Archives Events

Get Writing for All – Monday Morning

These classes are ideal for anyone who enjoys writing or would like to start. No experience is necessary. The emphasis is on having fun and through a combination of reference to published texts, writing and listening, confidence is built in writing fiction and non-fiction. Short, optional homework exercises are set weekly with supportive feedback from […]

Get Writing for All – Tuesday Morning

These classes are ideal for anyone who enjoys writing or would like to start. No experience is necessary. The emphasis is on having fun and through a combination of reference to published texts, writing and listening, confidence is built in writing fiction and non-fiction. Short, optional homework exercises are set weekly with supportive feedback from […]

Tai Chi & Qigong

This course will continue to cover the basic principles and practical movements of both Tai Chi and Qigong (Dao Yin Yang Sheng Gong). Exercise involves: Physical Movement, Breathing, Mental understanding and attention.

Get Writing for All – Tuesday Afternoon

These classes are ideal for anyone who enjoys writing or would like to start. No experience is necessary. The emphasis is on having fun and through a combination of reference to published texts, writing and listening, confidence is built in writing fiction and non-fiction. Short, optional homework exercises are set weekly with supportive feedback from […]

Get Writing for All with Adrian Poynton – Tuesday Evening

These classes are ideal for anyone who enjoys writing or would like to start. No experience is necessary. The emphasis is on having fun and through a combination of reference to published texts, writing and listening, confidence is built in writing fiction and non-fiction. Short, optional homework exercises are set weekly with supportive feedback from […]

The Structure of Iconic Buildings

Once a building is finished, each visitor is happy enough to form his/her own impression of it. But the work of the engineers, which made the architect's vision a reality, continues invisibly to support that structure, whether it be Ancient, Medieval or Modern. With knowledge of that structure comes understanding (and even love) of the […]

Get Writing for All – Wednesday Morning

These classes are ideal for anyone who enjoys writing or would like to start. No experience is necessary. The emphasis is on having fun and through a combination of reference to published texts, writing and listening, confidence is built in writing fiction and non-fiction. Short, optional homework exercises are set weekly with supportive feedback from […]

Get Writing for All with Adrian Poynton – Wednesday Evening

These classes are ideal for anyone who enjoys writing or would like to start. No experience is necessary. The emphasis is on having fun and through a combination of reference to published texts, writing and listening, confidence is built in writing fiction and non-fiction. Short, optional homework exercises are set weekly with supportive feedback from […]

Singer-songwriters of the 60s & 70s

From very different musical backgrounds, singer-songwriters such as Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen and Randy Newman brought a powerful mix of storytelling, social commentary and self-exploration to the music scene in the late 60s and early 70s. In this short course we revisit their work and dip into the albums of contemporaries like Carole […]

Classical Studies

Classical studies involves looking at the ancient Greek and Roman world from the perspective of many different disciplines, including architecture, archaeology, art, drama, literature, philosophy, politics, religion, social history, and much more.

Myth in Greek Tragedy

Myth in the tragedies of Aeschylus, Euripides and Sophocles

Forensic Psychology

This course will explore how psychology can be used to understand criminal behaviour. For instance can offender profiling be useful in identifying an offender? What causes a person to become a criminal – is it their biology or their environment? What is the best way to deal with offender behaviour, for instance do prisons work? […]

Writing your Memoirs

Have you thought about writing your life story but are concerned that you will not know how? If so, this course is for you. In a supportive atmosphere, you will be offered suggestions designed to give you confidence in writing even if you have never done anything like this before. You may find that this […]

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

To mark the 250th anniversary of her birth we will be studying closely this beloved novel which the author herself suggested might be "too light, bright and sparkling." Is such a thing possible? The novel is a masterpiece, much imitated and often adapted, drawing us in from the famous opening line. Let's meet Elizabeth and […]

The Poetry of Seamus Heaney 1966-75

Seamus Heaney is probably the most renowned British poet of the past fifty years. His writing is moving, profound and linguistically extraordinary. This course will explore his first four collections of poetry, from ‘Death of a Naturalist’ to ‘North’. We will discuss individual poems and their context as well as looking at common themes and ideas.

KEYNES and his ECONOMICS

Keynes is considered one of the most influential economists of the 20th century, and his ideas have had a significant impact on modern economic policy. During this five-week course, we will look at his extraordinary contribution to government policy over the decades, and at the rise and fall of the popularity of his ideas and […]

Yoga

This yoga class will serve as an introduction, each week building on what is learned. Sessions will consider the underlying philosophy for up to 15 minutes, continue with an exploration of poses and flow, and end with a relaxation

Pilates – all levels including beginners

Pilates is an anti-aging, lifespan-enhancing method of safe and effective body conditioning, developed by Joseph Pilates, where exercise is simplified as required, according to ability. Pilates himself declared "...in ten sessions you feel the progress, in twenty sessions you see the progress, in thirty sessions, it will change your life." However, learners will need to […]

The Unification of Germany, 1789-1871

This ten-week course will examine how the multitude of small states on the eve of the French Revolution were transformed into a German Empire dominated by Prussia. To what extent was nationalism central to this process or was it mainly due to the iron and blood of the Prussian economy and army, masterminded by Bismarck. […]

Wrest, Women and Inheritance

Wrest Park in Bedfordshire is now known for an important 18th Century landscape garden; what is less know is the role that women owners had in creating and preserving it. We will look at how these ladies came to inherit the estate and what they did with it.

