The CAW (Kit Leach Creative Archaeology)

I’m developing a new creative archaeology website that will provide information on other research, crafts and storytelling; and through which products can be purchased, the proceeds of which will either support IF and other research and fieldwork, and / or charitable causes.

Previous Research and Teaching Background

Old Wives Tales (OWT)

Industrial Folkways (IF) continues OWT work relating to Industrial Age contexts. The ‘Old Wives Tales’ records material traces of beliefs and rituals in and around Derbyshire from and after the late Middle Ages; particularly those relating to the supernatural & magical practices; & including funerary contexts.

Academic and Teaching Work

My academic profile, with some previous work available to download, is available here; and academic / teaching work briefly discussed here.

I previously taught Adult Education courses for the WEA; and in the Continuing and Professional Education Departments at the University of Nottingham, Keele University, and University of Oxford.

Public History and Community Archaeology Projects

During and after teaching, I developed the pilot Living in the Past Community Archaeology Project (an article on which is available here; and Flickr albums here) – out of which IF developed.

Past Sense Project (PSP)

I co-directed the pilot Community and Public History project, Past Sense, which will inform some aspects of IF community work.

PSP explored archaeological and psychological approaches in exploring the material culture of violence in the home, through a range of historical sources (including objects, written sources, photos, and oral histories). It explored the development of educational and therapeutic workshops that integrate the analysis of archaeological and historical studies in managing trauma.