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Dr Murray Seccombe

Former Research Student

Murray Seccombe

Thesis Title

Transpennine Crossings: transport, economy, and identity in the South Pennines, c.1550-1800 (working title)

Research overview

I am interested in the role played by transport and communications in social, economic and political change in the early modern period. My case studies are located in the southern Pennine area within the large parishes of Halifax, Rochdale and Whalley. The key sources are manor court rolls, constable and highway surveyor accounts, quarter session records, turnpike trust records and a range of contemporary travel writing and newspapers. The issues raised include participation in local overnment, legislative change and implementation, inter-regional culture, the dual pastoral and manufacturing economy, and social, family and religious factors.

Career Details

My working life has been spent in the community-based transport sector, based in the West Midlands, Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire, including a range of roles from volunteer driver, despatcher, and technical adviser. Between 2002 and 2013, I was CEO of the Community Transport charity, one of the oldest and largest such organisation in the UK.

Profile

I am a part-time research student, working largely from a home base in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire (in the middle of my case study area).

My first degree was a MA in Classics at Brasenose College, Oxford (1977). In 1992, I gained a MSc in Information Management (Soft Systems Methodology in management) at Lancaster University.

Contact me

I work most weekdays at home. You can reach me by email m.seccombe@lancaster.ac.uk or on 07966 020952.