Robert Howard promoting the use of bus services to get round local heritage sites introduces the new, improved No 35 bus model.

Despite the bad weather the day got off to a good start with short presentations in the Lakeside theatre Introduced and Chaired by Dr David Knight, Director of Research at Trent & Peak Archaeology. Mickie Bradley, the site owner of King Johns Palace spoke about work on the palace at Clipstone; Steve Horne gave an overview of the work of The Friends of Thynghowe; John Parker, Chairman of Nottinghamshire Local History Association, outlined the changes and developments in local history; Ruth Imeson, of Nottinghamshire Archives, gave an illustrated talk about archives and heritage.

Stalls and exhibitions displaying regional historical and archaeological projects along with artefact handling were open from 12noon – 4pm.

The finds Liaison Officer for Nottinghamshire and Nottinghamshire County Council was on-hand to identify finds.

There  were handling sessions of material from Nottinghamshire including stone artefacts, coins, pottery and animal bones from the Palaeolithic to the medieval period.

The weather forced the abandonment of outside activities which were promptly moved indoors and provided the opportunity to become a time traveller for the day and become immersed in the past! Archaeological and historically themed characters, allowed visitors to meet some of their ancestors who told about their life and times and demonstrated skills and crafts from the past.

Howard’s new book tells the story of the teacher training establishment, founded and operated by the Loreto Sisters, on Nicker Hill in Keyworth (now the site of the British Geological Society). Built in 1968 and opened by Princess Anne in June 1970 it was closed in 1977 due to changes in Government education policy.

The restoration of the Memorial Gates to the Rectory Field at Keyworth was made possible by a donation from the Sisters of Loreto to commemorate their stay in Keyworth between 1968 and 1977.

The book is available from Keyworth Local History Society for £7.00 plus £2.50 package and postage; the best way to get a copy is to access the society website

www.keyworthhistory.org.uk

and then navigate your way through Society Activities to Contacts  where you can then use the contacts form at the bottom of the page to make an enquiry about obtaining a copy of the book.

LAXTON IN PEACE AND WAR, 1900-1920

On the 24 June the launch of four very well researched and produced publications on ‘Laxton In Peace & War’ was held at Crosshill Farm in the village of Laxton. The volumes were published by Nottinghamshire Local History Association. Other resource materials were also produced as part of an intensive project to research the village at a key time in its history.

A community had come together for a launch that delighted with extracts from letters of the early 1900s that had been painstakingly researched and catalogued and which brought a community to life in a very difficult period of history. We learn about the village school, Maypole dancing, ploughing matches, Belgian refugees and the evolution of Laxton’s famous Open Fields.

The guests sat in the barn to hear about the lives of local people between 1900-1920 and how members of the community had given time and a lot of hard work to this Heritage Lottery Fund funded project. Links had been established with the University of Nottingham Manuscripts Department, who hold the Manvers Papers and the project had proceeded with the invaluable support of Professor John Beckett.

Among the guests were Yvonne Woodhead, Chair of Nottinghamshire County Council and Tony Roberts, Chair of Newark & Sherwood District Council. Tony Roberts commented that this excellent project was especially important as ‘it recorded and remembered the lives of ordinary people’. A Private William Laughton had been born in Laxton in 1887. At the age of 14 he was working as a ‘yard lad’ on a local farm and later became a cow man. He was killed in action on 21^st April 1917 and is buried in a war cemetery between Lens and Bethune.

Laxton’s Project publications:

• Laxton In Wartime by Roger Cottee, 99 pages
• The Village Schoolmaster by Joan Cottee, 111 pages
• Living In Laxton by Cynthia Bartle, 135 pages
• Open Field Farming in Laxton by Mary Haigh, 119 pages

All volumes are plentifully illustrated. These books are not being sold commercially but copies are being deposited with organisations and libraries. They have been designed by Andy Columbine. For further information on the publications or about the Project please contact Laxton Local History Group at www.LaxtonHistoryGroup.org.uk

Christopher Weir

We have a team from Durham University on site between 4th and 16 July carrying out excavation outside Mother Grundy’s Parlour. They will be providing free public tours of the excavation site on Saturday 9 July at 12 noon and 3pm, and a talk on their findings at 1.30pm (tickets £3), bookable on 01909 720378.

You’ll see that we also have Sheffield University coming on Saturday 16 July and this Impact Event is an opportunity to hear from them about new techniques and proposals.

