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Matthew Cragoe

University of Lincoln, History, Faculty Member

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Address: Enfield, United Kingdom

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London School of Economics and Political Science

University of Stirling

University of Liverpool

Liverpool John Moores University

University of Edinburgh

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Papers by Matthew Cragoe

‘“We like local patriotism”: The Conservative Party & the discourse of decentralisation, 1947-51’

English Historical Review, 2007

This article explores the ways in which the Conservative Party combatted the perceived centralisi... more This article explores the ways in which the Conservative Party combatted the perceived centralising tendencies of Attlee's Labour Government by having recourse to a 'discourse of decentralization', summed up in the famous phrase 'Town Hall not Whitehall'. The theme of centralisation and its corrosive effects upon both individual freedom and local identity reached a crescendo during the election campaigns of 1950 and 1951, and played their part in the Tories' electoral success.

The parish elite at play? Cricket, community and the 'middling sort' in eighteenth-century Kent

This article aims to extend understanding of the rural middling sort by exploring their engagemen... more This article aims to extend understanding of the rural middling sort by exploring their engagement with cricket. Cricket enjoyed considerable popularity across the south-eastern counties by the mid-eighteenth century; however, very few sources have survived and so our knowledge of the game – especially at the grass roots – is very limited. The article focuses on a unique set of scorecards from a club founded in 1773 in the Kentish village of Wingham, and uses these to examine both who was playing village cricket in this period, and the nature of the social and cultural networks in which it was embedded. As will be seen, those engaging in the game were closely associated with the larger farmers, tradesmen and artizans in the village. The same groups ran the parish vestry, and it is suggested that cricket flourished in this period because it provided a suitable outlet for the middling sort to display their social status both within and beyond the bounds of their own parishes. HISTORY Volume 102, Issue 349 January 2017 Pages 45–67

My Lincolnshire Collection: An App to Foster Engagement with Local Heritage

by Effie Le Moignan and Matthew Cragoe

My Lincolnshire Collection represents a collaborative project between the areas of Human-Computer... more My Lincolnshire Collection represents a collaborative project between the areas of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Heritage to develop a software application designed to promote local heritage visitation within Lincolnshire, UK. The app aimed to gather data on which heritage types are most appealing to local residents and visitors to the area and to widen the public perception of what constitutes cultural heritage. Designed to leverage the popularity of web enabled mobile devices and desktop/laptop PCs alike, and utilizing the sharing power of social media, the app creates a novel platform through which to promote heritage and explore the demographic appeal of a web-app in this context. Findings indicate a positive response to the app but indicate that this medium requires a significant amount of targeted publicity and promotion to recruit participants.

Northamptonshire tithes IJRLH final

This article explores the tithe system in eighteenth-century Northamptonshire. At enclosure, many... more This article explores the tithe system in eighteenth-century Northamptonshire. At enclosure, many clergy exchanged their right to take tithe for a portion of the newly enclosed land in the parish. The article argues that while the clergy made financial gains from this, more important was the removal of a recurrent source of dissension with parishioners. As such the article tempers the dominant narrative that emphasizes only the material enrichment of the clergy at enclosure, and sees the social and cultural gulf this opened up between the clergy and their parishioners as a potent source of rural anticlericalism.

Parliamentary enclosure, vermin and the cultural life of English parishes, 1750-1850

by Matthew Cragoe and Briony McDonagh

Continuity and Change 28.1, pp. 27-50

This article explores the impact of parliamentary enclosure on the cultural life of English villa... more This article explores the impact of parliamentary enclosure on the cultural life of English villages after 1750. It focuses on parish-sponsored vermin control, arguing that the popular ‘hunting’ sanctioned by parish vestries under Tudor legislation, and persisting into the early nineteenth century, created a highly participatory recreational culture which continued to exist under the radar of the game laws. Using a sample of parishes from the heavily enclosed county of Northamptonshire, the article demonstrates that this communal activity survived the reworking of the landscape by parliamentary enclosure, and that, by extension, the level of disruption to village cultural life was less than has been suggested.

