Miss Madeleine Burgess
Qualifications
- MA: Medieval Studies
2021–2022 - BA: History
2018–2022
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 Tone and Tune of Church Bells in Medieval England, 1066-1535.
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’ 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
- 1884 Journal (Journal)
Research Report Collection of the CAHSS 2025 Conference hosted at Bangor University in March 2025.
May 2025 – 2026
Links:
Activity: Editorial activity (Editorial board member)
2024
- Bénédiction des cloches de Notre-Dame : une tradition qui remonte au Moyen-Âge
French translation of my November article for the conversation.
5 Dec 2024
Links:
Activity: Types of Public engagement and outreach - Media article or participation (Contributor) - Notre Dame's bells have been blessed as the cathedral reopens - a tradition that dates back to the middle ages
The article explores the symbolic restoration of Notre-Dame’s bells before its reopening. Highlighting their historical, religious, and cultural significance—from medieval blessings to protection and communication—the article connects their profound legacy to the cathedral’s rebirth following the 2019 fire.
29 Nov 2024
Links:
Activity: Types of Public engagement and outreach - Media article or participation (Contributor)
2023
- WISERD Annual Conference 2023
Attended and worked for the WISERD Annual Conference, held at Bangor University.
28 Jun 2023 – 29 Jun 2023
Activity: Participation in Academic conference (Participant) - CAHB Postgraduate Conference 2023
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)