Creswell Crags celebrates the Festival of British Archaeology this year on Saturday 23 July, with our ‘Ice Age Survival’ day – John Lord will be demonstrating flint knapping, and we will also be hosting Paul Preston (Lithoscapes) who will be running a flint identification drop-in workshop, and there will be a chance to try your hand at outdoors survival skills (£5 charge for event).

Finally, we are running a session ’Wildflowers of the Limestone gorge’ with Debbie Alston of Derbyshire Wildlife Trust on Tuesday 26 July, 2pm – 4pm (£4 charge – please book ahead).

Michael Crane
Events and Communications Coordinator
Creswell Heritage Trust
01909 720378

A feast of music and liturgy attended by the Right Reverend Paul Williams, Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, is being prepared for a special service in July to celebrate the birthday of Aslockton’s famous historical resident, Thomas Cranmer.

The Cranmer Evensong service will be held on Sunday 3rd July from 6pm at St. John of Beverley of Whatton, Whatton in the Vale. Featuring the musical talents of the Choristers of Southwell Minster the evening will celebrate the life and works of Cranmer – the Archbishop of Canterbury in the reign of Henry VIII, who grew up in Aslockton and whose father is buried at St John.

Led by Paul Hale, Rector Chori and Southwell Cathedral organist, in what will be one of his last diocesan outings before his retirement, the Choristers of Southwell Minster will sing Evensong and give a short concert of ‘Cranmerian’ music following the service.

Paul says: “It will be a delight for the Minster Choir to revisit the ‘Cranmer’ parishes, several years after we last sang at Whatton. We recall our warm welcome last time – and the splendid tea! As we sing Cranmer’s great ‘invention’ – Evening Prayer (conceived by amalgamating the monastic evening offices of Vespers and Compline) – every day in the Minster, it seems most appropriate that we will be singing that very service in a church which he knew.”

The Cranmer Group of churches will be delighted to welcome the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, Bishop Paul Williams to the service, who will be the preacher.

“It promises to be a joyful celebration of the life and legacy of Cranmer,” said the Revd Bryony Wood, Vicar of The Cranmer Group. “On the evening, the bells will be rung to let our residents know the service will be taking place. Between 5pm and 6pm the bell ringers will perform a quarter peal, to begin the celebrations.”

Entry to the Cranmer Evensong at St John of Beverley of Whatton is free, but seats will be limited. Starting at 6pm the service will round off of a weekend of birthday celebrations, and be a fitting tribute to the ‘local boy made good’, who was the architect of the Book of Common Prayer.

The Cranmer Group hope the ‘Birthday Weekend’, which also includes the unveiling of a giant playground snakes and ladders game at Archbishop Cranmer School on Friday 1st July (charting the ups and downs of Thomas Cranmer’s life), will become an annual event. “We have high hopes this celebration weekend will return each year,” continues Bryony “and become part of a wider project – The Cranmer Connection – that will see the creation of a permanent commemoration to Thomas Cranmer’s legacy. We will be holding a collection at the service to help raise funds for the project.”

Everyone is welcome to come along and enjoy Cranmer Evensong, partake in an evening of music and liturgy and honour the memory of the Cranmer Groups most famous of former residents.

For more information contact the Revd Bryony Wood, Vicar of The Cranmer Group (and Deanery Missioner for East Bingham Deanery) The Vicarage, Main Street Aslockton,
Nottingham NG13 9AL. Telephone 01949 850523.

Farnsfield to Rainworth: Journey of a Lifetime.

Is the story of Sir Augustus Charles Gregory (1819-1905), explorer and surveyor-general. He was born on 1 August 1819 at Farnsfield, Nottinghamshire, England, the second of five sons of Joshua Gregory and his wife Frances, née Churchman. His father had seen service and been wounded and in lieu of a pension accepted a land grant in the new Australian settlement of Swan River where the family arrived in 1829.

Aided by a neighbour, Surveyor-General John Roe, Augustus became a cadet in his department in 1841 and was soon promoted an assistant surveyor. He worked mainly in the country, marking out roads and town sites and issuing pastoral licences, often with his brothers as his chainmen. He also designed an apparatus to operate the first revolving light installed on Rottnest Island.

Gregory’s resource, bushcraft, facility for invention and technical expertise won him the confidence of his superiors and in 1846 he was given command of his first expedition. In seven weeks with his brothers Francis and Henry Churchman (1823-1869) he travelled north of Perth, and returned in December to report good grazing land and a promising coal seam on the Irwin River. Impressed by his enterprise a group of colonists invited him in 1848 to lead a settlers’ expedition to map the Gascoigne River and seek more pastoral land. Although repelled by dense scrub the party charted part of the Murchison River and found traces of lead which led to the opening of the Champion Bay district centred on Geraldton.

