Anna Turnham

Anna received a first class degree in her undergraduate degree in History and Politics from the University of East Anglia in 2017. Although Anna enjoys a wide range of historical subjects, her love of Tudor history was evident as her thesis was on Reactions and Reflections to the Elizabethan Religious Settlement. Anna then went on to study her Masters in Early Modern History at the University of York, which Anna completed with distinction in 2018. Her thesis on Interactions with the Iconography of Mary I. In 2019, Anna started her PhD research on the AHRC CDP funded project ‘Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots’.

During her second year of doctoral research, Anna hopes to split her time between Edinburgh and London in order to conduct numerous archival trips.

Anna’s PhD is a collaboration between the University of Kent and the British Library. This exciting opportunity provided Anna with the opportunity to work on the October 2020 - February 2021 British Library Exhibition titled, ‘Two Queens in One Isle: Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots’.

Anna has a broad variety of interests in the sixteenth century. These include but are not limited to monarchy, diplomacy, the borderlands, Anglo-Scottish-Franco politics, and English and Scottish literature.  

PhD Research Title

The working title of Anna’s PhD research is, ‘Anglo-Scottish Diplomacy, 1558-88: Ambassadors, Diplomats and Letter Bearers’.

Professional Experience/Conference Papers

• April 2019 – ‘Between Berwick and Scotland: the correspondence of Ralph Sadler and James Croft with the Lords of the Congregation, 1559’ (ISHR Reading Weekend, The Burn, Edzell June 2019 – ‘A town ‘uppon our frontiers towards Scotland’: the role of Berwick-upon-Tweed in Anglo-Scottish Negotiations, 1559-60’ (‘Negotiating and Negotiations’, Kings College London)
• June 2019 – The continued significance of Berwick in Anglo-Scottish Relations (University of Kent, Canterbury)
• Chair of the organising committee for the University Kent and CHASE funded event, MEMS Festival 2019 (University of Kent, Canterbury)
• Currently working on reviewing, Jenna Schultz, National Identity (Woodbridge: The Boydell Press, 2019)
• 2019-present – CDP 1st year Student Representative (University of Kent/British Library)
• 2017-18 – Cabinet of Curiosities, Masters Students Representative (University of York)

Grants/Funding/Honours

• James Jarvis Memorial Fund (University of York, Masters funding, 2018)
• McCormack Student Fund (University of York, Masters funding, 2018)
• AHRC CDP Scholarship (Full PhD Sponsorship, 2018-2021)

Assistant lecturer – UG third year module, HI6062 Dynasty, Death & Diplomacy: England, Scotland & France 1503-1603

Dr Amy Blakeway (University of St Andrews), Dr Andrea Clarke (The British Library), Professor Kenneth Fincham (University of Kent)