Doctor Helen Paul | University of Southampton

Research interests

Economic History

Social History

Business History

Accepting applications from PhD students.

Research

Research groups

Member of:

Research interests

Economic History
Social History
Business History
South Sea Bubble
Slavery

Current research

Project Spire

A research project into the links between the Church of England's Queen Anne's Bounty fund and the enslavement economy in early modern Britain.

The Swing Riots

Agricultural riots swept across the South of England in 1830. They have become known as the Swing Riots. I am involved in a public history project which aims to bring this history to a wider audience, in the run up to the bicentennary year.

Research projects

Completed projects

Black history and railways in Hampshire: owners, passengers, workers

Researchers:

Doctor Helen Paul

Black communities and co-production of research

Researchers:

Doctor Helen Paul

The History of Financial Advice

Researchers:

Professor Nicky Marsh

Doctor Helen Paul

Sponsor: Arts & Humanities Research Council

External roles and responsibilities

Name: Economic History Society (External organisation)

Role: Council Member

Year: 2016 - 2022

Name: Economic History Society (External organisation)

Role: Council Member

Year: 2011 - 2016

Name: Economic and Social Research Council (External organisation)

Role: Reviewer

Year: 2015 -

Name: Royal Historical Society (External organisation)

Role: Fellow

Year: 2012 -

Name: The South Sea Bubble of 1720

Role: Speaker

Year: 2021

Name: MoSaF (Museum of Slavery and Freedom, London) (External organisation)

Role: Member

Year: 2021 -

Name: British Numismatic Society (External organisation)

Role: Member

Year: 2019 -

Name: European Commission (External organisation)

Role: Reviewer

Year: 2022

Name: Royal Historical Society (External organisation)

Role: Council Member

Year: 2022 -

Name: Money Trails: financial histories of enslavement and empire

Role: Speaker

Year: 2025

Name: The Swing Riots

Role: Speaker

Year: 2025

Name: Abolition and Enslavement in Deptford

Role: Speaker

Year: 2025

Name: Lost and Found training day

Role: Speaker

Year: 2025

Biography

I studied Economics and Management at the University of Oxford, then did a Masters and PhD at the University of St Andrews. I obtained ESRC funding for my doctoral and postdoctoral studies.

I am currently a lecturer in Economics and Economic History at the University of Southampton and hold an honorary post at UCL Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction.

I am a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a Fellow of the RSA. My previous posts include being Honorary Secretary of the Economic History Society and chair of the EHS Women's Committee.

Other activities:

1) Council member of the Royal Historical Society.

2) Treasurer and Deputy Chair of MoSaF (Memorial of Enslavement and Freedom, Deptford). MoSaF is a charity which aims to educate people about Deptford's connections to enslavement and abolition.

3) Radio, podcast and televsion appearances

I am a regular contributor to BBC Radio 4's In Our Time. I have also been interviewed on Radio 4, BBC World Service, BBC Radio Solent, and other radio programmes. I have contributed to various podcasts including for Empire Lines and English Heritage. I have also appeared on television to talk about economic history and enslavement.

A few examples:

In Our Time: The South Sea Bubble

In Our Time: The Wealth of Nations

In Our Time: The Dutch East India Company

In Our Time: The Fable of the Bees

In Our Time: Ricardo

In Our Time: The Gold Standard

In Our Time: Mercantilism

In Our Time: Physiocrats