Michael Anthony Blackburn
General History Subjects
Studying the Landscape – The geology and geography and history of the land using maps, air photography and historical documents relating to the history of Britain through the centuries.
The Early Trackways and Roads - A look at possible ancient travelling routes from 3500 years ago through Roman roads, drovers roads and bridge building through the centuries linking communities.
The Roman Conquest of Britain – This lecture looks at the development of communities the eventual network of roads and the conquest via the coastline of exploration of the landscape using river estuaries.
Thomas Telford, Engineer, a biography – A biographic lecture including many of his engineering structures, illustration canals, roads, bridges, dams throughout the United Kingdom.
A History of Roads and their Engineering Development – The construction, expansion of roads from Roman times through Telford’s techniques and engineering to the modern day road networks.
Bridges a History, their construction and their development – A visual journey looking at early bridges i.e. Clapper Bridges through to Modern Suspension and Cable-stay designs.
The Canal Age in Britain – A look at the history of the development of canals in Britain during the industrial revolution and the restoration of much of the canal network over the past 50 years.
Canal Structures – A study looking at aqueducts, embankments, tunnels and the many methods of conquering the landscape.
Canals of North Wales – The canalisation of the River Dee and the River Clwyd. Detailed studies of the Ellesmere and Llangollen Canals (N. Wales secret, the Ffrwd Branch) and canals at Dolgarrog, Maentwrog and Tremadoc.
Industrial Families of North Wales – The Summers, Darbyshires, Wynns, Platts, Pennants, Asheton-Smith and the Oakleys. All had a major effect on industry and large employment. Each of these families can be presented as an individual talk or one talk covering all of them.
Early Plateways, Waggonways and Tramways – The development of the first forms of rail transportation. Including stone blocks and rails in Southern England and the North East. The industries of mineral extraction linked by these early railways to harbours and the coastline.
Tramways and their link with Canals - A study looking at many areas across the United Kingdom where early industry needed these transport developments.
Narrow gauge Tramways and Railways in North Wales – North Wales is the origin and home of many of the unique narrow gauge railways with their individual designs for conquering this mountainous terrain.
Richard Trevithick, Engineer, a biography – A biographic lecture covering the first steam road vehicles, rail engines, steam boats and his successful implementation of high pressure steam (Strong Steam).
The railways of Britain from 1830 – A journey starting with the Liverpool Manchester railway of 1830 through the railway mania of the mid 1800’s to the furthest completion of the 23,000 mile railway map of Britain at the start of 1920’s.
George Stephenson, Engineer, a biography – The father of railways. A look at his life and railway development from his formative years in the North East of England eventually spreading across the country.
Robert Stephenson, Engineer, a biography – Railway engineer, son of George Stephenson. Building on his father’s early development of railways, expanding the rail network and its engineering across Britain and abroad.
Francis Thompson, Railway Architect – Designed stations, tunnels, bridges and associated railway buildings in the Midlands, Pennines, North Wales.
A History of the Chester and Holyhead Railway – Following the railway from Chester to Holyhead looking at its many engineering features along the route.
Tramway and Narrow Gauge Railways in North Wales - Covering the origins, reasons for development and preservation since 1951.
Railway Mania - A new method of Transportation that through 200 years has encircled the globe.
The Welsh Highland Railway (NWNGR) - A history of the North Wales narrow gauge and Croesor Tramway and the linking to form the Welsh Highland Railway, restoration and building of the new.
Archive Study – The use and understanding of maps, photographs and historical documents in the study of outside locations. How to obtain archive material for personal research, many examples shown in this talk.
Shipping and Trade
A Coastline Journey from the River Dee to the River Dovey – A study of harbours and shipbuilding, transport links, coastline, towns and villages and the effects of tourism.
Development of Liverpool as a World Port linked to North Wales – Studies the North Wales Ports and Trade with Liverpool, the most important port in the world up to 1900.
The Industrial Revolution in North Wales – Specifically focusing on North Wales and its part in the Industrial Development of the United Kingdom.
The Industrial Revolution in the UK (3 lectures) – First lecture covers 1700 to 1800, second lecture 1800 to 1900, third lecture 1900 to 2000. The lectures cover farming, forestry, shipbuilding and the extraction of raw materials, the start of transportation and the creation of the cities.
Minerals (Raw material) – A geology and geographical study of the raw materials of rock that have created the architectural landscape of Britain.
North Wales Minerals - The Power that helped to drive the development of the North Western cities Liverpool, Manchester. The paving of the streets the stone to create the buildings and docks , raw material that drove the Industrial Revolution.
River/Afon Journeys North Wales
Geography, History along each of these rivers from the source to the sea.
The River/Afon Dee (Part 1) - A journey following the river from its source in the Aran Mountains to Llangollen.
The River/Afon Dee (Part 2) – Llangollen to Point of Air on the Dee estuary.
The River/Afon Alwen – A journey from the Denbigh Moors to its junction with the River Dee at Corwen.