Get Writing for All – Monday Morning

These classes are ideal for anyone who enjoys writing or would like to start. No experience is necessary. The emphasis is on having fun and through a combination of reference to published texts, writing and listening, confidence is built in writing fiction and non-fiction. Short, optional homework exercises are set weekly with supportive feedback from […]

Writing your Memoirs

Have you thought about writing your life story but are concerned that you will not know how? If so, this course is for you. In a supportive atmosphere, you will be offered suggestions designed to give you confidence in writing even if you have never done anything like this before. You may find that this […]

Get Writing for All – Tuesday Morning

These classes are ideal for anyone who enjoys writing or would like to start. No experience is necessary. The emphasis is on having fun and through a combination of reference to published texts, writing and listening, confidence is built in writing fiction and non-fiction. Short, optional homework exercises are set weekly with supportive feedback from […]

The Story of Astronomy

In this course we will examine the development of Astronomy throughout history and see how our understanding of the Universe has changed as a result of improvements in astronomical instruments, and developments in the physical sciences. Our major themes will include: • Prehistoric Astronomy. • Astronomy in Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia and Greece. • The Scientific […]

Get Writing for All – Tuesday Afternoon

These classes are ideal for anyone who enjoys writing or would like to start. No experience is necessary. The emphasis is on having fun and through a combination of reference to published texts, writing and listening, confidence is built in writing fiction and non-fiction. Short, optional homework exercises are set weekly with supportive feedback from […]

Get Writing for All with Adrian Poynton – Tuesday Evening

These classes are ideal for anyone who enjoys writing or would like to start. No experience is necessary. The emphasis is on having fun and through a combination of reference to published texts, writing and listening, confidence is built in writing fiction and non-fiction. Short, optional homework exercises are set weekly with supportive feedback from […]

Pioneering Bridges

We will explore the engineering behind half a dozen of the UK's best-loved historic bridges, then move on to the structure of modern masterpieces. An engineering background is not required. The PowerPoints will be made available online to all participants.

Get Writing for All – Wednesday Morning

These classes are ideal for anyone who enjoys writing or would like to start. No experience is necessary. The emphasis is on having fun and through a combination of reference to published texts, writing and listening, confidence is built in writing fiction and non-fiction. Short, optional homework exercises are set weekly with supportive feedback from […]

Yoga

This yoga class will serve as an introduction, each week building on what is learned. Sessions will consider the underlying philosophy for up to 15 minutes, continue with an exploration of poses and flow, and end with a relaxation.

Get Writing for All with Adrian Poynton – Wednesday Evening

These classes are ideal for anyone who enjoys writing or would like to start. No experience is necessary. The emphasis is on having fun and through a combination of reference to published texts, writing and listening, confidence is built in writing fiction and non-fiction. Short, optional homework exercises are set weekly with supportive feedback from […]

1945: The first months of peace

1945: The first months of peace As we mark 80 years since the end of the Second World War, join us for a course exploring how the people of Britain adapted to the challenges of peace. As the relief and euphoria of victory subsided, how did our parents’ and grandparents’ generation respond to the emotional […]

Introduction to Psychology

Ever wondered why people act the way they do? Want to understand what influences and motivates their behaviour? What impact do childhood experiences play and what could I learn? By learning about the human mind and behaviour you are able to have a greater understanding about your own and other’s thoughts, feelings and actions. The […]

Classical Studies

Classical studies involves looking at the ancient Greek and Roman world from the perspective of many different disciplines, including architecture, archaeology, art, drama, literature, philosophy, politics, religion, social history, and much more.

Myth in Greek Tragedy

Myth in tragedies of Aeschylus, Euripides and Sophocles

Meet the Victorians

This course will begin with a lecture offering a portrait of the age, to be followed by four talks on eminent mid-Victorians: Bagehot, Arnold, Ruskin and Eliot. Meet the Victorians is a new initiative, led by established Settlement tutor, Michael Williams where learners will be encouraged to read relevant material before and after class. The […]

A Journey through the Harem: its History and Purpose and its Effect on Literature, Painting and Architecture

Harems existed in the Middle East long before the rise of Islam. Their purpose was to protect women from inappropriate contact with men. In fact, the word Harem means "forbidden" or "sacred" in Arabic. It was the place housing mothers, wives, daughters and underage children in addition to eunuchs. So the famous Odalisques painted by […]

Keep Up to Date

We no longer produce an annual brochure. This is simply because things change so quickly—we're always adding new courses, workshops and events, and a printed brochure can’t keep up! Not printing the brochure also helps us save on costs, so we can spend more on improving the activities and facilities we offer.

But don’t worry—getting the latest information is still easy. You can find up-to-date details of all our courses, workshops and events on our website, and we continue to put notices on the boards inside the Settlement building, just as before.

If you’d like up to date information sent straight to you, please sign up for our regular Settlement Newsletter. It’s a friendly way to stay in the loop, and we’re here to help if you need a hand with anything.