Category: History Group

It’s that time again to let group members know what is happening.

I know some of you will be disappointed that we have no meeting in August but I am using the time ‘off’ productively.  Hopefully by the time of our meeting in September I will have a flyer for you full of details of our speakers for meetings and visits organised for next year 2027.  It does take quite a time to get all the information together.  

The next indoor meeting at Central Methodist is on 16th September at 2pm.  Ann Featherstone one of our favourite speakers is coming to tell us about “Mashed Potato Sandwiches, Bottle Top Tinsel; Rose Bruckners Postwar World of Home Baking.”  We still had rationing at the time and I can’t help but think how well our mums and grandmas did to put on such tasty meals.  

Kathy and Sue will be taking names and money at the meeting in September for the visit to Newark Air Museum.

See you in September,  

Maureen  

This month we were on a visit to Matlock Bath and Sir Richard Arkwright’s Masson Mill which is the water powered cotton spinning mill on the river Derwent.

The mill was built in 1783 and is part of the World Heritage Site. It was originally powered by a water wheel but turbines were installed in 1928 until hydroelectric generators in 1995.

Masson Mill is now a museum. Members were split into group to be taken round the museum on guided tours. The guides were amazing, full of knowledge about Arkwright, machinery, mill workers and helped us understand the building.

One of our best visits, I thought.

Maureen Newton

Our group meets at Central Methodist Church on Baker Street on the third Wednesday of the month when we are indoors.  The time is 2pm – 4pm and the venue is handy for car parks, bus stops and drop offs.

 Last month our speaker was David Speed who told us all about ‘Beauvale Priory – Between two Worlds.’  We learned about what life was like in Medieval times for the monks who lived at the Priory in the ‘beautiful valley’ and how money was donated to the cause.  Eventually of course during the reign of Henry Vlll it was dissolved; the monks sent away and the priory lands sold.  I think most of us felt it would be good to do a site visit. Something to think about for the future.

On 17th June we are to visit Matlock Bath and Masson Mill; leaving Hucknall Market at 10.30am on a Vallences coach.  After lunch at Matlock Bath we are back on the coach at 1.45 to Masson Mill for a guided tour; leaving at 4pm for the journey back to Hucknall.

What a shame that the three of us; Kathy, Sue and I decided to cancel the visit to the Observatory.  There seemed to be so many rules that our group would have to follow such as: times, number of visitors, no refreshments, costs, and others with which we felt unable to comply.  (How on earth would we manage without the refreshment break?)  Maybe a review of the rules for larger groups would be in order and we can think about a visit later.  We will be in the refreshment room at the main meeting in John Godber on 10th June if you need to ask questions

Our next indoor meeting is Wednesday 16th September when one of our favourite speakers, Ann Featherstone, is coming to tell us about the history of post war baking.  Might we get some samples?

Bye for now,  Maureen Newton

Our April meeting was a visit to the National Memorial Arboretum by Vallences Coach. Vallences give us an excellent service, from the earlier booking point of view, and the journey.  The drivers are always polite, helpful and on this journey we were treated to some music I think we all enjoyed.  

The Arboretum is always worth another visit.  This time as well as the train with the wonderful guided tour and commentary – talks were offered such as ‘Shot at Dawn’ explaining why this happened.  

At the next ‘Main Meeting’ at John Godber Centre we will be taking names and money (bring your cards if possible) for the next visit on 17th June to Matlock Bath and Masson Mill Museum. 

Our next indoor meeting at Central Methodist Church which will begin at 2pm is on 20th May.  It is a talk from David Speed who will tell us all about ‘Beauvale Priory – Between Two Worlds’.

 Bye for now,  Maureen

Our indoor meetings are always held at Central Methodist Church on Baker Street at the time of 2pm – 4pm (ish).  Usually it is £2 per person to cover the cost of a speaker and the hire of the room.

At the March meeting Robert Mee came to tell us about the History along the Erewash Trail.  He explained the trail was 30 miles as a round journey from Langley Mill to Long Eaton and back so in one hour we would have to move at 30mph to get the whole trail covered.  He thought that each town we passed could really have a talk of its own but he showed ‘then and now’ images as we went along.  Perhaps some of us could drive over to the river Erewash which isn’t very far away to see some of the sights he showed.  

The April meeting is a visit to The National Arboretum by Vallances coach leaving Ogle Street in Hucknall at 10.30am on Wednesday 15th April.  We leave the Arboretum at 4pm.

For our May meeting we are back indoors to hear David Speed telling us about ‘Beauvale Priory – Between Two Worlds’.

Maureen Newton