Skip to main content

Roland Keates

University of Derby, Commercial Photography, Graduate Student

Followers

301

Following

11

Public Views

I graduated in 2016 and have remained actively engaged in historical research, following areas of interest as they arise. Although I came to academic study later in life, my curiosity and love of learning have only deepened since leaving university. I continue to read widely and hope to return to higher education in the future when circumstances allow.

While my research interests are broad and often cross thematic boundaries, I find particular fulfilment in exploring local history, especially within Derbyshire. The rich historical landscape of the county—both its built heritage and its less visible narratives—offers a rewarding focus for ongoing study and reflection.

less

InterestsView All (6)

Uploads

Papers by Roland Keates

Wooden Windmills in the Polish Landscape: Function, Heritage, and Decline.

Wooden Windmills in the Polish Landscape: Function, Heritage, and Decline , 2025

Wooden windmills have been among the most iconic elements of the Polish cultural landscape from t... more Wooden windmills have been among the most iconic elements of the Polish cultural landscape from the medieval period through the early twentieth century. Their presence in the countryside symbolised both economic productivity and communal identity, with their tall silhouettes serving as landmarks across fields and villages. The most characteristic type in Poland, the koźlak (post mill), was widely distributed across Greater Poland, Kuyavia, Mazovia, and Pomerania, where it played a vital role in subsistence and local trade economies by grinding grain and pressing oil seeds. At their peak in the nineteenth century, wooden windmills numbered in the thousands, forming part of the everyday soundscape and visual identity of rural Poland. This paper analyses the rise, functions, and eventual decline of wooden windmills in Poland, situating them within broader European technological and cultural contexts. It explores their uses, typologies, and symbolic roles in the landscape while also examining the causes of their decline in the face of industrialisation, steam power, electrification, and war. Case studies from Greater Poland, Kashubia, and Mazovia highlight regional variations and preservation strategies. The paper also discusses contemporary heritage debates regarding the relocation of windmills to ethnographic parks versus preserving windmills in situ. By engaging with scholarship from history, ethnography, landscape studies, and heritage conservation, this study argues that wooden windmills, despite their functional obsolescence, remain powerful carriers of cultural memory, offering insights into rural identity, vernacular architecture, and the transformation of European landscapes.

Rubens in Silesia: Graphic Dissemination, Reinterpretation, and Legacy

Rubens in Silesia: Graphic Dissemination, Reinterpretation, and Legacy, 2025

This monograph explores Peter Paul Rubens' presence in Silesia. It traces the path of his art fro... more This monograph explores Peter Paul Rubens' presence in Silesia. It traces the path of his art from Antwerp to Wrocław, Poland, examining how his works were reproduced, collected, and reinterpreted by Silesian patrons and artists such as Michael Willmann. Through analysis of prints, modelli, letters, and lawsuits, this study shows how Rubens' art became a cornerstone of Central European Baroque identity and how his reputation endured through centuries of war, loss, and rediscovery. Keywords This monograph explores the transmission, reception, and reinterpretation of Peter Paul Rubens' art in Silesia, tracing its journey from Antwerp to Central Europe from the early seventeenth century through the twentieth century. It examines the crucial role of Rubens' Graphic School in disseminating faithful reproductions of his works through modelli, proofs, and carefully supervised engravings, highlighting the 1611 Emmaus engraving as a turning point in the artist's realisation of the power of print.

Paganism in Poland: Beginnings, Christianisation, and Modern Meaning

Paganism in Poland: Beginnings, Christianisation, and Modern Meaning, 2025

This paper examines the history, transformation, and modern revival of paganism in Poland, tracin... more This paper examines the history, transformation, and modern revival of paganism in Poland, tracing a spiritual continuum from the polytheistic practices of the Western Slavs to the syncretic Christian-pagan culture that emerged following the Baptism of Poland in 966 and the rise of Rodzimowierstwo in the 21st century. Drawing on archaeological, ethnographic, and literary sources, the paper examines the pantheon of deities, seasonal rituals, and an animistic worldview that shaped early Polish religion, as well as the Christianisation process and subsequent Pagan Reaction. Particular attention is given to the persistence of pre-Christian customs within the Christian calendar and to the phenoEcmenon of dvoeverie ("double faith"), which preserved elements of the old religion in folk practice. The study also considers contemporary pagan movements, highlighting their pluralism, ecological focus, and cultural significance, alongside an analysis of recent documentary film portrayals of Polish paganism. By combining historical scholarship with narrative observation, beginning with an experiential introduction set in a forest ceremony, this paper argues that paganism in Poland is best understood not as a vanished belief system but as a living tradition that continues to inspire connection, community, and ecological awareness in the modern world.

