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11 from 536 citations
Last updated 24th March 2026
Biography
Tim studied at New College, Oxford. In 1997 he was awarded the Royal Historical Society's David Berry Prize for his work on the Isle of Man; in 1999 he was proxime accessit for the Society's Alexander Prize for an essay on the palatinate of Durham. He was the first scholar based in a new University to win one of the Society's prizes.
Appointed Head of the Department of History, English, Languages and Media in 2003, Tim was on secondment as Head of University Centre Barnsley during 2005-6 and became Dean of the School of Music, Humanities and Media in October 2006. He was appointed Pro Vice-chancellor (Teaching and Learning) in October 2008 and then became Deputy Vice-Chancellor in September 2015.
Research Expertise and Interests
Tim works on the late medieval and early modern political and social history of the British Isles, spanning the period c. 1400-1650. He specialises in the non-English territories of the crown. His early work on Cheshire explored the palatinate’s history during the period between Richard II’s reign and the early seventeenth century. More recently, he has published on Wales, the Isle of Man, Durham, the Channel Islands, and the north of England, and on the ways medieval history, especially the history of the 'Wars of the Roses', was written and re-written in the late medieval and early modern periods.
Research Expertise and Interests
- Teaching and Learning
- Higher Education
- Late Medieval History
- Early Modern Political History
- British Isles
- c.1400-1650
- Non-English Crown Territories
- Palatinate's History
- Richard II's Reign
- Early 17th Century
- Wales
- Isle of Man
- Channel Islands
- Late Medieval North England
- Early Modern North England
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 4 Quality Education
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SDG 5 Gender Equality
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SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
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SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Fingerprint
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Miles Forrest, Regicide, and his Legacy in Teesdale and Barnard Castle
Thornton, T., 30 Mar 2026, In: Northern History. 62, 1-2, p. 45-61 17 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Arts and Culture
Bazin, F., Clague, M., Corkill, U., Cresswell, Y., Davies, C., Hoy, M., King, S., Lewin, C., Mackie, C., Miller, S. & Thornton, T., 24 Jun 2025, The Isle of Man, 1405-1830: Social and Economic History. Thornton, T., Mytum, H. & Hoy, M. (eds.). Boydell & Brewer, Vol. IV - Part II.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
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Conclusion
Thornton, T., 1 May 2025, The Isle of Man, 1405-1830: Political and Constitutional History. Thornton, T., Mytum, H. & Hoy, M. (eds.). Boydell & Brewer, Vol. IV - Part I. p. 288-295 8 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Foreword/postscript › peer-review
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Introduction
Thornton, T., 1 May 2025, The Isle of Man, 1405-1830: Political and Constitutional History. Thornton, T., Mytum, H. & Hoy, M. (eds.). Boydell & Brewer, Vol. IV - Part I. p. 1-12 12 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Foreword/postscript › peer-review
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Ricart’s Kalendar and National and Local Events in Bristol’s Late 15th-Century Local Historiography
Thornton, T., 5 Apr 2025, In: Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society Transactions. 142, p. 283-292 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile
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Richard III and the 'Princes in the Tower'
Thornton, T. (Invited speaker)
12 Dec 2024Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
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Royal Historical Society (External organisation)
Thornton, T. (Member)
2003 → …Activity: Membership types › Membership of a Society or Institute
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Advance HE (External organisation)
Thornton, T. (Member)
2003 → …Activity: Membership types › Membership of a Society or Institute
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The Chetham Society (Journal)
Thornton, T. (Editor)
1997 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Editorial work
Press/Media
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Huddersfield man helps solve 700 year mystery featured in Channel 5 documentary
3/12/24
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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New evidence uncovered in Princes in Tower mystery
3/12/24
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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Row breaks out over Princes in the Tower murder evidence as Richard III's defenders pour cold water on new 'smoking gun' document
3/12/24
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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Does a new discovery in an ancient will finally reveal the fate of the Princes in the Tower?
2/12/24
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research
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Richard III and the Princes in the Tower: Could new research solve British history's greatest mystery?
11/02/23
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Research