Gregory continued to mark out roads and stockroutes and look for grazing land and minerals until 1854 when Governor Charles Fitzgerald reported to the Colonial Office in glowing terms of his skill and ability to abide by instructions. The imperial government had already decided to sponsor a scientific exploration across the north of Australia and Gregory was chosen to lead it. With eighteen men, including his brother Henry, Ferdinand von Mueller and other scientists he sailed from Moreton Bay in August 1855 and in September reached the estuary of the Victoria River. After initial set-backs Gregory led several forays up the Victoria River and traced Sturt’s Creek for 300 miles (483 km) until it disappeared in desert. Turning east the party explored the Elsey, Roper and Macarthur Rivers, crossed and named the Leichhardt and then travelled to Brisbane by way of the Flinders, Burdekin, Fitzroy and Burnett Rivers. In sixteen months the expedition had journeyed over 2000 miles (3219 km) by sea and 5000 (8047 km) by land. The natural resources discovered did not measure up to expectations, but Gregory was awarded the gold medal of the Royal Geographical Society and his report later stimulated much pastoral settlement.

Although Gregory attributed his success to ‘the protection of that Providence without which we are powerless’, the smooth passage and thorough scientific investigations of the expedition owed much to his leadership. Paradoxically it was too successful to be recognized as one of the most significant journeys led by one of the few unquestionably great Australian explorers. Modest, unromantic and resolute in following instructions, he did not dramatize his report, boasted no triumphs and sought no honours despite his admirable Aboriginal policy and meticulous organization. He excelled as a surveyor and manager of men, horses and equipment, and invented improvements for pack-saddles and pocket compasses. His seasonal knowledge and bushcraft were unparalleled and he was the first to note the sequence of weather patterns in Australia from west to east.

Gregory’s qualities were again displayed in 1858 when he led an expedition for the New South Wales government in search of Ludwig Leichhardt. From Juandah station he went west, crossed the Warrego and Barcoo Rivers but after finding traces of the lost explorer was forced by drought to abandon the search and travel south to Adelaide. This was his last major expedition. He marked the southern boundary of the new colony of Queensland and in 1859 became its first commissioner for crown lands and surveyor-general. He relinquished lands in 1863, on 12 March 1875 was replaced as surveyor-general by William Tully, and became geological surveyor.

Gregory had the most onerous duties in the new government for land was the colony’s greatest resource. He was responsible for classifying and controlling an area of 670,000 square miles (1,700,000 km²) inhabited by only 12,000 people with differing concepts of land alienation and use. Widely divergent physical and climatic conditions, haphazard records and a staff lacking in both quality and quantity, made his task unenviable and later unpopular. Although he worked with speed and efficiency, his ‘qualities as an explorer were not matched by his ability to institute and oversee a large, complicated and important Government department’. He had little patience for administrative process but relied on a combination of practical experience, technical skill and a network of intimates which included squatters, bushmen, explorers and surveyors. His social and political ties with the ‘Pure Merinos’ coloured his judgment and influenced his administration of land law. The most powerful civil servant in Queensland, he rarely hesitated to translate his own inflexible views into administrative action. His memorandum of 17 August 1867, which gave much of the best land on the Darling Downs to the pastoralists, was Queensland’s greatest concession to the squatters since the 1847 Order in Council. Although personally incorruptible, Gregory had little interest in smallholding and in 1868 his statement to the Legislative Council openly revealed that he had no confidence in the main principles of agricultural selection and in the ideological and social assumptions that lay behind it. He must be held culpable for condoning abuses of which he had ample proof, and much legal trouble ensued later from his deliberate laxity, secrecy and determination to remain dictator of his department. Yet justification can be pleaded. Not only did he have to translate the complex and often contradictory proposals of raw, factious politicians into reality but he also had to cope with continuous pastoral expansion. That he neglected the interests of the smallholder is true but equally valid is the record of his great services to a new colony struggling with immense problems.