The Social Impact of Hip Hop: A Cultural, Political, and Global Analysis

The Social Impact of Hip Hop, 2025

Since its emergence in the 1970s in the Bronx, hip hop has grown into a global cultural force, in... more Since its emergence in the 1970s in the Bronx, hip hop has grown into a global cultural force, influencing music, politics, identity, fashion, and activism. This extended study explores hip hop’s multi-dimensional social impact through historical context, lyrical analysis, and global case studies. It examines hip hop’s origins in post-industrial decline, its transformation into a voice for marginalised communities, its role in political discourse and activism, and its impact on global youth culture. The paper also critically examines tensions between authenticity and commercialisation, the politics of representation, gender dynamics, and the digital globalisation of hip hop. Through detailed case studies (U.S., Brazil, Senegal, South Korea, India) and discussion of empirical research, this paper demonstrates how hip hop both challenges and reproduces social inequalities, and considers its future as a tool of education, protest, and cultural memory.

Pan Tadeusz Through English Eyes: Ten Years of Reading, Reflection, and

Pan Tadeusz Through English Eyes, 2025

This paper is the culmination of nearly a decade of engagement with Adam Mickiewicz's Pan Tadeusz... more This paper is the culmination of nearly a decade of engagement with Adam Mickiewicz's Pan Tadeusz, a work often described as the Polish national epic. Written in exile and published in 1834, Mickiewicz's poem has been read by generations of Poles as both a nostalgic elegy and a call to national memory. This essay explores Pan Tadeusz through the eyes of an English reader whose first encounter with the poem was sparked by a museum visit. Drawing on literary comparison, historical context, and personal reflection, I seek to understand how Mickiewicz's work functions both as Romantic literature and as a vessel of cultural survival. The essay engages with English Romanticism, pastoral traditions, and the work of writers such as Wordsworth, Byron, and Scott, in order to interpret Mickiewicz's unique blending of landscape, folklore, patriotism, and moral vision. My reading argues that Pan Tadeusz is not merely a Polish classic, but a European one, yet also a book that could only have been written by a Pole in exile.

Into the Depths: The Story of the Ichthyosaurs found in Leicestershire

The Story of the Ichthyosaurs, 2025

Ichthyosaurs were a highly successful group of marine reptiles that appeared in the Early Triassi... more Ichthyosaurs were a highly successful group of marine reptiles that appeared in the Early Triassic and persisted until the mid-Cretaceous. This paper reviews what is known about their origin, evolutionary diversification, anatomy, ecology, reproduction, and extinction. Key recent research is discussed, particularly for fossils from England-including specimens from Barrow-on-Soar (Lower Lias). The paper also examines how soft-tissue evidence has enriched our understanding of their lifestyles, and what ecological and environmental pressures shaped their successes and eventual demise.

Thomas Bateman: Antiquarian, Archaeologist… or Grave Robber

Thomas Bateman: Antiquarian, Archaeologist… or Grave Robber, 2025

Thomas Bateman (1810-1861) who was known as "Barrow Knight" 1 by his friends, remains one of the ... more Thomas Bateman (1810-1861) who was known as "Barrow Knight" 1 by his friends, remains one of the most intriguing figures of early British archaeology. His tireless excavations of barrows in Derbyshire and northern England produced a remarkable body of finds and records, forming part of the foundation for later archaeological inquiry. Yet his methods, by modern standards, appear crude, intrusive, and at times disturbingly cavalier toward human remains. This paper considers Bateman's legacy through both historical and ethical lenses. Was he a pioneering antiquarian, an early archaeologist, or little more than a grave robber? By situating his life's work in the intellectual culture of the nineteenth century, comparing him with his contemporaries, and considering how his finds and sketches are reinterpreted today, we can appreciate both the value and the limitations of his contributions.

