Sam Riches

Sam is a cultural historian of the late medieval period, with a special interest in the cults of pseudo-historical saints. She has published extensively on the cult of St George, and has also worked on the cult of St Ursula. Sam is primarily interested in the presentation of gender identity and the role of encounters with the monstrous, both in written narrative and visual motifs associated with popular devotion to saints.

Sam is the Academic Co-ordinator of the Regional Heritage Centre, having worked as the Co-ordinator of its predecessor organisation, the Centre for North West Regional Studies, since 2009. She has responsibility for arranging study days and other public events, managing the Centre's oral history archive and overseeing heritage consultancy and other activities.

Sam's second book on St George is being launched on 23rd April 2015, at the St George in Southwark Festival. Entitled 'St George: a saint for all', it focuses on his cult's international dimensions and status as a healer and figure of nature and springtime.