A free lecture entitled Why Did People Believe in Dragons? will be held by Professor Darren Oldridge on Monday September 16 in Wells Cathedral.

The dragon killed by Bishop Jocelin belongs, it seems, to a world of fantasy. But for centuries people believed that dragons were real and deadly creatures.

In our own time of "fake news", it is worth thinking about why this was so. Professor Oldridge sets out the many and surprising reasons why people once accepted the existence of dragons, and introduces the experts on these creatures from 17th century England.

He suggests that there is still much to learn from the world in which dragons seemed to be real.

Darren Oldridge is Professor of Early Modern History at the University of Worcester. His most recent books are The Supernatural in Tudor and Stuart England (Routledge, 2016) and Strange Histories, 2nd edn. (Routledge, 2018). He is currently editing the third edition of The Witchcraft Reader.

Free of charge, no booking required. Education Room, 2pm to 4.30pm.