Biblical Spectacle and Artistic Legacy: The Old Testament in Western Painting

Biblical Spectacle and Artistic Legacy, 2025

The Old Testament has provided some of the most enduring themes in the history of Western paintin... more The Old Testament has provided some of the most enduring themes in the history of Western painting. Rich with narrative complexity, dramatic tension, moral ambiguity, and divine spectacle, it has inspired generations of artists from the Renaissance to the Romantic era. This essay explores how visual art has interpreted and immortalized key Old Testament episodes-especially those from Genesis, Exodus, and the historical and prophetic books-highlighting the dynamic interaction between theology, visual culture, and artistic innovation. Through analysis of major works by Michelangelo, Titian, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, and others, the essay examines how biblical stories were visually reimagined in ways that reflect not only theological concerns but also artistic priorities, cultural norms, and human emotion.

Chronicles of Dale Abbey

Chronicles of Dale Abbey, 2025

Dale Abbey is not simply a ruin in the Derbyshire fields; it is a landscape of dreams, myths, and... more Dale Abbey is not simply a ruin in the Derbyshire fields; it is a landscape of dreams, myths, and prayers carved into stone. Its story begins with a baker's vision in the twelfth century, a cave hollowed in obedience, and a noblewoman's act of faith that blossomed into a Premonstratensian Abbey. Rising and falling with the centuries, Dale Abbey holds within its cave, its arch, and its tiny parish church a continuum of memory where the human and divine once touched. This paper weaves history with legend to show how Dale Abbey survives not only in fragments of masonry but also in the mythic imagination of the valley of Depedale.

Johnny Cash One Piece at a Time: An analysis of the Frankenstein Cadillac

Johnny Cash One Piece at a Time: An analysis of the Frankenstein Cadillac, 2025

Johnny Cash’s 1976 hit “One Piece at a Time” is often remembered as one of his lighter pieces, ye... more Johnny Cash’s 1976 hit “One Piece at a Time” is often remembered as one of his lighter pieces, yet it is much more than a novelty record. This paper takes a closer look at the song, exploring how Cash used humour and storytelling to reflect on class, work, and the lure of consumer culture in 1970s America. By examining the lyrics line by line and setting them against the social and economic backdrop of the time, I show how the Cadillac in the story becomes both a punchline and a symbol of the American dream. The paper also looks at whether such a “Frankenstein Cadillac” could really be built, and how later attempts to recreate it highlight the enduring appeal of the song. In the end, *One Piece at a Time* is revealed as both a good laugh and a sharp piece of cultural commentary.

The Light of Davis: A Jewish Family's Contribution to Derby's Industrial, Scientific, and Cultural Heritage

The Light of Davis:, 2025

This paper explores the legacy of the Davis family, a pioneering Jewish family whose industrial, ... more This paper explores the legacy of the Davis family, a pioneering Jewish family whose industrial, scientific, and cultural contributions shaped the city of Derby from the late 18th to the 20th century. Beginning with Gabriel Davis's arrival from Germany in 1779 and the establishment of an optical and surveying instrument business in Leeds at Kirkgate, the family's enterprise became internationally renowned under John and Henry Davis. Their products included precision theodolites, miners' safety lamps, miners' dials, hydrometers, optical telescopes, and stethoscopes, serving industries from mining and navigation to construction and medicine. These instruments were used for surveying land, ensuring mine safety, measuring airflow in tunnels, and even for medical diagnostics. Beyond their commercial achievements, including global exports and the provision of electrical illuminations for Queen Victoria's visit, the Davis family played a foundational role in Derby's Jewish community, with Henry serving as the first president of Derby Synagogue. Successive generations, including Arthur Davis, a Hebrew scholar and translator, and Nina Ruth Davis Solomon, a poet and the first woman to preach in a UK Orthodox synagogue, extended the family's influence into scholarship, literature, and faith leadership. This paper draws on archival research, photographs, artefacts, and literary sources, situating the Davies family within Derby's broader narrative of industrial innovation, religious identity, and cultural memory.

