how many war memorials it housed—something you might not notice unless you were looking for them.
“The placement gave me the opportunity to expand my knowledge of the 2nd Boer War and the First War of Indian Independence. It was also a chance to think deeply about the difficulties surrounding contested heritage. I certainly feel I learnt a lot through the internship and hope we will have contributed to revealing the full stories behind at least some of the memorials at Winchester.”
