Kathryn Hurlock

Dr Kathryn Hurlock is a Professor in Medieval History and Research Environment Lead for History at Manchester Metropolitan University. She holds a PhD from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, and has held leadership roles including Departmental Research Lead for History, Politics, and Philosophy. Her research focuses on medieval Welsh history, crusading movements, pilgrimage studies, and veterans’ history, with a particular interest in the intersection of war, trauma, and spirituality. She leads the Returning Soldier network and the Manchester Centre for Public History and Heritage.

Her educational background includes a PhD specializing in medieval history, complementing her current roles mentoring staff and overseeing research activities in the department. Her research spans medieval warfare trauma, pilgrimage practices across centuries, and the legacy of crusading rhetoric in British and Irish contexts. She has published extensively, including monographs like Medieval Welsh Pilgrimage (2018) and the forthcoming St Winefride’s Well, as well as popular works such as Holy Places: How Pilgrimage Changed the World (2025).

Dr Hurlock’s work bridges academic and public engagement, appearing on BBC Breakfast, Channel 4, and contributing to media outlets like The Independent. She advocates for interdisciplinary approaches to history, emphasizing how past religious and military practices inform contemporary understandings of trauma, identity, and cultural memory.