Dhaani's speech centred on the Civil War history of the city of Chester, especially during the siege of this Royalist stronghold in 1644-6. It made striking use of urban architecture, maps, engineering surveys, and personal diaries to evoke the experience of those who lived through these turbulent years and to show that 'boring bricks' and material scars on the built environment can bring to life the history of distant times. Dhanni held the attention of her audience throughout and told her story persuasively and well.