Defending the Nation edited

The Art of the Possible: Politics and Governance in modern British History, 1885-1997: Essays in memory of Duncan Tanner (1958-2010), eds Andrew Edwards and Chris Williams, 2014

In retrospect, the interwar years represented a golden age for British Conservatism.

Asa Briggs and Sussex - a Cold War context

In 1967, Asa Briggs became the second Vice Chancellor of the University of Sussex to a chorus of ... more In 1967, Asa Briggs became the second Vice Chancellor of the University of Sussex to a chorus of approval. The Times in an article on the appointment summarised his career to date -his war record, the notable feat of taking firsts in two degrees from different institutions, Cambridge and LSE, and then his emergence as 'one of the outstanding historians since the war'. 1 In his time at Oxford, it purred, he 'could fill a lecture hall to overflowing' and was now 'familiar to television viewers'. External adulation was matched by internal enthusiasm. The out-going VC, Sir John Fulton, considered the appointment 'wholly admirable'. 2 In his final address to the annual meeting of the University Court he highlighted his professional and personal qualifications for the role. Asa knew the Higher Education landscape intimately, he declared, having worked at five British universities, held fellowships at several international institutions, and been a long-term member of the University Grants Committee (UGC). 3 He was also outward-looking, as befits the educational climate of our times: in age poised perfectly to bridge the generations; above all, a leader of the little team which believed strongly enough in the vision of the Sussex-to-be to choose to come here in preference to all the other opportunities and prospects which were then beckoning.

Cockney Sportsmen? Recreational Shooting in London and beyond, 1800–1870

in Karen Jones, Giacomo Macola and David Welch (eds.), New Perspectives on Firearms in the Age of Empire (Ashgate), 2013

‘Sir Robert Peel and the “moral authority” of the House of Commons, 1832-41’

English Historical Review, cxxviii (2013), pp. 55-77, 2013

The Great Reform Act and the Modernization of British Politics: The Impact of Conservative Associations, 1835–1841

Journal of British Studies, 2008

‘‘A contemptible mimic of the Irish’: the land question in Victorian Wales’,

The Land Question in Britain, 1750-1950, eds Matthew Cragoe and Paul Readman (Palgrave, 2009), 2009

Conservatives, 'Englishness' and 'Civic Nationalism' between the Wars

Debating Nationhood and Governance in Britain, 1885-1939: Perspectives from Four Nations, eds. D. Tanner et al. (Manchester, 2006), pp. 192-210

George Osborne Morgan, Henry Richard, and the Politics of Religion in Wales, 1868-74

Parliamentary History, 2008

At the general election of 1868, the Liberals won no fewer than 23 of the 33 seats in Wales. In D... more At the general election of 1868, the Liberals won no fewer than 23 of the 33 seats in Wales. In December 1868, the most famous Welsh-language journalist ofthe day, John Griffith, better known by his pen name 'Y Gohebydd' hailed the result as destined to demonstrate to English public opinion 'that there is such a nation on the face ofthe earth as Wales; that this nation has its notables, has its views on matters ofpoliticsin a word, that we are here, and are determined to live'.' The following year, the editor ofthe leading English-language newspaper in North Wales, the Carnarvon and Denbigh Herald, celebrated the first session ofthe new parliament: 'Wales for once is truly represented by her own sons, and the voice and moral power of the Welsh constituencies have been asserted'.2 With the shackles oftoryism broken, it seemed, Wales had entered a new era.

