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Dr Bronach Kane
(she/her)
Teams and roles for Bronach Kane
Senior Lecturer in Medieval History
Overview
Research interests
- Late medieval British and European history
- Social, cultural and religious history of late medieval England
- Gender and women's history
Publication
2025
- Kane, B. 2025. The Hospitallers, Lordship and the Peasants' Revolt. In: Edbury, P. and Webster, P. eds. Military Orders and Crusades: Essays Presented to Helen Nicholson. Routledge
2023
- Kane, B. and Sandall, S. 2023. Quakerism, gender and community in late seventeenth-century Hampshire. Southern History 45, pp. 47-66.
2021
- Kane, B. 2021. Men and women in love: courtship, marriage and gender in late Medieval England. In: Brooks, A. ed. The Routledge Companion to Romantic Love. London: Routledge
- Kane, B. 2021. Neighbourhood and local knowledge in later Medieval England. In: Kane, B. C. and Sandall, S. eds. The Experience of Neighbourhood in Medieval and Early Modern Europe. Studies in Medieval History and Culture Abingdon and New York: Routledge, pp. 30-47.
- Kane, B. and Sandall, S. 2021. Introduction: Neighbourhood in late Medieval and Early Modern Europe revisited. In: Kane, B. C. and Sandall, S. eds. The Experience of Neighbourhood in Medieval and Early Modern Europe. Studies in Medieval History and Culture Abingdon and New York: Routledge, pp. 1-11.
- Kane, B. C. and Sandall, S. eds. 2021. The experience of neighbourhood in Medieval and Early Modern Europe. Studies in Medieval History and Culture. Abingdon and New York: Routledge.
2020
- Kane, B. 2020. A biographical register of the Franciscans in the custody of York, c.1229–1539, ed. Michael J.P. Robson. (London, 2019) [Book Review]. Archives: The Journal of the British Records Association 55(2), pp. 53-55. (10.3828/archives.2020.14)
- Kane, B. C. 2020. Popular Memory and Gender in Medieval England: Men, Women and Testimony in the Church Courts, c. 1200-1500 by Dr Bronach C. Kane. [Online]. womenshistorynetwork.org: Women's History Network. Available at: https://womenshistorynetwork.org/popular-memory-and-gender-in-medieval-england-men-women-and-testimony-in-the-church-courts-c-1200-1500-by-dr-bronach-c-kane/
2019
- Kane, B. 2019. Ecclesiastical court records for social and cultural history. In: Sandberg, R. et al. eds. Research Handbook on Interdisciplinary Approaches to Law and Religion. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar
- Sandberg, R. et al. eds. 2019. Research handbook on interdisciplinary approaches to law and religion. Edward Elgar.
- Kane, B. C. 2019. Popular memory and gender in Medieval England: Men, women and testimony in the Church Courts, c.1200-1500. Gender in the Middle Ages. Boydell & Brewer.
2018
- Kane, B. 2018. Defamation, gender and hierarchy in Late Medieval Yorkshire. Social History 43(3), pp. 356-374. (10.1080/03071022.2018.1472886)
2017
- Kane, B. 2017. Elizabeth Cox, Liz Herbert McAvoy and Roberta Magnani (eds), Reconsidering Gender, Time and Memory in Medieval Culture (Cambridge, 2015) [Book Review]. Gender & History 29(2), pp. 487-489. (10.1111/1468-0424.12308)
2015
- Kane, B. 2015. Courtship, childbearing and gender in Late Medieval England. Fruhneuzeit-Info 26, pp. 14-23.
2014
- Kane, B. 2014. Gender in the history profession: the early career perspective. Presented at: RHS Gender Equality Seminars, UCL, London, UK, November 2014.
2013
- Kane, B. 2013. Custom, memory and knowledge in the Medieval English Church Courts. In: Hayes, R. C. E. and Sheils, W. eds. Clergy, Church and Society in England and Wales c.1200-1800. Borthwick Texts and Studies York: Borthwick Institute Publications, pp. 61-81.
