Events
Programme 2011Talks are held in Sawley Church Hall, Tamworth Road, Old Sawley, on the last Monday in the month (September through April, except December) at 7.45pm. Charge for talks is £1 for members, £2.50 for visitors. The times and costs for other events are variable; please check in advance. Annual membership is £5. For further information and details of membership, contact Pam on 01332 872 148, or Judy on 0115 973 3549 or at judy_kingscott@hotmail.com
Don't forget to order your Commemorative Mug! Available for £7.50, including post and packing, from Pam on 01322 87 2148 and pamela.mee86@googlemail.com
Saturday 8th January 2011 - Annual Supper and entertainment
Church Hall, 7.30pm. Punch, pie and homemade puddings; quizzes and a beetle drive. Tickets must be purchased in advance from Sandra Newton, price £7.50
Monday 31st January - Annual General Meeting
Annual General Meeting followed by Barry Wilson, retired local pharmacist, who will bring along a collection of interesting articles from an old pharmacy to make an impromptu quiz.
Wednesday 1st March - Monasteries, Monks and Kings in the 8th Century
Christopher North, a member of our Committee, will tell us how Repton, Breedon and Offa inter-related in early English Christianity.
Monday 28th March - Owd Illson
Stephen Flinders tells the history of our neighbouring town of Ilkeston - with a few tall tales thrown in - prior to his taking us on a guided walk there in May.
Monday 25th April (Easter Monday) - Hopwell Hall, Past and Present
John Shaw, a member of Sandiacre LHS, tells the chequered history of this sometime hall, boys' school and private house.
Monday 23rd May - Ilkeston Town Trail
Stephen Flinders takes us on a guided tour of the flat area around the Market Place at the centre of this ancient Derbyshire Market Town. Meet at Ilkeston Church Gates, 7pm.
Monday 27th June - St Matthews Church, Morley and its Sacheverell Mausoleum
A Church Warden will show us stained glass windows from Dale Abbey, brasses and other treasures. Meet at Morley Church, 7pm.
Monday 25th July - History Tour of Shipley Country Park
Billy Braithwaite (aka Patrick Ashcroft) gives us a gamekeeper's view of some historical aspects of this Derbyshire park. Meet Visitor Centre, Heanor, 7pm.
Saturday 21st August - Belper and the Derwent Valley Mills Heritage Site
Dudley Fowkes takes us on a morning walk round the town; optional visits to the Mills in the afternoon. Meet at North Mill car park, 10.30am.
Saturday 27th to Tuesday 30th August - Society's Exhibition
Exhibition to be held in the Parish Hall over the August Bank Holiday, in conjunction with Sawley All Saints Church Annual Flower Festival. Open 10am to 6pm. Refreshments and Stalls.
Monday 31st October - Hallaton Treasure
A curator from Market Harborough Museum is coming to describe this collection of 5000+ Iron Age and Roman coins, buried by the Corieltavi c AD43, excavated in 2000.
Monday 28th November - The Life of a 19th Century Lady's Maid
Jo Carter dresses up to portray this particular historical character who witnessed life both above and below the stairs.
Saturday 7th January 2012 - Annual Supper and Entertainment
Date for your diary. Details to be announced later.
Monday 24th January 2012 - Annual General Meeting
AGM, plus speaker, to be announced.
Church Hall, 7.30pm. Punch, pie and homemade puddings; quizzes and a beetle drive. Tickets must be purchased in advance from Sandra Newton, price £7.50
Monday 31st January - Annual General Meeting
Annual General Meeting followed by Barry Wilson, retired local pharmacist, who will bring along a collection of interesting articles from an old pharmacy to make an impromptu quiz.
Wednesday 1st March - Monasteries, Monks and Kings in the 8th Century
Christopher North, a member of our Committee, will tell us how Repton, Breedon and Offa inter-related in early English Christianity.
Monday 28th March - Owd Illson
Stephen Flinders tells the history of our neighbouring town of Ilkeston - with a few tall tales thrown in - prior to his taking us on a guided walk there in May.
Monday 25th April (Easter Monday) - Hopwell Hall, Past and Present
John Shaw, a member of Sandiacre LHS, tells the chequered history of this sometime hall, boys' school and private house.
Monday 23rd May - Ilkeston Town Trail
Stephen Flinders takes us on a guided tour of the flat area around the Market Place at the centre of this ancient Derbyshire Market Town. Meet at Ilkeston Church Gates, 7pm.
Monday 27th June - St Matthews Church, Morley and its Sacheverell Mausoleum
A Church Warden will show us stained glass windows from Dale Abbey, brasses and other treasures. Meet at Morley Church, 7pm.
Monday 25th July - History Tour of Shipley Country Park
Billy Braithwaite (aka Patrick Ashcroft) gives us a gamekeeper's view of some historical aspects of this Derbyshire park. Meet Visitor Centre, Heanor, 7pm.
Saturday 21st August - Belper and the Derwent Valley Mills Heritage Site
Dudley Fowkes takes us on a morning walk round the town; optional visits to the Mills in the afternoon. Meet at North Mill car park, 10.30am.
