The Gladstone Umbrella 2023



The Gladstone Umbrella is held Friday 30th June to Sunday 2nd July


We are very pleased to announce that the Gladstone Umbrella is set to return in July 2023!

Whether you’ve grown up with a love of history and Victoriana or you’re an academic with a penchant for the ‘Grand Old Man’, no matter your background the Gladstone Umbrella is the conference for you.

This event includes a public lecture held by conference organiser and Gladstone scholar David Brooks. “Gladstone – man of his century” takes place from 5-6pm Friday 30th June. Tickets are £10. Click here for more information.

This conference includes presentations from dedicated Gladstone researchers, but there is also time for fun with a quiz and Victorian charades.

The course package includes the conference and full board, bed and breakfast unless otherwise stated.

One delegate in a single ensuite: £400 (or £304 with a student, clergy or Society of Authors discount)

Two delegates in a twin or double: £620 (or £500 with discounts)

One delegate in a double or twin occupancy: £460 (or £360 with discount)

One delegate and one non-delegate guest in a twin or double: £550 (or £450 with discount)

Non residential £220

You can book your stay by email: [email protected] or by telephone 01244 532350 (please note: You can leave a message and we will call you back). Please note that the single ensuite rooms are limited.

The colloquium invites offers of papers on William Gladstone and the nineteenth century relating to politics, history and literature. In the past it has proved incredibly varied and we welcome all offers of papers for this year’s event, to be sent to David Brooks c/o Gill Wigglesworth.

Those presenting a paper will receive a discount of £20 off their package rate.


The schedule:

Friday 30th June

3pm Arrival with refreshments in the Gladstone Room

3.30pm Welcome from the Warden, Andrea Russell

3.45pm The Gladstone Archive: Talk with Alexandra Foulds (Archivist)

4.15pm Free time

5pm Public Lecture (in the Chapel). Presented by the Umbrella’s convenor, David Brooks – Gladstone man of his century

6.15pm Drinks reception in the Gladstone Room

7pm Dinner

8pm Suzette Hill – Gladstone and Manning: unity and discord

Saturday 1st July

8.00am Breakfast

9.30am Jason Jackson – The Aclands: a Devonshire family and its associations with Gladstone

10.15am Jim McGowan – JL Hammond’s Gladstone and the Irish Nation

11 am Coffee

11.30am Roland Quinault – Gladstone and John Morley

12.15 pm Jenny West – A tale of two residences: comparisons and contrasts

1 pm Lunch

2 15pm Guided walk with Hawarden Community Walks

4.30 pm Tea

5.15pm Richard Wallington – Gladstone and divorce law reform

6pm Tony Little – Politics, principles priorities: Gladstone and the Opium Wars

7pm Dinner

8pm Charades in the Gladstone or Glynne Room (tbc) – all welcome

Sunday 2nd July

8.00am Breakfast and check out

9.30am James Dixon – The Civil List: did he or didn’t he? (Victoria, Gladstone, Dixon and Dilke)

10.15am Michael Wheeler – Gladstone and Maynooth: the heart and soul of a statesman

11am Coffee

11.30am Gladstone Quiz and final forum

1pm Lunch and departure


David Brooks was educated at Bedford School and Emmanuel College, Cambridge, of which he later became a Fellow. His doctoral thesis was on Gladstone’s Fourth Ministry, 1892-94, and his published works include The Destruction of Lord Rosebery, 1894-95 and The Age of Upheaval: Edwardian politics, 1899-1914. For most of his career he has taught in the School of History at Queen Mary University of London.

A 50% deposit will be required to confirm the booking.

We hope to hear from you soon and we look forward to welcoming you back to Gladstone’s Library for this very special event.