Through this course, students will learn to read the culture and history of a place through its buildings and more specifically, come to understand the cultural and social relationship between London, the capital of the Anglophone world in the 17th and 18th centuries, and its North American periphery. To enrich students' developing understanding of that relationship, they will also read original texts from this period, consisting chiefly of diary entries of visitors to the city from its hinterland, including Scotland and Virginia. These readings combined with their direct experience of historic artifacts will inform students' reflections on the historic figures they encounter through texts and buildings. At the same time, their experience in the modern city, with its rich diversity of inhabitants, visitors, and landscapes, will stimulate further reflections on their status as global citizens as they move, like the figures whose journals they will read, from a periphery to a global center. 

The course will also focus on the presence of important individuals in the colonial history of Virginia, who lived in London, the metropolis of British America. Specifically, visits to Fulham Palace, the Bishop of London’s residence and the birthplace of the College of William & Mary will trace important themes of identity in colonial society. Here in the early 1690s, James Blair, the first president of the college, made his arguments for its establishment to Bishop Henry Compton, its first chancellor. Francis Nicholson, the governor of Virginia and four other American colonies in his long service to the crown, kept the bishop apprised of the needs of the Anglican faith in America. William Byrd II, educated in England and resident of the city for many years, described himself as Britanna-Americanus, was educated in the law at the Middle Temple and presented petitions to the king and argued several cases before his ministers for strengthening Virginia’s position in the realm. A product of two worlds, he was a man with two allegiances—to his native land on the James River and to the splendors, temptations, and political power in the cultural mecca of London.
Compton, Nicholson, and Byrd II, (a member of the Royal Society), believed in the exchange of the flora and fauna of Britain and her American dominions. Nicholson sent men out in the woods around the college to capture “red birds” (cardinals) to send to King William at Hampton Court and shipped walnut logs to William Blathwayt, the secretary of the American colonies, to build a staircase at Dyrham Park. Bishop Compton was one of the premier collectors of American specimens and planted the first American magnolia at Fulham Palace. This natural history was reciprocated as William & Mary set up a botanical garden west of the College Building (archaeological evidence of which was unfortunately destroyed with the creation of the Sunken Garden in the twentieth century).  The subtext of our exploration of the material world of London is tracing the adaptation of architectural forms of the metropolis to the new world. We will help students identify which aspects of building made the trip across the ocean, and which did not. After their examination of London in the 17th and 18th centuries, students will be able to discern the attributes of a Wren building to assess what the Wren Building is, the defining but perhaps mis-named symbol of the College of William & Mary.

About W&M Winter Programs:
W&M Winter programs are led by W&M faculty and students will received W&M credits. All courses must be taken for a grade, which will be calculated into their GPA. Students will participate in a 1 credit pre-course that will take place from mid-October through just before exams. This course is required for participation in the program.  Students will automatically receive COLL300 for courses taken abroad.

Course Information:
INTR 299: W&M Winter London Pre-Course (1 credit)
Required Text: TBD

HIST 406: Architectural Field School in London, Capital of British America (3 credits)
Required Texts:
The Age of William III and Mary II: Power, Politics, and Patronage, 1688-1702, selected essays
McKellar, Birth of Modern London 
Pevsner, City Churches Guide
Cruickshank and Wyld, London: The Art of Georgian Building
Girouard et al., Saving of Spitalfields 
Guillery, Small Houses of London
Bullard, “Samuel Johnson’s House”

Prerequisite: none

W&M Faculty:
Jeff Klee, PhD (jeklee@wm.edu)
Carl Lounsbury, PhD (crloun@wm.edu)
National Institute of American History and Democracy (NIAHD)
 
Program Dates:
Arrival: January 4, 2025
Departure: January 18, 2025
*please keep in mind arrival dates will likely require a departure from the US earlier than this date.

Important Dates:
Application Due ($75): September 9, 2024
Deposit Due ($700): October 4, 2024
Balance Due: November 1, 2024
*A $75 application fee applies, to be paid to GEO Marketplace. Please note that the deposit fees are non-refundable.

Application fee information:
The application fee ($75) is due by the deadline and should be paid online at the GEO Marketplace Store. Whoever is making the payment will need student 93#, email, and phone number. The application fee is refundable in the event that you are not accepted into the program or the program is canceled by W&M. 

Program Fees:
Program Cost: $5,200
Includes: Excursions, accommodations, in country transportation, some meals, course fees, international health insurance. 
Does not include: Flights, personal expenses, some meals, US transportation, required texts.
For more information on the breakdown of program fees please visit our budget sheet. 

Funding:
Scholarship for this program is available. Please apply to the Reves Winter Scholarship by the September 9 deadline.
Please open a scholarship application AFTER opening a program application to avoid technical difficulties
Funding will be awarded based on financial need as determined by the Office of Financial Aid. 

Eligibility:

• Students must be an active W&M undergraduate student in good standing, not on academic or disciplinary probation during time abroad, and eligible to take classes at the W&M Williamsburg campus to study abroad. 
•  Students currently on-campus must successfully complete 1 credit fall course. 
• For more information about eligibility, please visit our Policies that Affect You page.

Questions:
Please contact Lisa Roney, Special Programs Advisor (lmroney@wm.edu)

Handbooks:
W&M Winter Program Handbook 2024