Spurn Point Lifeboat Station, Yorkshire: History, Heroes, & the RNLI Legacy on the Holderness Coast

History, Heroes, & the RNLI Legacy on the Holderness Coast, 2025

This essay examines the history, strategic importance, and enduring legacy of the Humber Lifeboat... more This essay examines the history, strategic importance, and enduring legacy of the Humber Lifeboat Station at Spurn Point, East Yorkshire. It focuses on the site's distinctive pier-based launch system, the hazardous maritime environment of the Holderness coast, and the bravery of the RNLI crews who served here. Drawing on historical records, local heritage sources, and RNLI archives, it considers how Spurn's location shaped lifesaving strategy, how crews adapted to environmental and operational challenges, and why the 2023 relocation to Grimsby marked the end of an era without diminishing the station's symbolic and historical significance (RNLI, 2023; DEFRA, 2021).

What Is Contemporary Art

What Is Contemporary Art, 2025

This study explores the complex and evolving nature of contemporary art, tracing its development ... more This study explores the complex and evolving nature of contemporary art, tracing its development from the early 20th century to the present day. It examines how different movements, from the avant-gardes like Fauvism and Cubism to more recent forms such as Pop Art, Conceptual Art, and Postmodernism, have challenged traditional boundaries and redefined what art can be. Contemporary art is shown to be not just about aesthetic innovation but also about cultural, political, and social reflection. By including examples of key works and artists, this paper highlights how contemporary art constantly reshapes itself to respond to the world around it, using a wide range of styles, media, and concepts. Ultimately, it presents contemporary art as a dynamic field of experimentation and expression, deeply rooted in the realities and questions of our time.

"Where the Sea Took Kilnsea: A Village Lost to Time and Tide"

"Where the Sea Took Kilnsea: A Village Lost to Time and Tide", 2025

This historical study traces the layered and poignant story of Kilnsea, a medieval coastal villag... more This historical study traces the layered and poignant story of Kilnsea, a medieval coastal village on the Holderness Coast of East Yorkshire, whose successive incarnations have been gradually claimed by the sea. Once a thriving agricultural and spiritual community centred around St Helen's Church and an ornately carved medieval cross, Kilnsea's fate mirrors the dramatic erosion patterns of the coastline it once overlooked. Drawing upon archival sources, artwork, cartography, and oral histories, this narrative reconstructs the village's shifting geography. From its original inland placement to its eventual relocation two miles further west. Particular attention is given to the Kilnsea Cross, a rare example of Celtic-insular Christian art, and to the symbolic significance of St Helen, whose patronage framed the spiritual identity of the village in both myth and memory. Through visual records and architectural fragments, the essay explores how place, faith, and identity intersected in a community shaped, and ultimately undone, by its proximity to the sea. Kilnsea's story offers a microcosmic view of historical coastal loss in Britain, where landscape and memory erode side by side.

'SPIRIT' PHOTOGRAPHY of the 1800's

'SPIRIT' PHOTOGRAPHY of the 1800's, 2013

This monograph provides a comprehensive historical and critical examination of the phenomenon kno... more This monograph provides a comprehensive historical and critical examination of the phenomenon known as "spirit photography," a controversial practice that emerged in the mid-19th century and claimed to capture images of the deceased through paranormal means. Beginning with the pioneering and widely debated work of William H. Mumler in 1862, Boston, the study traces the rise and eventual discrediting of numerous spirit photographers,

"Flesh, Faith, and Fear: Werewolves and the Sacred Imagination in Early Modern Styria"

"Flesh, Faith, and Fear: Werewolves and the Sacred Imagination in Early Modern Styria", 2025

