Professor Alastair Owens is a historical geographer and social/economic historian at Queen Mary University of London , specializing in modern Britain since 1800 with a focus on London . He received a Leverhulme Research Fellowship (2024) for his project on inheritance, families, and 'wealthfare' in England and Wales (1850–1930). Owens has held leadership roles including Chair of Trustees at the Geographical Association (UK’s leading geography teaching body) and Head of School of Geography (2018–2022). Research Themes : Anglicanism & inner city crisis (1970s–1990s), COVID-19 domestic geographies , inheritance & middle-class wealth (1850–1930), inclusive heritage in East London. Collaborations : Partnered with Museum of the Home , Museum of London , Spitalfields Music , and Tower Hamlets Archives for projects blending geography with history, archaeology, and heritage. Teaching : Led innovative modules like Boston Reworked (fieldwork in the US) and Victorian London , winning the Drapers’ Award for Excellence in Teaching (2003). Public Engagement : Created heritage trails (e.g., Bengali Heritage Trail ), co-produced museum exhibitions, and advised TV/film production companies. Scientific Awards : Leverhulme Research Fellowship (2024) Drapers’ Award for Excellence in Teaching (2003) Research Trends : His recent work examines pandemic-induced transformations of domestic space, inner-city religious responses to social crises, and the role of inheritance in shaping social inequality. He emphasizes interdisciplinary methodologies, combining archival research with oral histories and material culture analysis.








