http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/207 Tue, 14 Apr 2026 06:20:37 GMT 2026-04-14T06:20:37Z http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/31460 Title: Spices in early modern England – a cross disciplinary study Authors: Dasgupta, Bhaskar Abstract: Reading popular English literature of the last hundred years would lead one to believe that English food always has been bland. This is surprising, considering that England, during the early modern period (1500-1850 AD) established the East India Company, partially for the spice trade and became the largest global spice merchant, centred on London. Hence, it cannot be that the English spice trade did not influence English Culture. What happened during the early modern period that significantly changed the usage of spices in English culture? Using an enhanced food choice model, this dissertation analyses how factors such as imports, exports, storage, consumer income, historical/geographical antecedents, spice production and pricing influenced the spice supply into England, which then impacted spice-buying behaviour and usage. The research has used primary data sources from the British Library’s East India Archive, UK National Archives, Newspaper Archives and English Ports Data, and relied on secondary academic data sources. This data was used for an economic historical analysis of the English spice trade, spices used as financial assets, crimes, spice usage in food and medicine, its representation in art and literature, religion, magic, perfumes, fashion, and clothing. The findings show that spice usage was common until 1800-1850. Thereafter, cultural, political, and scientific factors led to its decline. War necessitated distinguishing bland English food from spiced French food after Waterloo; the repudiation of the medical humoral theory positing that spices heal the sick; and a rise in atheism/non-religiosity and better education combined to substantially reduce spice usage across many aspects of English Culture. Since mid-twentieth century, the Chicken Tikka Masala curry has become the English national dish. This is no novelty. The study shows that English food has been spiced since Roman Times; the century of bland food (1850-1950) was an aberration. Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/31460 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/29011 Title: Submarines and naval layered defence in the first world war Authors: Metcalfe, Robert Abstract: This dissertation provides an entirely new understanding of British submarine policy and Royal Navy submarine operations during the First World War. British submarines operating in the North Sea were an enabling technology that freed the different surface warship types to be used to achieve their full potential. The Admiralty was thus able to implement flexible layered defence systems that were developed and modified to meet the changing strategic demands. The immediate prewar commissioning of overseas type submarines capable of conducting an observational blockade off the German North Sea littoral relieved the dangerous need for surface warships to operate such a blockade. These submarines provided a solution to the “North Sea Problem” that had been causing such great concern to the Admiralty. This rather than secret and unwritten plans to defend Britain by so-called ‘flotilla defence’ drove British submarine policy. During the war, the Admiralty was very quick to identify new operational requirements and new submarines were designed and built to provide specialist capabilities. The infrastructure to support submarine operations was also established with fixed bases and mobile depot ships. Submarines were integrated with surface warships in mutually supporting layers. In addition to the observational roles, the fleet submarines were to accompany the Grand Fleet, and in a fleet action to manoeuvre to attack the High Seas Fleet on its disengaged side. Minelaying submarines penetrated deep into the Heligoland Bight to positions inaccessible to surface minelayers. In anti-U Boat warfare, submarines were positioned in layered patrol areas integrated with surface warships. Weapon systems and equipment were also developed rapidly that expanded submarine capabilities. Postwar layered defence systems continued to be enhanced with new naval technologies and new strategic requirements, and they are still relevant today. Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/29011 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/23173 Title: ‘A High Brow Scheme to Mess People About’: Missed Opportunities to Reform Staff Training in the British Army, 1919-1939. Authors: Farquharson, Iain Alexander Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/23173 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/19235 Title: Sir Basil Thomson and the directorate of intelligence: A British experiment in 'high policing’, 1919 -1921 Authors: Majothi, Mohamed Hanif Abstract: Within current British Intelligence literature, there is an absence of any detailed examination of the Directorate of Intelligence (DoI), led by Sir Basil Thomson, a policeman. The DoI was created mostly from the Metropolitan Police Special Branch in 1919 by Cabinet decision, primarily to counter post-Great War Bolshevik inspired activism. It became the first civilian domestic Intelligence organisation in Britain, heralding the formalisation of ‘high policing’, despite the natural British dislike of such ‘Continental’ practices. This research, utilising traditional historical archival methods, is largely underpinned by Brodeur’s ‘high/low’ policing theory. Firstly, the original English aversion to ‘Continental’ policing practices is explained with reference to the evolution of the French Police in the early nineteenth century. This is set against the backdrop of natural liberties enjoyed in England. Specifically, it was the suppressive ‘high policing’ under Joseph Fouché, Napoleon’s Minister of Police that was of concern. This was an important factor in preventing the inclusion of such practices when the Metropolitan Police and Provincial Forces were formed. Secondly, in examining the DoI, it is argued that rather than the military, the police were given the domestic Intelligence function for constitutional reasons. Thomson’s weekly reports to the Cabinet provide insight into how he organised the DoI to execute its mandate. Three examples are detailed to show its work: the 1919 Police Strike, the Nationalist insurgency in Ireland and associated violence on the mainland as well as counter-Bolshevik propaganda. Thirdly, negative accepted wisdoms in literature regarding Thomson are challenged, showing that despite the DoI’s sudden abolition in 1921, it had been efficient and had provided valuable intelligence to government. An aberrant recommendation by the 1921 Secret Service Committee led to the DoI’s abrupt termination by Prime Minister Lloyd George. Efficiency was the reason given for his decision, without Cabinet consultation, when the prevailing view among some Parliamentarians was that that the organisation was too ‘Continental’ in its work, something that was unacceptable with the lessening of the post-war crises. Description: This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/19235 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z