- Kane, B. and Williamson, F. 2013. Introduction. In: Kane, B. and Williamson, F. eds. Women, Agency and the Law, 1300-1700. Pickering & Chatto, pp. 1-16.
- Kane, B. 2013. Women, memory and testimony in the Medieval ecclesiastical courts of Canterbury and York. In: Kane, B. and Williamson, F. eds. Women, Agency and the Law, 1300-1700. Pickering & Chatto, pp. 43-62.
- Kane, B. and Williamson, F. eds. 2013. Women, agency and the law, 1300–1700. The Body, Gender and Culture Vol. 15. London: Pickering & Chatto.
2012
- Kane, B. 2012. Social representations of memory and gender in later medieval England. Integrative Psychological and Behavioural Science 46(4), pp. 544-558. (10.1007/s12124-012-9220-0)
- Kane, B. 2012. Reading emotion and gender in the later medieval English Church courts. Frühneuzeit-Info 23(1-2), pp. 53-63.
2010
- Kane, B. 2010. Return of the native: Franciscan education and astrological practice in the medieval north of England. In: Robson, M. and Rohrkasten, J. eds. Franciscan Organisation in the Mendicant Context: Formal and Informal Structures of the Friars' Lives and Ministry in the Middle Ages. Vita regularis. Abhandlungen Vol. 44. Berlin: Lit Verlag, pp. 281-306.
2008
- Kane, B. 2008. Impotence and virginity in the late Medieval ecclesiastical court of York. Working paper. York: Borthwick Texts.
2007
- Rees Jones, S. et al. 2007. The later Medieval English urban household. History Compass 5(1), pp. 112-158. (10.1111/j.1478-0542.2006.00364.x)
- Kane, B. 2007. The household as a site of personal memory. History Compass 5(1), pp. 134-135. (10.1111/j.1478-0542.2006.00364.x)
- Kane, B. 2007. Personal memory, collective testimony and masculinity in the late Medieval Church court of York. Marginalia 5, article number: 07Trial.
Articles
- Kane, B. and Sandall, S. 2023. Quakerism, gender and community in late seventeenth-century Hampshire. Southern History 45, pp. 47-66.
- Kane, B. 2020. A biographical register of the Franciscans in the custody of York, c.1229–1539, ed. Michael J.P. Robson. (London, 2019) [Book Review]. Archives: The Journal of the British Records Association 55(2), pp. 53-55. (10.3828/archives.2020.14)
- Kane, B. 2018. Defamation, gender and hierarchy in Late Medieval Yorkshire. Social History 43(3), pp. 356-374. (10.1080/03071022.2018.1472886)
- Kane, B. 2017. Elizabeth Cox, Liz Herbert McAvoy and Roberta Magnani (eds), Reconsidering Gender, Time and Memory in Medieval Culture (Cambridge, 2015) [Book Review]. Gender & History 29(2), pp. 487-489. (10.1111/1468-0424.12308)
- Kane, B. 2015. Courtship, childbearing and gender in Late Medieval England. Fruhneuzeit-Info 26, pp. 14-23.
- Kane, B. 2012. Social representations of memory and gender in later medieval England. Integrative Psychological and Behavioural Science 46(4), pp. 544-558. (10.1007/s12124-012-9220-0)
- Kane, B. 2012. Reading emotion and gender in the later medieval English Church courts. Frühneuzeit-Info 23(1-2), pp. 53-63.
- Rees Jones, S. et al. 2007. The later Medieval English urban household. History Compass 5(1), pp. 112-158. (10.1111/j.1478-0542.2006.00364.x)
- Kane, B. 2007. The household as a site of personal memory. History Compass 5(1), pp. 134-135. (10.1111/j.1478-0542.2006.00364.x)
- Kane, B. 2007. Personal memory, collective testimony and masculinity in the late Medieval Church court of York. Marginalia 5, article number: 07Trial.