Gregory was appointed to the Legislative Council on 10 November 1882. Always a critic of the government, he opposed all radical legislation and social reform and allied himself with the most reactionary squatting group in the House. He spoke more often than most members and his advice was freely sought and given, particularly on land and technical matters. He joined the Freemasons in 1855 and was grand superintendent of the Royal Arch Lodge in 1891. In 1863-1905 he was district grand master of Queensland lodges operating under the English Constitution. He was also a staunch Anglican and won repute for his private charity. He maintained his scientific interests and associations. A trustee of the Queensland Museum in 1876-99 and member of the Aborigines commission in 1876-83, he was elected president of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science in 1895. In local government at Toowong he served as president of the divisional board and in 1902 became first mayor. For his public services he was made C.M.G. in 1874 and K.C.M.G. in 1903 for his contribution to Australian exploration. He died unmarried at Rainworth, his Brisbane home, on 25 June 1905 and was buried in Toowong cemetery.

In Brisbane Gregory published five geological reports on southern Queensland and such significant pamphlets in 1878 as The Real Property Act of 1877, Meridian Line and Laying out Lines of Latitude on the Ground and the Supply of Water to the City of Brisbane. His report to the British government, ‘Papers Relating to an Expedition Undertaken for the Purpose of Exploring the Northern Portion of Australia’ was printed by the House of Commons in 1857, and his collected papers and records and those of his brother Francis were published in 1884 by the Queensland government as Journals of Australian Explorations; this laconic chronicle seldom does justice to his many qualities and achievements.

For these explorations he was awarded the founder’s medal of the Royal Geographical Society in 1863. His report became a handbook for northern settlement by pastoralists and pearlers. He also collected many botanical and geological specimens which were later housed in Charles Nicolay’s museum at Fremantle. He moved to Queensland in 1862 where in 1864 he married Marion Scott, daughter of Alexander Hume; they had five sons and one daughter. Gregory was appointed commissioner of crown lands in the Toowoomba district and to the Legislative Council in 1874. He was postmaster-general in 1883 and led the opponents to payment of council members in 1886. He died at Brisbane on 23 October 1888.

More than just history, uncover the highlights and rarities of Nottingham Central Library’s extensive Local Studies collection.

Launching on Thursday 30 June, download this free app to your apple or android device and get started exploring the unusual and captivating history of Nottingham – its people, industry and way of life – revealed through over 600 years of materials held by Nottingham City Libraries.

If you like what you see, why not come in and visit Nottingham Central Library’s Local Studies Library and let us help you rediscover your local history using maps, books, photographs, newspapers and much more!

More information from:

www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/libraries/local-studies-and-family-history/

Nottingham’s Historic Green Spaces Project is arranging a series of events that will happen over the summer. Some are for adults and some for children, and some suitable for all ages. We hope that everyone will find something to their taste and will join us at least once. Please put these dates in your diary.

Poetry Writing Competition

This is open to anyone who lives, works or studies in Nottinghamshire. We’re looking for lively original poems about Nottingham’s Historic Green Spaces. There will be cash prizes for the best three, and another seven will be ‘commended’.   All ten poems will be included in the Nottingham’s Historic Green Spaces Exhibition in the Local Studies Library, Angel Row. It is also anticipated that they will feature in a small publication about the Green Spaces project to be published in collaboration with Nottinghamshire Local History Association.A Brief for the competition, together with Terms and Conditions, Entry Form and other information is now available on the Project’s website www.ng-spaces.org.uk. The competition ends on 1 August 2016.

Breathing Spaces

Breathing Spaces is a community play, specially commissioned for the Historic Green Spaces project.  It is written by Andy Barrett, Artistic Director of Excavate http://excavate.org.uk and will be performed by community actors and members of the Friends groups and other organisations associated with the project.  It is based on the research done by the academic project team and the community partners during the original ‘The Social World of Nottingham’s Historic Green Spaces’ project (2013-14).

In 1845 Nottingham was changed forever as land was enclosed and the city finally began to expand after years of overcrowding, death and disease. And as a part of this transformation the ‘green lungs’ of Nottingham were created – a series of walks and parks that remain in place today.

Come and find out more about this historical moment, and of the ways that these Nottingham parks have been used throughout the ages in a lively new promenade performance that will take you on a journey through these last remnants of Nottingham’s common land. With live music, unexpected encounters, and a host of characters from across the ages, this highly visual performance lasts around 70 minutes, is suitable for all, and is free. Simply turn up on the day.

Performance Dates:

16 July 2016:   Queen’s Walk Recreation Ground (noon)

17 July 2016:   The Forest (noon) and Victoria Park (4:30pm)

24 July 2016:   The Arboretum (noon and 4pm)

Details of where the performances will start can be found on the website www.ng-spaces.org.uk.

