Join Stephen Ellcock and Leah Gordon, co-authors of Common People: A Folk History of Land Rights, Enclosure and Resistance, for a discussion at Foyles about land access and our relationship to the countryside with Uncommon Ground author Patrick Galbraith.
How has the history of enclosure and the loss of common land in England shaped the landscape, economy, and politics of modern Britain? And how can we move forward with land access reform that benefits people as well as wildlife?
Stephen Ellcock’s and Leah Gordon’s Common People: A Folk History of Land Rights, Enclosure and Resistance, through diverse artworks, writings and photography, traces the history of the enclosure of common land in England and the stories of those who over the centuries have attempted to resist this.
In Uncommon Ground Patrick Galbraith takes us on an extraordinary tour of rural Britain, from the Hebrides to Devon, and from Anglo-Saxon England to the present day, to understand our deep connection with the land and to weigh the arguments surrounding land access in modern Britain.
Stephen Ellcock is a London-based collector and curator of images, writer, researcher and former musician and bookseller. His ongoing attempt at creating the ultimate social media ‘Cabinet of Curiosities’ has so far attracted more than 350,000 followers and increasing media attention, not all of which is unwelcome. He is the author of several books including The Book of Change: Images to Inspire Revelations and Revolutions; All Good Things: A Treasury of Images to Uplift the Spirits and Reawaken Wonder and England on Fire.
Leah Gordon is an artist, curator and writer. Her film and photographic work has been exhibited internationally including at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney; the Dak’art Biennale; the National Portrait Gallery, UK and MOCA, Miami, Florida. She is the author of Kanaval and the director and producer of the award-winning documentary Kanaval: A People’s History of Haiti in Six Chapters.
Patrick Galbraith grew up in Scotland. His writing has appeared in The Observer, The Spectator, The Times, and The Telegraph. He was editor of Shooting Times for seven years. He is now a columnist for Country Life and The Critic. He is the author of In Search of One Last Song, and Uncommon Ground: Rethinking Our Relationship with the Countryside.
This event will be chaired by author and journalist Ali Millar, the author of The Last Days and Anna Ava Ada.
The discussion will be followed by an audience Q&A and book signing. Your ticket includes a complimentary glass of wine.
Image Credit: Self Shadowgram, 1958 by kind permission of the estate of Dr Jouhar