Saturday 27th to Tuesday 30th August - Society's Exhibition
Exhibition to be held in the Parish Hall over the August Bank Holiday, in conjunction with Sawley All Saints Church Annual Flower Festival. Open 10am to 6pm. Refreshments and Stalls.
Monday 31st October - Hallaton Treasure
A curator from Market Harborough Museum is coming to describe this collection of 5000+ Iron Age and Roman coins, buried by the Corieltavi c AD43, excavated in 2000.
Monday 28th November - The Life of a 19th Century Lady's Maid
Jo Carter dresses up to portray this particular historical character who witnessed life both above and below the stairs.
Saturday 7th January 2012 - Annual Supper and Entertainment
Date for your diary. Details to be announced later.
Monday 24th January 2012 - Annual General Meeting
AGM, plus speaker, to be announced.
Past Events
29th November 2010 - Goings on below stairs
Dr Wendy Freer returned to give us another of her popular tales of how people used to live and work in "the good old days".
25th October 2010 - Byron and Newstead Abbey by Professor John Beckett
John Beckett gave an informative and entertaining presentation that challenged and illuminated many of the groups' preconceptions about the life and times, and also the loves and death, of George Gordon, the poet Lord Byron. Particular mention was made of the lasting reputation and influence of Byron on the political life of Greece. The peculiarities of Byron's forerunners at Newstead and the interesting lives of his mother and uncles were also featured.
The evening ended with Professor Beckett giving informed answers to a wide range of questions from the audience.
27th September 2010 - History of Sawley, part 3
Geoffrey Kingscott continued his story on the specific topic of "Rivers, Cuts and Canals: Sawley as a centre for waterways navigation".
Saturday 28th to Tuesday 31st August 2010 - Society's Exhibition
Society's Exhibition was held in the Parish Hall over the August Bank Holiday, in conjunction with Sawley All Saints Church Annual Flower Festival.
23rd August 2010 - Hemington/Lockington Walk
Graham Grammer lead a walk along footpaths and lanes in this quiet corner of Leicestershire.
26th July 2010 - Breedon and its Church
Mrs Ida Wright gave an evening tour of the Church and a brief history of the village.
28th June 2010 - Newstead Abbey
An afternoon trip for an introduction and tour of Lord Byron's home. Taking in the rooms Byron used, remains of the 12th century Abbey and the gardens.
31st May 2010 - Lichfield
Bank Holiday coach outing to this historical town for the Cathedral; crowning of the Bough Queen; birthplace of Samuel Johnson; and the National Arboretum.
26th April 2010 - Old maps of Derbyshire
Dr Robin Trotter, a local GP with a fascination for old maps of the county, used maps to show the history and development of our area.
29th March 2010 - Working life of Medieval man and woman
John Hughes recounted how ordinary people lived and worked in England before the Industrial Revolution changed their lifestyles forever.
22nd February 2010 - An alignment across Sawley
Eric Sargeant, member of the Society and an Associate Lecturer with the Open University, speculated about the significance or otherwise of Ley Lines and considered the possibility that the orientation of churches and castles in the area around the Trent, Derwent and Soar junctions might indicate deliberate planning.
25th January 2010 - Annual General Meeting followed by "Scotch on the Rock"
The Society's Annual General Meeting on Monday 25th January showed it to be in good health with a membership of about seventy. The accounts and officers' reports were accepted and an election slightly enlarged the committee.
As is customary at the AGM the evening's talk was given by one of our own members. This year Barry Cope gave an illustrated presentation entitled "Scotch on a Rock". This covered the wreck early in the Second World War of the SS Politician, which was carrying a quarter of a million bottles of untaxed whisky, in the Sound of Eriskay in the Outer Hebrides. The true story, involving the imprisonment of a number of islanders from Barra, South Uist and Eriskay for "liberating" the cargo was contrasted with the light romantic novel "Whisky Galore" and the film adapted from it. Barry ended the talk by showing a bottle from the wreck that he uncovered on a beach in Barra last year.
9th January 2010 - Annual Supper and Social Evening
Around forty members attended the Annual Supper and Social Evening on Saturday 9th January, enjoying a pie and peas supper followed by quizzes and games.
30th November 2009 - "Two Queens and a Countess."
The last talk of 2009 was given by David Templeman and was a fascinating tale of loyalty, policy, treachery and intrigue in sixteenth century England. Henry VIII and his wives, son Edward VI and daughter Mary were given due consideration, but most of David's time was taken up with with an examination of the relationship between Elizabeth I of England and Mary Queen of Scots. The alliances of the two women and the pressures applied by the churches, the women's suitors, and in Mary's case husbands,and the various court factions and parties was considered. Special attention was given to the rise, marriages intrigues, power, and ultimate failures of Elizabeth, Countess of Shrewsbury (Bess of Hardwick). These were indeed "interesting times".
26th October 2009 - "Have you got a slate loose?"
The Society's winter programme of talks continued on Monday 26th October when Malcolm Burrows asked members and visitors "Have you got a slate loose?" Malcolm's talk was a history of roofing materials in English vernacular architecture. Click here to read more.