Victorian Children’s Games

The Victorian Children’s Games sessions are being led by Hands on Our History http://handsonourhistory.co.uk/. They will give 21st century children the opportunity to experience, hands-on, the toys and games used by their great, great, great, (and possibly great) grandparents.   They are suitable for children from the age of 5-13, who must be accompanied by an adult.

Dates and places

16 July 2016: Queen’s Walk Recreation Ground, by the Pavilion

24 July 2016: The Arboretum, the Aviary by the Lake

16 August 2016: Local Studies Library, 1^st Floor, Central Library, Angel Row

They will all start at 2pm. Look out for Peter in his Victorian Schoolmaster’s Costume.

Children’s Discovery Trail around the Arboretum

The Arboretum was always intended to be a place to explore and make new discoveries – especially to enjoy trees from around the world, flowers, and exotic birds – as well as reminders of some of the people and events important to the City and further afield.

This trail will take children (and their parents) around the Arboretum and help them to discover some of its wonderful surroundings, just as their grandparents and great grandparents would have done.

It is suitable for children aged 5-13 (who must be accompanied by an adult). Everyone who completes the trail will receive a certificate and a present.

Time: 12 noon onwards (ends 4 pm)

Starting point: The Aviaries by the Lake.

The Social World of Nottingham’s Historic Green Spaces Exhibition

August 2016, 1^st Floor, Local Studies Library, Angel Row

This Exhibition will explore some of the history and heritage associated with Nottingham’s Historic Green Spaces and also highlight some of the 2016 project events. There will also be a series of afternoon talks. Details will be published on the website soon.

Check our website for further details or come to see us at the History and Archaeology Day, Lakeside – 9 July 2016, 12 noon onwards.

James Wright archaeologist, architectural historian and author has recently completed a book on the mediaeval palace at Kings Clipstone in Sherwood Forest. It is based on over twelve years of research and is the first full length detailed text on the site since 1890! Known to many as King John’s Palace, the site was once one of the very largest and most important royal palaces in Mediaeval England.

The palace was visited by eight kings who held parliament, Christmas feasts and tournaments; were visited by the king of Scotland, a papal envoy and traitorous barons; built a fortification, great hall and a stable for two hundred horses; went hunting, drank wine and conceived a prince; listened to storytellers, poets and singers.

James Wright is a Senior Archaeologist at the Museum of London Archaeology. Formerly he has worked as a conservation stonemason. His previous publications include a book on the Castles of Nottinghamshire and several journal articles relating to castles and palaces. Alongside fieldwork at Mediaeval buildings such as the Tower of London, Knole, the Palace of Westminster and Southwark Cathedral he has researched the history and archaeology of Kings Clipstone for over twelve years.

James Wright and Jonathan Foyle

Jonathan Foyle has contributed the foreword to the book. He is a broadcaster, journalist and historic buildings consultant with a background in heritage conservation, research and curating buildings such as Hampton Court. He is Visiting Professor in Conservation at the University of Lincoln and has authored monographs on the cathedrals at Lichfield, Lincoln and Canterbury. 

The book will be released via Triskele Publishing – www.triskelepublishing.com– on Friday 24th June. 

As you might or might not know stakeholders throughout Nottingham launched a Heritage Strategy for the City last year. The heritage strategy documents can be viewed at:

www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/article/30396/Nottingham-Heritage-Strategy

As part of the strategy there is a plan to establish a heritage partnership/forum for the City that will be open to all those groups and individuals who have a stake in heritage within Nottingham. The first step for the partnership/forum will probably be an event towards the end of 2016 giving people the opportunity to hear about progress against the strategy and make some input into its direction and approach.

Nottingham City has appointed a Heritage Strategy Officer – Alice Ullathorne – who is tasked with ‘developing partnerships and delivering actions’ so there may be some opportunity to get support out of the City for local heritage projects; there may be the opportunity to propose projects for inclusion in the Heritage Strategy; there may simply be the opportunity to find out what the City is up to in terms of heritage and take advantage of any developments that occur. At the very least this is an opportunity for local history and heritage groups to engage with the City and contribute towards the creation of a viable, cohesive and long-term strategy for our City.

I have been asked to make informal approaches to heritage groups/people to see what sort of support there would be for a partnership/forum and who would be interested in taking part. If this is something that would be of interest to you please let me know by email at chairman@nlha.org.uk.

If you would rather get in touch directly with Alice you will find her at Heritage and Urban Design, Nottingham City Council, Loxley House, Station Street, NOTTINGHAM NG2 3NG – Telephone: 0115 8761993 – Email: Alice.Ullathorne@nottinghamcity.gov.uk