History Day

West Horsley Place is full of 1000 years of history. In the spirit of exploring stories from the past we are delighted to welcome four renowned authors to our 2025 History Day.

During the day there will be a chance to meet the authors and have your books signed. Two talks will take place in the morning and two in the afternoon - in the lunch break you are welcome to explore the charming Manor House and formal gardens.

Anne Sebba: The Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz – A Story of Survival

Anne Sebba FRSL is an historian, former Reuters foreign correspondent, and award-winning author of eleven books, mostly about iconic 20^th century women. Her bestselling biography of Wallis Simpson, That Woman was followed by the Franco-British Award-winning Les Parisiennes: How the Women of Paris Lived, Loved and Died in the 1940s. Her other books include biographies of Jennie Churchill, Mother Teresa and Laura Ashley. Anne has presented programmes for BBC radio and appears regularly on television. Her latest book, The Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz: A Story of Survival, is published in 2025 on the 80^th anniversary of the liberation of the camps.

Kate Williams: Mary Queen of Scots: A Queen Betrayed

Kate Williams is an historian, author and broadcaster specialising in royal and constitutional affairs. She has contributed to many historical programmes, including her BBC 2 Young Victoria, Inside Versailles, and the award-winning Restoration Home, of which she was co-presenter. A Professor of Modern History at Reading University, she is the author of numerous books, including Rival Queens: The Betrayal of Mary, Queen of Scots; Becoming Queen; Young Elizabeth; and an acclaimed biography of Emma Hamilton. Kate also wrote The Ring and the Crown on the history of royal weddings with Alison Weir, Sarah Gristwood and Tracy Borman.

Giles Milton: The Stalin Affair: The Impossible Alliance That Won the War

Giles Milton is the internationally bestselling author of 12 works of narrative history, including Nathaniel’s Nutmeg (currently under option in America for a major TV series) and Churchill’s Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (also under option). His books have been translated into more than 25 languages and have been serialised on both the BBC and in British newspapers. Giles is also the author of three novels – The Perfect Corpse, According to Arnold and Edward Trencom’s Nose – and is the writer and narrator of the acclaimed podcast series Ministry of Secrets. His latest book is The Stalin Affair: The Impossible Alliance That Won the War.

Daisy Dunn: The Greatest Personalities of Ancient Rome

Daisy Dunn is an award-winning classicist and author of seven books including Catullus’ Bedspread: The Life of Rome’s Most Erotic Poet; In the Shadow of Vesuvius: A Life of Pliny and Not Far From Brideshead: Oxford between the Wars, which was selected for BBC Radio 4’s ‘Open Book’ and longlisted for the Runciman Award. Daisy is the editor of ARGO: A Hellenic Review and a cultural critic and columnist for The Spectator and Spear’s. She writes widely for the press and has consulted and participated in interviews on documentaries for the BBC, Channel 5, Sky and others. Her latest book is The Missing Thread: A New History of the Ancient World Through the Women Who Shaped It. Her talk will centre around the greatest personalities in Ancient Rome.

Important Information:

Ticket cost: £40

Tickets includes all four talks, plus access to explore the manor house at lunch time

Event timings: Open 10 am - 4.30 pm

Anne Sebba: The Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz – A Story of Survival 10.05am

Daisy Dunn: The Greatest Personalities of Ancient Rome 11.30am

Kate Williams: Mary Queen of Scots: A Queen Betrayed 2pm

Giles Milton: The Stalin Affair: The Impossible Alliance That Won the War 3.25pm

Venue: Barn

Hot drinks & light bites are available to buy from our pop-up partner coffee van. Please note that there is no other catering on site. You are very welcome to bring a picnic.

Suitable for 16+ (under 18s must be accompanied)