We are delighted to invite applications for a fully-funded PhD studentship, as part of a major collaborative project, ‘St Stephen’s Chapel, Westminster: Visual and Political Culture, 1292-1941’, funded by the AHRC and led by Dr John Cooper (History), with Dr Tim Ayers (History of Art) and Professor Miles Taylor (Institute of Historical Research). The project analyses the institutional and architectural history of St Stephen’s Chapel and College in the Palace of Westminster, from the construction of the royal chapel in 1292, through its function as the meeting place of the House of Commons between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries, to its re-creation as a political space following the great fire of 1834.

As part of this project, the PhD studentship investigates the College of dean and canons created to serve St Stephen’s Chapel by Edward III in 1348, and dissolved by the Reformation in 1548. The student will undertake prosopographical research on the deans and canons, taking in their roles in government, politics and the Church; and analyse the constitution of the College, including legal disputes in royal and papal courts, its landed endowment, and its status as a royal peculiar. Key primary sources will include TNA printed chancery rolls and unprinted deeds, petitions, building accounts, and Westminster Abbey Muniments relating to jurisdictional disputes. A quantity of relevant material has already been listed by a University of York pilot project. Latin and palaeography skills are required, although training will also be offered by the University of York and the IHR.

The PhD will be supervised jointly by Dr John Cooper and Professor Mark Ormrod. The student will be an active member of the team, helping to present the emerging findings of the project at meetings of the executive board and to the wider public, and participating in the project colloquium and international conference. In addition to the facilities of York’s Humanities Research Centre, they will have access to the project work-room at the IHR. This is a great opportunity to pursue individual academic interests while gaining valuable experience of research and impact as part of a dynamic team.

The award
Subject to fulfilment of residency requirements, the award covers tuition fees at the UK/EU rate and provides an annual stipend (currently £12,000 pa). Overseas students will be expected to meet the cost of the difference between the UK/EU rate and the overseas rate (class-room based/lower rate); as a guide, information on 2013/14 rates is available at www.york.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/fees-funding/fees-2013-2014/.

Informal enquiries
Prospective applicants who wish to discuss the studentship can contact Dr Tim Ayers on tim.ayers@york.ac.uk.

How to apply
Applications should be received no later than 31 August 2013, before 4.00pm, with a view to interviewing in early September. The post begins 30 September. Applications should be made using the University of York on-line application process – click the ‘Apply’ button below.

Applicants should state that they are applying for the AHRC PhD studentship, ‘St Stephen’s Chapel and College, Westminster, 1348-1548’. Please also provide a covering letter, a curriculum vitae and two academic references. If you have already published academic papers, one of these may also be uploaded.

To apply, please click the Apply button below.