Book sections
- Kane, B. 2025. The Hospitallers, Lordship and the Peasants' Revolt. In: Edbury, P. and Webster, P. eds. Military Orders and Crusades: Essays Presented to Helen Nicholson. Routledge
- Kane, B. 2021. Men and women in love: courtship, marriage and gender in late Medieval England. In: Brooks, A. ed. The Routledge Companion to Romantic Love. London: Routledge
- Kane, B. 2021. Neighbourhood and local knowledge in later Medieval England. In: Kane, B. C. and Sandall, S. eds. The Experience of Neighbourhood in Medieval and Early Modern Europe. Studies in Medieval History and Culture Abingdon and New York: Routledge, pp. 30-47.
- Kane, B. and Sandall, S. 2021. Introduction: Neighbourhood in late Medieval and Early Modern Europe revisited. In: Kane, B. C. and Sandall, S. eds. The Experience of Neighbourhood in Medieval and Early Modern Europe. Studies in Medieval History and Culture Abingdon and New York: Routledge, pp. 1-11.
- Kane, B. 2019. Ecclesiastical court records for social and cultural history. In: Sandberg, R. et al. eds. Research Handbook on Interdisciplinary Approaches to Law and Religion. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar
- Kane, B. 2013. Custom, memory and knowledge in the Medieval English Church Courts. In: Hayes, R. C. E. and Sheils, W. eds. Clergy, Church and Society in England and Wales c.1200-1800. Borthwick Texts and Studies York: Borthwick Institute Publications, pp. 61-81.
- Kane, B. and Williamson, F. 2013. Introduction. In: Kane, B. and Williamson, F. eds. Women, Agency and the Law, 1300-1700. Pickering & Chatto, pp. 1-16.
- Kane, B. 2013. Women, memory and testimony in the Medieval ecclesiastical courts of Canterbury and York. In: Kane, B. and Williamson, F. eds. Women, Agency and the Law, 1300-1700. Pickering & Chatto, pp. 43-62.
- Kane, B. 2010. Return of the native: Franciscan education and astrological practice in the medieval north of England. In: Robson, M. and Rohrkasten, J. eds. Franciscan Organisation in the Mendicant Context: Formal and Informal Structures of the Friars' Lives and Ministry in the Middle Ages. Vita regularis. Abhandlungen Vol. 44. Berlin: Lit Verlag, pp. 281-306.
Books
- Kane, B. C. and Sandall, S. eds. 2021. The experience of neighbourhood in Medieval and Early Modern Europe. Studies in Medieval History and Culture. Abingdon and New York: Routledge.
- Sandberg, R. et al. eds. 2019. Research handbook on interdisciplinary approaches to law and religion. Edward Elgar.
- Kane, B. C. 2019. Popular memory and gender in Medieval England: Men, women and testimony in the Church Courts, c.1200-1500. Gender in the Middle Ages. Boydell & Brewer.
- Kane, B. and Williamson, F. eds. 2013. Women, agency and the law, 1300–1700. The Body, Gender and Culture Vol. 15. London: Pickering & Chatto.
Conferences
- Kane, B. 2014. Gender in the history profession: the early career perspective. Presented at: RHS Gender Equality Seminars, UCL, London, UK, November 2014.
Monographs
- Kane, B. 2008. Impotence and virginity in the late Medieval ecclesiastical court of York. Working paper. York: Borthwick Texts.
Websites
- Kane, B. C. 2020. Popular Memory and Gender in Medieval England: Men, Women and Testimony in the Church Courts, c. 1200-1500 by Dr Bronach C. Kane. [Online]. womenshistorynetwork.org: Women's History Network. Available at: https://womenshistorynetwork.org/popular-memory-and-gender-in-medieval-england-men-women-and-testimony-in-the-church-courts-c-1200-1500-by-dr-bronach-c-kane/
Research
Research projects
Popular memory and gender in the medieval ecclesiastical courts of Canterbury and York
This project extends a doctoral study of the church courts of York to include the courts associated with the diocese and province of Canterbury, focusing particularly on perceptions of the past among those below the level of the gentry. The initial stages of the project, and particularly the doctoral study, yielded a number of publications on gender and the practical application of canon law in various types of litigation. The study explores the early development of witness testimony in the two courts, particularly how deponents understood the canon legal requirement of proof. Themes relating to group and individual memory, autobiography, and the landscape and genealogy are considered, alongside the place of embodiment and sexuality in remembering the past.
