Acknowledgements

Mapping the State has evolved from work undertaken between 2012 and 2017 for an AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Award between the Institute of Historical Research and the History of Parliament: ‘Space and power in the nineteenth-century House of Commons’ (1244717). The project was supervised by three incredible historians, who have provided continued enthusiasm, guidance and friendship since its completion. I am indebted to the brilliant Kathryn Rix, her consistently shrewd analysis of nineteenth-century British politics and her unparalleled eye for detail. Philip Salmon has been far too generous in sharing his peerless understanding of late Hanoverian and early Victorian parliamentary and electoral politics, and enthusiasm for the collection of nineteenth-century reform junk memorabilia. It was a joy to work with Miles Taylor, whose wise counsel, wit and breadth of expertise as my primary supervisor was invaluable in shaping this book. Tragically, two historians who were integral to Mapping the State died during its writing. I would not have pursued a career in history without the mentorship of Arthur Burns. I regret that we were not able to toast the book’s completion in a Bloomsbury pub. Likewise, Angus Hawkins, who acted as the external examiner of my PhD, deserves special acknowledgement for his guidance during the book ‘phase’ of this project.

I am deeply grateful to Henry Miller and Sarah Richardson for their insightful close reading of an initial draft of Mapping the State (and subsequent drafts); the two anonymous peer reviewers, whose positive appraisal in 2018 led to a book contract; and Roland Quinault and Lawrence Goldman, who read early versions of this work in their capacity as internal examiners at the IHR. I would like to thank the New Historical Perspectives Series and University of London Press – particularly Jane Winters, Penelope Summerfield, Heather Shore, Elizabeth Hurren, Emma Gallon, Julie Willis, Katharine Bartlett, Neil Fleming and Philip Carter – for their support and understanding as this book has slowly neared completion. I must also acknowledge Paul Seaward and his support for my application to the History of Parliament Trust for a three-month ‘collateral research project’ in 2022, without which Mapping the State would probably never have been finished.

Since re-entering academia in 2010 I have been fortunate to be part of a spirited community of historians centred around the IHR, King’s College London and UCL. Thank you to Paul Readman and Martha Vandrei for so many jubilant nights (and days) in pubs, stadiums, flats and restaurants (of which, for some reason, I have a hazy recollection); the life-affirming Laura Forster for being the coolest historian and best pal; and John Ingram for his sartorial elegance, historical eloquence and evenings of abandon in Philadelphia, Temple and St John’s Wood. My fellow class of 2012 Patriotism and National Identities conspirators – Oliver Carter-Wakefield, Christian Melby, Tuva Skjelbred Nodeland, Ian Stewart and Brian Wallace – deserve special mention for keeping the Seven Stars in business and consistently setting new historical standards to live up to. To dinners, cake, music and pets with Ann Poulson and conversation (not all about Esher) and good wine with Mike Humphries, thank you. I am beholden to my fellow historians in the Modern British History Reading Group at King’s College, London, who as well as critiquing and providing advice on nearly every aspect of this book, have provided a much-needed social outlet. As well as those members already mentioned, it was a privilege to have learnt from the innovative work of Melissa Aaron, Agnes Arnold-Forster, Joel Barnes, Susanna Blomqvist, Amy Kavanagh, Naomi Lloyd-Jones, Anna Maguire, Hélène Maloigne, Anders Mikkelsen, Rebekah Moore, Grace Redhead, Fern Riddell, Maggie Scull, Matthew White and Theo Williams. I must also thank the committee members of the Alethon not already mentioned: Mark Freeman and Tim Reinke-Williams.

It has been an honour to discuss, listen to advice and receive words of encouragement about various aspect of this book at conferences, seminars (online and in-person), in classrooms and in correspondence from: Stephen Ball, Luke Blaxill, John Bryant, Jennifer Davey, Patrick Duffy, Ian Cawood, Joe Coohill, Robin Eagles, Margaret Escott, Paul Hunneyball, Margot Finn, Edward Gillin, Paul Gurowich, Amanda Goodrich, Elizabeth Hallam-Smith, Geoffrey Hicks, Boyd Hilton, Anthony Howe, Gary Hutchison, Richard Huzzey, Joanna Innes, Connie Jeffery, Lyndsey Jenkins, Thomas Jones, Charles Littleton, Simon Morgan, Colm Murphy, Katrina Navickas, Kirsty O’Rourke, Jon Parry, James Peate, Emma Peplow, Sami Pinarbasi, Robert Poole, Stephen Roberts, Matthew Roberts, Max Skjönsberg, Michael Smith, Dave Steele, Sammy Sturgess, James Smith, Mari Takayanagi, Brendan Tam, Michael Taylor, Seth Thévoz, Adam Tucker and Nigel White. Thank you to David Cannadine and Melissa FitzGerald for the props and car journeys. Thank you to the many archivists and librarians that have made researching this book such a pleasure. Thank you to my colleagues at the History of Parliament. And thank you to history and politics teachers past and present: ‘Miss’ Jenkins, ‘Miss’ Fox, Rebecca Surtees, David McKinnon-Bell, Matt Cole, John Rowley, Rob Boddice, James Sharpe and Guy Halsall.

Mum, Dad, Frankie, Lucy, James, Rob, Jeremy, Arthur and Edie and all the members of Horse Face: don’t worry, I won’t quiz you on boundaries, but thank you for all you do to keep me sane. To Berna, Hugh, Sophie, Jack, Larry, Rudi and Kizzie, thank you for letting me into the clan. To more afternoons in rehearsal rooms with Dave R, Dave P, Joe, Dan, Andy, Leigh and Gaz; more festivals and cultured summer salons with Amy, Sophie, Fi, Peter, Danai, Fallon, Fran, Alice, Katie, Kev, Jess and Joanna; and many more relished days out with Ian, Julia, Ryan and Amélie (and families). Thank you to Terry and Tracy for your hospitality on a trip to the Grey papers, and my former colleagues at Tower Hamlets. Reckless, Flashback, Crazy Beat, Music & Video Exchange, Casbah, Sister Ray and Alan’s Records: thank you for providing a refuge away from politics and history. I wish Kim, Freya and Craig were still here. Thank you most of all to Rona Cran and the Trawler Dynasty. You have done more for this book than anyone listed above. Here’s to many more years of cities, crows, Dylan, diving, negronis, PUP and never calcifying.