Congratulations to Professor Maria Hayward

Many congratulations to Professor Maria Hayward, who achieved this hugely well- deserved promotion on 1st August 2011.

Maria was a graduate of the PG Diploma in Textile Conservation (in the TCC's Hampton Court Palace days).  After graduating she spent some years working in the TCC's Conservation Services section, after which she left to pursue PhD research. Maria's PhD, at the London School of Economics (1993-97), was titled The Possessions of Henry VIII: a Study of Inventories.  Maria returned to the TCC where she held various academic roles, culminating in Head of Studies and Research (2000-2008) and also Director of the AHRC Research Centre for Textile Conservation and Textile Studies at the TCC from 2004 to 2007.

Maria is acknowledged as an international expert in material culture at the court of Henry VIII and on dress and textiles in the sixteenth and seventeen centuries.  Her publications include: The 1542 Inventory of Whitehall: the Palace and its Keeper (2004) Tapestry Conservation: Principles and Practice edited with Frances Lennard (2005), Dress at the Court of King Henry VIII (2007) and Rich Apparel: Clothing and the Law in Henry VIII's England (2009).

When the TCC was closed by the University of Southampton, the University decided to transfer her to the History Department, where she still works.

Her promotion to Professor is worthy and timely acknowledgement not just of her outstanding research record but also of her achievements in academic management as well as her contribution to the profession.