The River/Afon Alyn – A journey from its source on Llantisilio Mountain (Horseshoe Pass) to the River Dee near Rosset. Was once North Wales most polluted river.
The River/Afon Clwyd – A journey from its source in Clocaenog Forest, passing through the towns of Ruthin, Denbigh, St Asaph and reaching the sea at Rhyl.
The River/Afon Elwy – This river passing through a limestone area is followed from the northern Denbigh Moors to its junction with the River Clwyd. Also including the tributary Afon Aled.
The River/Afon Conwy (Part 1) – The five tributaries from Mountain Moorland to their junctions between Pentrefoelas and Betws-y-coed.
The River/Afon Conwy (Part 2) – A journey from Betws-y-coed to Conwy Bay beside Llandudno.
Three Shorter River Journeys – The Llanfairfechan River, The Aber River and the River Ogwen, all draining into the Menai Strait.
The River/Afon Seiont – A journey from its source on the slopes of Snowdon through the Llanberis Lakes to the sea at Caernarfon.
The River/Afon Cefni – An interesting journey from its collection and gathering in central Anglesey through Llangefni to the sea near Newborough Forest.
The River/Afon Dwyfor – Starting from the mountains surrounding Cwm Pennant to the sea near Afonwen on Harlech Bay.
The River/Afon Glaslyn – A fascinating journey from the summit of Snowdon to the sea at Porthmadog.
The River/Afon Dwyryd – And its tributaries the Afon Prysor and the Afon Cynfal from Blaenau and Arenig to the sea at Port Meirion.
The River/Afon Mawddach – The river of gold with stunning waterfalls passing through Coed y Brenin Forest to the sea at Barmouth.
The River/Afon Dysynni – From Cadair Idris through the Talyllyn valley to the sea at Tywyn.
The River/Afon Dovey – From the Aran Mountains to the sea at Aberdovey.
The River/Afon The River Severn - Looking at Towns and Bridges along its route. The longest river in Britain starting on the mountain Plynlimon near Aberystwyth travelling towards Shrewsbury and eventually flowing into the Severn estuary including one hundred bridge crossings and numerous historic towns, cities and places of interest.
Mountains
The Enjoyment of the Mountains – Walking, climbing, photography and a study of the wilder landscapes. Looking at Wales, the Lake District and Scotland and overseas.
Mountains in Maps and Air Photography – A study of the many ranges and their depiction using these methods.
Mountaineering in Wales – A study of the mountain ranges, their access, history and geography.
Mountaineering in the Lake District - A study of the mountain ranges, their access and history and geography.
A Journey through Switzerland – Looking at the landscape, communities, imagery of lakes, steamers, funicular railways and cable cars.
Photography
The Art of Photography – A study of the history of Art and its comparison with photography techniques.
Photography Light and Dark – A study looking at the extremes of light when taking photographs and composing in these very difficult situations.
Archive Photography – A talk looking at the value of photography for archive recording from air photographs to ground and close up study.
Air Photography of the Ordnance Survey – The planning and usage of Ordnance Survey Photography for updating maps and studying the changing face of the landscape and coastline.
Snowdonia through the Seasons - A collection of colour images portraying one of the most beautiful national parks in the UK.
Extreme Land and Seascapes – A journey looking at dramatic locations from city centres to coastlines and mountain tops.
Photography in the Garden – Photographing plants, trees, insects and birdlife.
Architecture Photography – Looking through the lens at historic and modern building images.
Gardens
A New Mountain Garden (Part 1) – A look at the development of a temperate climate tree and shrub garden from a mountain field.
A New Mountain Garden (Part 2) – Plant varieties at this mountain location.
Gardens around Britain – From Eden to Bodnant to Inverewe.
Ornamental and Specimen Trees – A look at the unusual, the collectable and the artistic.
Music
Beethoven a Biography – His life and music.
Literature
Famous Writers - Their work and the influence of others i.e. Petrarch, William Shakespeare, Sir Walter Scott, Robert Burns etc. Detailed talks on these and others or a composite talk combining many of their lives.
My Personal Poetry – Talking about thirty years of writing, my influences and a recital of some of my work.
Ordnance Survey
A history of the Ordnance Survey – Mapping the United Kingdom since 1791.
Surveying the Landscape – Thirty Six years experience surveying and drawing maps, graphically and electronically of the UK.
Using Ordnance Survey Products in the Landscape – For history, geography and leisure activities.
This is a current list of my up to date lectures, but I am working on new ones all the time. For example I am working on a series of talks about the journey of the River Severn and the history of the coal mines in North Wales. I regularly judge photographic competitions for North Wales and North West England Photographic Societies, and regularly talk to history groups, garden societies and travel clubs. I have material to provide quite detailed and colourfully illustrated talks on set areas i.e. Cornwall, Devon, Wales, the Lake District, Pennines and Scotland, my knowledge of the British Coastline with accompanying colour images in all seasons is also available. Although these are not definite formatted talks I can quite easily put together a comprehensive and attractive presentation covering these subjects to suit any group, club or society requests.
Tel: 01248 680809
Mobile: 07779 907786