ICHG-2015-Programme-Book

1. Welcome from the Chair of Conference
On behalf of the Local Organising Committee, I am delighted to welcome delegates to
the 16 th International Conference of Historical Geographers. The ICHG series of
conferences, now held triennially, originated forty years ago in a British-Canadian
Symposium on Historical Geography held in Kingston, Ontario. Since 1975, the ICHG
has met regularly in various locations in Australia, Europe, Israel, Japan and North
America, and most recently in Prague in 2012. We are delighted to be hosting the 16 th
ICHG in London, for the first time.
The conference takes place in a congenial setting provided by the Royal Geographical
Society (with the IBG), the UK’s main professional body for academic geographers.
ICHG delegates are welcome to explore the facilities of the Society, particularly the
displays from its incomparable collections in the Foyle Reading Room which is open to
delegates throughout the week.
The conference programme demonstrates the vitality and the diversity of historical
geography as an international discipline in 2015. It includes more than 560
presentations from researchers based in nearly 40 countries. As befits a truly
international conference, more than 60% of the 686 conference delegates are from
beyond the UK, with significant numbers from continental Europe, North America and
Asia, as well as Australasia, the Middle East, South America and Africa.
Following the tradition of previous ICHG meetings, the programme includes a
substantial study visit and field trip element, both within and following the main
conference week. We are very grateful to all the many partner institutions and
individuals who have made this extensive programme of museum, library and archive
visits and field trips possible. We hope that the visits to some of London’s key research
sites will sow the seeds for future collaborations of many kinds.
This booklet contains details of all papers and posters presented at the conference,
along with associated events including plenary lectures and the opening reception on
Sunday 5 th July, generously sponsored by the Journal of Historical Geography. There
will be many further opportunities during the week for informal exchange within and
outside the main sessions, including further receptions as indicated on the
programme. ICHG delegates are also warmly invited to attend the inaugural British
Academy Lecture in Geography to be delivered by Professor Bill Cronon at the RGS-
IBG on Tuesday 7 th July, followed by a reception supported by the Academy.
We invite you to join us for what we hope will be an enjoyable and memorable
conference!
Professor Felix Driver,
Chair, Local Organising Committee