Admission Free

The Napoleonic Wars, which were fought between Britain, France and their allies from 1803, came to an end with the Battle of Waterloo on the 18 June 1815. This exhibition, timed to coincide with the bicentenary of Waterloo, reflects on the conflict in its later stages, from the Peninsular Wars in Spain and Portugal in 1808 to the end of hostilities seven years later.

Drawing on the material from The University of Nottingham’s collections, the exhibition assesses the nature and impact of the war and its consequences. The displays describe key moments in the conflict, chart the rise to prominence of military commanders such as the Duke of Wellington and reveal Nottinghamshire’s contribution to the war effort.

The exhibition also explores the wider legacy of the wars. In Spain, British forces fought alongside those seeking liberation from foreign conquest. In Britain, the return of peace was accompanied by new demands for political and social change.

The exhibition has been jointly curated by Richard Gaunt (associate Professor of History in the School of Humanities) and Manuscripts and Special Collections at the University of Nottingham.

Lunchtime Talks:

18 June – From the Ballroom to the Battlefield: British Women and Waterloo

8 July – ‘Hard Pounding Gentlemen!’: the Tactics of Waterloo

5 August – Commemorating Waterloo 1815-2015

For more information about the lunchtime time talks, click here.

25 July – Living History Day. Click to Find out More.