The Anatomy of an Eviction Campaign: The General Election of 1868 in Wales and its Aftermath

Rural History-economy Society Culture, 1998

... 186 Matthew Cragoe ... He and his wife had been rehoused on a small cottage on the estate, an... more

Welsh Electioneering and the Purpose of Parliament: ‘From Radicalism to Nationalism’ Reconsidered

Parliamentary History, 2008

CONSCIENCE OR COERCION? CLERICAL INFLUENCE AT THE GENERAL ELECTION OF 1868 IN WALES

Past & Present, 1995

A cheaper sort of member'? Welsh MPs, select committees and the representation of local interests in parliament 1852–1865

Parliaments, Estates and Representation, 1994

This paper explores the extent to which MPs from different areas of the British Isles represented... more This paper explores the extent to which MPs from different areas of the British Isles represented the interests of their constituents in parliament before the Second Reform Act. Although it considers MPs from all areas, the focus is on Members from Wales. Select Committees offer the opportunity of examining MPs’ involvement with a broad range of issues in an environment where the imperatives of party attachment were at a minimum. Membership was voluntary, but Committees were composed of those whose experience or knowledge was deemed pertinent to the subject of inquiry. Since MPs were often closely associated with the material interests of their constituents it seems reasonable to suggest that those involved with a large number of Committees represented their constituents’ interests well. Examination of the records of Commons’ Select Committees during two complete parliaments (1852–7 and 1859–65) suggests that MPs from Ireland, Scotland and, particularly, Wales generally paid attention to a broader range of ‘local interest’ issues than did those representing English county and borough seats. The evidence also suggests that Welsh MPs were not as unmindful of the real interests of the Principality as contemporary radicals (and some modern historians) have claimed.

Drafts by Matthew Cragoe

The Church of England and the enclosure of England’s Open Fields – a Northamptonshire case study.

This article explores the tithe system in eighteenth-century Northamptonshire. At enclosure, man... more This article explores the tithe system in eighteenth-century Northamptonshire. At enclosure, many clergy exchanged their right to take tithe for a portion of the newly enclosed land in the parish. The article argues that while the clergy made financial gains from this, more important was the removal of a recurrent source of dissension with parishioners. As such the article tempers the dominant narrative that emphasizes only the material enrichment of the clergy at enclosure, and sees the social and cultural gulf this opened up between the clergy and their parishioners as a potent source of rural anticlericalism.

‘“We like local patriotism”: The Conservative Party & the discourse of decentralisation, 1947-51’

English Historical Review, 2007

This article explores the ways in which the Conservative Party combatted the perceived centralisi... more This article explores the ways in which the Conservative Party combatted the perceived centralising tendencies of Attlee's Labour Government by having recourse to a 'discourse of decentralization', summed up in the famous phrase 'Town Hall not Whitehall'. The theme of centralisation and its corrosive effects upon both individual freedom and local identity reached a crescendo during the election campaigns of 1950 and 1951, and played their part in the Tories' electoral success.

The parish elite at play? Cricket, community and the 'middling sort' in eighteenth-century Kent

This article aims to extend understanding of the rural middling sort by exploring their engagemen... more This article aims to extend understanding of the rural middling sort by exploring their engagement with cricket. Cricket enjoyed considerable popularity across the south-eastern counties by the mid-eighteenth century; however, very few sources have survived and so our knowledge of the game – especially at the grass roots – is very limited. The article focuses on a unique set of scorecards from a club founded in 1773 in the Kentish village of Wingham, and uses these to examine both who was playing village cricket in this period, and the nature of the social and cultural networks in which it was embedded. As will be seen, those engaging in the game were closely associated with the larger farmers, tradesmen and artizans in the village. The same groups ran the parish vestry, and it is suggested that cricket flourished in this period because it provided a suitable outlet for the middling sort to display their social status both within and beyond the bounds of their own parishes. HISTORY Volume 102, Issue 349 January 2017 Pages 45–67

My Lincolnshire Collection: An App to Foster Engagement with Local Heritage

by Effie Le Moignan and Matthew Cragoe

My Lincolnshire Collection represents a collaborative project between the areas of Human-Computer... more My Lincolnshire Collection represents a collaborative project between the areas of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and Heritage to develop a software application designed to promote local heritage visitation within Lincolnshire, UK. The app aimed to gather data on which heritage types are most appealing to local residents and visitors to the area and to widen the public perception of what constitutes cultural heritage. Designed to leverage the popularity of web enabled mobile devices and desktop/laptop PCs alike, and utilizing the sharing power of social media, the app creates a novel platform through which to promote heritage and explore the demographic appeal of a web-app in this context. Findings indicate a positive response to the app but indicate that this medium requires a significant amount of targeted publicity and promotion to recruit participants.