26th September 2009 - Sawley Township Charter Day
The celebrations, on Saturday, September 26 2009, of the 750th anniversary of the Sawley Charter provided Sawley with a day to remember.
The Charter, granted by King Henry III in 1259, gave the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, who then held the manor of Sawley, the right to hold a market once a week and a fair once a year. This effectively turned Sawley, at that time the largest village into the area, into a township. Click here to read more.
Dr Wendy Freer returned to give us another of her popular tales of how people used to live and work in "the good old days".
25th October 2010 - Byron and Newstead Abbey by Professor John Beckett
John Beckett gave an informative and entertaining presentation that challenged and illuminated many of the groups' preconceptions about the life and times, and also the loves and death, of George Gordon, the poet Lord Byron. Particular mention was made of the lasting reputation and influence of Byron on the political life of Greece. The peculiarities of Byron's forerunners at Newstead and the interesting lives of his mother and uncles were also featured.
The evening ended with Professor Beckett giving informed answers to a wide range of questions from the audience.
27th September 2010 - History of Sawley, part 3
Geoffrey Kingscott continued his story on the specific topic of "Rivers, Cuts and Canals: Sawley as a centre for waterways navigation".
Saturday 28th to Tuesday 31st August 2010 - Society's Exhibition
Society's Exhibition was held in the Parish Hall over the August Bank Holiday, in conjunction with Sawley All Saints Church Annual Flower Festival.
23rd August 2010 - Hemington/Lockington Walk
Graham Grammer lead a walk along footpaths and lanes in this quiet corner of Leicestershire.
26th July 2010 - Breedon and its Church
Mrs Ida Wright gave an evening tour of the Church and a brief history of the village.
28th June 2010 - Newstead Abbey
An afternoon trip for an introduction and tour of Lord Byron's home. Taking in the rooms Byron used, remains of the 12th century Abbey and the gardens.
31st May 2010 - Lichfield
Bank Holiday coach outing to this historical town for the Cathedral; crowning of the Bough Queen; birthplace of Samuel Johnson; and the National Arboretum.
26th April 2010 - Old maps of Derbyshire
Dr Robin Trotter, a local GP with a fascination for old maps of the county, used maps to show the history and development of our area.
29th March 2010 - Working life of Medieval man and woman
John Hughes recounted how ordinary people lived and worked in England before the Industrial Revolution changed their lifestyles forever.
22nd February 2010 - An alignment across Sawley
Eric Sargeant, member of the Society and an Associate Lecturer with the Open University, speculated about the significance or otherwise of Ley Lines and considered the possibility that the orientation of churches and castles in the area around the Trent, Derwent and Soar junctions might indicate deliberate planning.
25th January 2010 - Annual General Meeting followed by "Scotch on the Rock"
The Society's Annual General Meeting on Monday 25th January showed it to be in good health with a membership of about seventy. The accounts and officers' reports were accepted and an election slightly enlarged the committee.
As is customary at the AGM the evening's talk was given by one of our own members. This year Barry Cope gave an illustrated presentation entitled "Scotch on a Rock". This covered the wreck early in the Second World War of the SS Politician, which was carrying a quarter of a million bottles of untaxed whisky, in the Sound of Eriskay in the Outer Hebrides. The true story, involving the imprisonment of a number of islanders from Barra, South Uist and Eriskay for "liberating" the cargo was contrasted with the light romantic novel "Whisky Galore" and the film adapted from it. Barry ended the talk by showing a bottle from the wreck that he uncovered on a beach in Barra last year.
9th January 2010 - Annual Supper and Social Evening
Around forty members attended the Annual Supper and Social Evening on Saturday 9th January, enjoying a pie and peas supper followed by quizzes and games.
30th November 2009 - "Two Queens and a Countess."
The last talk of 2009 was given by David Templeman and was a fascinating tale of loyalty, policy, treachery and intrigue in sixteenth century England. Henry VIII and his wives, son Edward VI and daughter Mary were given due consideration, but most of David's time was taken up with with an examination of the relationship between Elizabeth I of England and Mary Queen of Scots. The alliances of the two women and the pressures applied by the churches, the women's suitors, and in Mary's case husbands,and the various court factions and parties was considered. Special attention was given to the rise, marriages intrigues, power, and ultimate failures of Elizabeth, Countess of Shrewsbury (Bess of Hardwick). These were indeed "interesting times".
26th October 2009 - "Have you got a slate loose?"
The Society's winter programme of talks continued on Monday 26th October when Malcolm Burrows asked members and visitors "Have you got a slate loose?" Malcolm's talk was a history of roofing materials in English vernacular architecture. Click here to read more.
26th September 2009 - Sawley Township Charter Day
The celebrations, on Saturday, September 26 2009, of the 750th anniversary of the Sawley Charter provided Sawley with a day to remember.
The Charter, granted by King Henry III in 1259, gave the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, who then held the manor of Sawley, the right to hold a market once a week and a fair once a year. This effectively turned Sawley, at that time the largest village into the area, into a township. Click here to read more.