Gender and Social Belonging in England, 1250-1500
This Leverhulme-funded project investigates gendered forms of emotion, intimacy, and friendship in late medieval England. The study addresses the meaning of gender in social practice, exploring the dynamics of intimacy, friendship and neighbourliness in pre-Reformation England. The project examines the boundaries and expectations of proximity in local settings, focusing on concepts of social belonging as neglected themes in late medieval historiography. It considers how masculinities were negotiated in popular cultures, while simultaneously reasserting the critical importance of feminist history in medieval studies.
Teaching
My teaching focuses primarily on later medieval social, cultural and economic history, with emphasis on gender, sexuality, and lay-Church relations. I have taught a number of modules on gender, masculinity and women's history, exploring continuity and change in these areas, both in terms of historiography and social practice.
My work also concentrates on the role of the Church in social, economic and religious contexts, as well as the relationship between the institutional Church and the laity. I would be happy to supervise students in any of these areas, and particularly on gender and social history.
- HS1101 Medieval Europe
- HS1107 History in Practice
- HS1711 Exploring Historical Debate
- HS1804 Sexuality and the Social Order in Medieval Europe
- HS1801 Dissertations
- HST634 Belief and Disbelief in the Middle Ages
- HST911 Approaches to the History of Medieval Britain
Biography
Education and qualifications
- BA (Hons) First Class, Modern History, Queen's University Belfast (QUB)
- MA in Medieval History, University of York
- PhD in Medieval History, University of York
Career overview
- 2019- Senior Lecturer in Medieval History, Cardiff University
- 2013-19 Lecturer in Medieval History, Cardiff University
- 2011-13 Lecturer in Medieval History, Bath Spa University
- 2009-12 Leverhulme Early Career Fellow, Queen Mary University of London (transferred to Bath Spa University in 2011)
Notable achievements
- Institutional CI,GW4 Medieval Studies initiative
- Organiser, 'Intimacy, Power and Authority in European Perspectives', Royal Historical Society symposium, Bath Spa University, 2013 (funding – Royal Historical Society)
- Organiser of annual Gender and Medieval Studies conference, Bath Spa University, 2013 (funding – Society for the Study of Medieval Languages and Literature)
- Organiser of 'The Experience of Neighbourliness in Europe, 1200-1700', Bath Spa University, 2013 (funding – Economic History Society; Royal Historical Society)
Honours and awards
- 2020 Elected Council Member, Canterbury and York Society
- 2020 Women's History Network Book Prize
- 2012 - 2013 University Research Fellowship, Promising Researcher Award, Bath Spa University
- 2009 – 2012 Leverhulme Early Career Research Fellowship, Queen Mary, University of London
- 2008 EHS Power Fellow, Junior Research Fellow, Institute of Historical Research, London
- 2009 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, University of Edinburgh
- 2004-2007 AHRC Doctoral Research Award
Professional memberships
- Pre-1800 Book Reviews Editor, Gender & History journal (2014-2019)
- PhD external examiner, Complutense University, Madrid, 2013
- Convenor of European History, 1150-1550, IHR Seminar, Senate House, London (by invitation)
- QMUL member of the Centre for the History of the Emotions, Queen Mary, University of London (2009-12)
- Member of the Social Church Research Network (by invitation) - annual research workshops organised by Dr Ian Forrest (Oriel College, Oxford) and Dr Sethina Watson (University of York)
- Member of the American Historical Association
- Member of the International Society for Cultural History
- Member of the Canterbury and York Society
Supervisions
Past projects
PhD supervision
Dr Louise Tingle, Royal Women, Intercession, and Patronage in England, c.1328-94, Completed, 2019 (Co-supervised with Prof. Helen Nicholson)
Dr Pierre Gaite, The Role and Identity of Household Knights in Fourteenth-Century England, Completed, 2021 (Co-supervised with Prof. Helen Nicholson)