Northamptonshire tithes IJRLH final

This article explores the tithe system in eighteenth-century Northamptonshire. At enclosure, many... more This article explores the tithe system in eighteenth-century Northamptonshire. At enclosure, many clergy exchanged their right to take tithe for a portion of the newly enclosed land in the parish. The article argues that while the clergy made financial gains from this, more important was the removal of a recurrent source of dissension with parishioners. As such the article tempers the dominant narrative that emphasizes only the material enrichment of the clergy at enclosure, and sees the social and cultural gulf this opened up between the clergy and their parishioners as a potent source of rural anticlericalism.

Parliamentary enclosure, vermin and the cultural life of English parishes, 1750-1850

by Matthew Cragoe and Briony McDonagh

Continuity and Change 28.1, pp. 27-50

This article explores the impact of parliamentary enclosure on the cultural life of English villa... more This article explores the impact of parliamentary enclosure on the cultural life of English villages after 1750. It focuses on parish-sponsored vermin control, arguing that the popular ‘hunting’ sanctioned by parish vestries under Tudor legislation, and persisting into the early nineteenth century, created a highly participatory recreational culture which continued to exist under the radar of the game laws. Using a sample of parishes from the heavily enclosed county of Northamptonshire, the article demonstrates that this communal activity survived the reworking of the landscape by parliamentary enclosure, and that, by extension, the level of disruption to village cultural life was less than has been suggested.

Defending the Nation edited

The Art of the Possible: Politics and Governance in modern British History, 1885-1997: Essays in memory of Duncan Tanner (1958-2010), eds Andrew Edwards and Chris Williams, 2014

In retrospect, the interwar years represented a golden age for British Conservatism.

Asa Briggs and Sussex - a Cold War context

In 1967, Asa Briggs became the second Vice Chancellor of the University of Sussex to a chorus of ... more In 1967, Asa Briggs became the second Vice Chancellor of the University of Sussex to a chorus of approval. The Times in an article on the appointment summarised his career to date -his war record, the notable feat of taking firsts in two degrees from different institutions, Cambridge and LSE, and then his emergence as 'one of the outstanding historians since the war'. 1 In his time at Oxford, it purred, he 'could fill a lecture hall to overflowing' and was now 'familiar to television viewers'. External adulation was matched by internal enthusiasm. The out-going VC, Sir John Fulton, considered the appointment 'wholly admirable'. 2 In his final address to the annual meeting of the University Court he highlighted his professional and personal qualifications for the role. Asa knew the Higher Education landscape intimately, he declared, having worked at five British universities, held fellowships at several international institutions, and been a long-term member of the University Grants Committee (UGC). 3 He was also outward-looking, as befits the educational climate of our times: in age poised perfectly to bridge the generations; above all, a leader of the little team which believed strongly enough in the vision of the Sussex-to-be to choose to come here in preference to all the other opportunities and prospects which were then beckoning.