The core of this research was originally written and completed on April 19th, 2018, following sev... more The core of this research was originally written and completed on April 19th, 2018, following several years of study into the supernatural traditions of Styria and their intersection with theology, folklore, and local jurisprudence. At that time, the project served as a historical and spiritual inquiry into the werewolf, vampire, and witchcraft narratives centred around St. Peter-Freienstein, drawing from a combination of archival records, regional oral traditions, and theological texts. Since the initial completion, a significant body of new material has come to light, including additional court documents, ecclesiastical sources, and scholarly interpretations, enabling a deeper understanding of the spiritual worldview that shaped early modern Styrian belief systems. This revised edition integrates these findings, offering a more nuanced and historically grounded account of how monstrous figures were interpreted not only as social threats but as spiritual realities. Now, with the benefit of expanded access to sources and a more developed theological framework, I am pleased to bring this work forward for publication. It is offered in the spirit of scholarly reflection, local heritage preservation, and an enduring fascination with the thresholds between belief, fear, and faith. Dedication This volume is respectfully dedicated to Dr. phil. Peter Kneissl-Historian, Volkskundler, Parapsychologe, Okkultist und Spiritist. Whose lifelong commitment to the exploration of hidden knowledge, cultural memory, and the boundaries between worlds has inspired countless inquiries into the unseen. His work, grounded in both academic rigour and spiritual sensitivity, continues to illuminate paths where others feared to walk.

A Quiet Survivor of Fire, Change, & Time

The 1888 Matlock Congregational Banner as a Material Witness to Nonconformist Heritage, 2025

This essay explores the historical, cultural, and architectural significance of a large Victorian... more This essay explores the historical, cultural, and architectural significance of a large Victorian-era banner discovered in 2023 during a routine clear-out at Matlock Methodist and United Reformed Church. Bearing the inscription "Matlock Congregational Manse, 1888" and encircled with intricately embroidered initials, the banner is interpreted as both a commemorative artefact and a rare surviving symbol of a once-prominent Nonconformist presence in Matlock, Derbyshire. This study situates the banner within the wider narrative of the rise and transformation of the Congregational Church in Matlock from its 19th-century origins to its eventual amalgamation with the Methodist community.

Queen Street, Derby: A Journey Through Time

Queen Street, Derby: A Journey Through Time, 2025

This article explores the rich history of Queen Street, Derby—an often-overlooked yet historicall... more This article explores the rich history of Queen Street, Derby—an often-overlooked yet historically significant thoroughfare at the heart of the city. Tracing its origins from a Saxon fortified settlement established around 928 AD, the piece follows the street’s transformation through the Georgian era, industrial innovation, and into the modern age. It highlights key figures such as astronomer John Flamsteed and clockmaker John Whitehurst, while examining the architectural evolution of landmark buildings like Morris House and 27–28 Queen Street. Blending urban heritage with social development, this narrative reveals Queen Street as a microcosm of Derby’s broader historical journey.

Judith & Holofernes through the eyes of painters

Judith & Holofernes through the eyes of painters, 2017

A few months ago, I visited The National Gallery London. One of my favourite paintings had been b... more A few months ago, I visited The National Gallery London. One of my favourite paintings had been borrowed from another gallery and was on display. The painting in question was Johann Liss (about 1595 - 1631), "Judith in the Tent of Holofernes." (1622). I was struck by its brutal nature and blood-curdling rendition of a simple Bible story.

I wondered if other painters of this story depicted Judith and Holofernes in the same way?

Bunkers Hill: Quarndon, Derbyshire Personal Memory, Place-Name Lore and Cultural Landscape

The Story of Bunkers Hill, Quarndon, Derbyshire, 2025

This paper explores the layered meanings behind the place-name “Bunkers Hill” in Quarndon, Derbys... more This paper explores the layered meanings behind the place-name “Bunkers Hill” in Quarndon, Derbyshire, drawing on personal memory, local folklore, and historical geography. What began as a childhood site of sledging and storytelling unfolds into a complex case study of how landscapes are culturally constructed. Challenging the oral tradition that links the hill to WWII Home Guard defences, the research traces alternative origins—from transatlantic naming practices inspired by the American Revolutionary War to industrial excavation patterns that reshaped the land. By combining oral history, cartographic analysis, archival materials, and theories of place-making, the study examines how names become repositories of memory, myth, and identity. Bunkers Hill emerges not simply as a geographic feature, but as a cultural palimpsest where personal and collective histories converge.