History Group

by WebmasterHistory GroupPosted on Comments are Disabled

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

Not So Grumpy Old Men

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Not So Grumpy Old Men don the Hi-vis jackets

Many local residents will have watched with interest the steel construction that grew and grew in the Britons Fabricators yard at the junction of Nabbs Lane and Watnall Road. It was eventually revealed to be a new foot/cycle bridge to span the River Trent between Lady Bay and the Colwick Waterside area and by the time you read this, the bridge should be open for use.


The NSGOM were invited to visit Britons site on Watnall Road and spent considerable time with the company MD, Dean Morcom, who explained how the company was formed, how it operates and the many steel fabrications they have produced and installed in the past fifty years. These include many footbridges over motorways, railway lines, rivers, canals and the like. A huge number of motorway gantries, that provide signage and up to date information, have been fabricated in their Hucknall yard alongside more “exotic” projects such as the staging for a Beyonce performance! All the materials they use are sourced in the UK.

We were very impressed by the scale of activities on site, on how forward looking the company is, with apprenticeships etc., and by how much time they were prepared to give to us!

A most worthwhile experience.

Medium Walks

by WebmasterMedium WalksPosted on Comments are Disabled

Over the nearly sixteen years since this group was founded, we have roamed far and wide, but until our most recent walk, we have only ventured into Staffordshire once I think.

So, we set off this time from Branston Water Park (Branston of pickle fame), and having all successfully negotiated the quite difficult access off the A38, we followed a very pleasant stretch of the Trent and Mersey Canal. The Water Park originates from gravel workings, which are still operative. A surprisingly steep climb, although we had been warned, brought us to our coffee stop at Battlestead Hill, with views south towards the West Midlands.

We were too late for the bluebells in the woods this year, and crossing a footbridge over the A38, we came to our lunch stop, once again at the canal side, where a number of narrow boats were moored. We returned to the water park along the towpath, with both the Burton breweries in sight, after an interesting walk. The forecast for the day suggested that we might get wet, but the only rain we met was a downpour on the M1 returning to Hucknall.

Thanks to Steve and Anne Lawrence for organising this interesting walk, and for the detailed directions off the A38!

Our June walk will be to Car Colston.

To join this group, just use the email tab on our website.

John Tedstone

Litter Picking

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Despite the hot weather during May the litter pickers have cleared 13 bags of rubbish from the environment. Hopefully now that children have returned to school after half term parties on Washdyke Lane park and The Ranges, the amount of rubbish should ease a little and maybe our dedicated litter picker, accompanied by his dog, will have slightly less rubbish to collect.

New members to the group are always welcome. For further information see the Litter Picking Group details at the foot of the newsletter.

Val (Gant)

National Trust

by WebmasterNational TrustPosted on Comments are Disabled

Visit to The Croome Estate on Wednesday 27th May

After the hottest recorded May day ever  the group travelled to the Croome Estate in Worcestershire for our first ever visit to the venue. Arriving at around 10.30 in bright sunshine we were soon enjoying the beautiful estate.

The heart of the Estate is the House which was the brainchild of the 6th Earl of Coventry, an 18th century trendsetter who worked closely with the best talent of the time, Robert Adam and Lancelot (Capability) Brown to plan the House and Estate.

The House is not a typical National Trust property, with eighty percent of the  collections missing and replaced by temporary exhibitions.

The Estate, with its specular views of the Malvern Hills, was only acquired by the National Trust in 1996, a move that saved it from being totally lost to visitors. On the Estate lies a serpentine river, a tree lined lake, and elegant garden buildings, a perfect place to spend a summers day.

As you walk one of the four marked walks you can view kestrels, herons, swans and Canada geese.

In previous times the Estate has housed a Catholic School and during the Second World War a secret RAF camp employing over two thousand staff.

All this with a large cafe, walled gardens, a shuttle coach around the Estate and plant and book shop meant that there was plenty to occupy the group.

Leaving promptly at 4.00 pm we were safely back in Hucknall just after 6.30 pm.

Next month we travel to Ickworth Estate in Suffolk.

Barrie and Sue