Cockney Sportsmen? Recreational Shooting in London and beyond, 1800–1870

in Karen Jones, Giacomo Macola and David Welch (eds.), New Perspectives on Firearms in the Age of Empire (Ashgate), 2013

‘Sir Robert Peel and the “moral authority” of the House of Commons, 1832-41’

English Historical Review, cxxviii (2013), pp. 55-77, 2013

The Great Reform Act and the Modernization of British Politics: The Impact of Conservative Associations, 1835–1841

Journal of British Studies, 2008

‘‘A contemptible mimic of the Irish’: the land question in Victorian Wales’,

The Land Question in Britain, 1750-1950, eds Matthew Cragoe and Paul Readman (Palgrave, 2009), 2009

Conservatives, 'Englishness' and 'Civic Nationalism' between the Wars

Debating Nationhood and Governance in Britain, 1885-1939: Perspectives from Four Nations, eds. D. Tanner et al. (Manchester, 2006), pp. 192-210

George Osborne Morgan, Henry Richard, and the Politics of Religion in Wales, 1868-74

Parliamentary History, 2008

At the general election of 1868, the Liberals won no fewer than 23 of the 33 seats in Wales. In D... more At the general election of 1868, the Liberals won no fewer than 23 of the 33 seats in Wales. In December 1868, the most famous Welsh-language journalist ofthe day, John Griffith, better known by his pen name 'Y Gohebydd' hailed the result as destined to demonstrate to English public opinion 'that there is such a nation on the face ofthe earth as Wales; that this nation has its notables, has its views on matters ofpoliticsin a word, that we are here, and are determined to live'.' The following year, the editor ofthe leading English-language newspaper in North Wales, the Carnarvon and Denbigh Herald, celebrated the first session ofthe new parliament: 'Wales for once is truly represented by her own sons, and the voice and moral power of the Welsh constituencies have been asserted'.2 With the shackles oftoryism broken, it seemed, Wales had entered a new era.

The Anatomy of an Eviction Campaign: The General Election of 1868 in Wales and its Aftermath

Rural History-economy Society Culture, 1998

... 186 Matthew Cragoe ... He and his wife had been rehoused on a small cottage on the estate, an... more

Welsh Electioneering and the Purpose of Parliament: ‘From Radicalism to Nationalism’ Reconsidered

Parliamentary History, 2008

CONSCIENCE OR COERCION? CLERICAL INFLUENCE AT THE GENERAL ELECTION OF 1868 IN WALES

Past & Present, 1995

A cheaper sort of member'? Welsh MPs, select committees and the representation of local interests in parliament 1852–1865

Parliaments, Estates and Representation, 1994

This paper explores the extent to which MPs from different areas of the British Isles represented... more This paper explores the extent to which MPs from different areas of the British Isles represented the interests of their constituents in parliament before the Second Reform Act. Although it considers MPs from all areas, the focus is on Members from Wales. Select Committees offer the opportunity of examining MPs’ involvement with a broad range of issues in an environment where the imperatives of party attachment were at a minimum. Membership was voluntary, but Committees were composed of those whose experience or knowledge was deemed pertinent to the subject of inquiry. Since MPs were often closely associated with the material interests of their constituents it seems reasonable to suggest that those involved with a large number of Committees represented their constituents’ interests well. Examination of the records of Commons’ Select Committees during two complete parliaments (1852–7 and 1859–65) suggests that MPs from Ireland, Scotland and, particularly, Wales generally paid attention to a broader range of ‘local interest’ issues than did those representing English county and borough seats. The evidence also suggests that Welsh MPs were not as unmindful of the real interests of the Principality as contemporary radicals (and some modern historians) have claimed.

The Church of England and the enclosure of England’s Open Fields – a Northamptonshire case study.

This article explores the tithe system in eighteenth-century Northamptonshire. At enclosure, man... more This article explores the tithe system in eighteenth-century Northamptonshire. At enclosure, many clergy exchanged their right to take tithe for a portion of the newly enclosed land in the parish. The article argues that while the clergy made financial gains from this, more important was the removal of a recurrent source of dissension with parishioners. As such the article tempers the dominant narrative that emphasizes only the material enrichment of the clergy at enclosure, and sees the social and cultural gulf this opened up between the clergy and their parishioners as a potent source of rural anticlericalism.