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| Title of Talk | Duration | Summary | Speaker’s Details and Contact |
| Caring for books and documents: simple measures to ensure that your precious family records come to no harm. | 1 hour | Pamela introduces you to the materials documents are made from and the major enemies of those materials. She then explains simple measures you can use at home to keep your documents in good condition for generations to come. The session can include a show and tell element if audience members wish to bring examples they have for discussion (allow an extra 15 minutes for this). | |
| Delectable Documents – 800 years of Bedfordshire History | 1 hour to 1 hour 15 mins. | Using a selection of her favourite documents from the collections of Bedfordshire Archives, Pamela takes us on a chronological and thematic journey through the county’s history | |
| Domestic Interior – home life in the archives | 1 hour | Pamela takes a look at the homes and lives of the people of Bedfordshire through examples from Bedfordshire Archives. Along the way she will consider such things as: decoration, cooking, servants and pets. | |
| Great Estates | 1 hour | We take a look at the upstairs and downstairs of Bedfordshire’s country houses through the collections held by Bedfordshire Archives. | |
| Crime in 19th Century Bedfordshire | 1 hour | The quarter sessions records held by Bedfordshire Archives are a wealth of information about life in 19th century Bedfordshire. This talk picks out some examples and looks at the context of the quarter sessions in the 19th century criminal justice system. | |
| Patience, Jigsaws and Other Games Archivists Play | 1 hour | This talk uses well known games to explain the work of archivists and archive conservators and to show why working with archives is such fun. The talk can include audience participation – nothing to be scared of – just bring paper and a pencil. | |
| Picture This – Life through a lens | 1 hour | Photographs can be brilliant sources for historical research. Pamela draws on examples from the collections of Bedfordshire Archives to discuss what we can learn from photographs and what we should keep in mind when looking at them. | |
| Grand Designs – Conservation of the Wrest Park architectural drawings | 1 hour | Pamela explains the project that helped to protect the architectural drawings in the Lucas of Wrest Park collection and shows why these drawings are things of beauty as well as important historical sources. | |
| Z to A – Dr Fowler and the history of Bedfordshire Archives | 1 hour to 1 hour 15 mins | Dr Fowler was an extraordinary man who, on retiring from being a professor of Zoology, turned his thoughts to being an Antiquarian, which in turn led to Bedfordshire Archives becoming the first county record office in England. This talk looks at Dr Fowler, the beginnings of the archive service and how the archive service continues to build on the foundations laid by Dr Fowler. | |
| Who’s wearing the foolscap? | 1 hour | Pamela looks at the work of an archive conservator where variety is the spice of life, but you have to know your cartridge from your onion paper and a lot of other things besides. | |
| The Bedfordshire Home Front in World War II | 1 hour | Drawing on the records of Bedfordshire Archives this talk looks at how Bedfordshire prepared for and coped with the Second World War. | |
| I Love Maps | 1 hour | An historical map often brings admiring looks even from people who have no interest in the area depicted. In this talk Pamela explains the different sorts of maps to be found in Bedfordshire Archives and why she loves maps. | |
| Planes, Trains and Automobiles | 1 hour | This talk takes a look at transport in Bedfordshire through the ages based on examples from the collections of Bedfordshire Archives. | |
| Many Mansions – the architectural records of Sir Albert Richardson | 1 hour | Sir Albert Richardson was a well-known, Bedfordshire based, architect in the first half of the 20th century. Richardson was a professor at University College London and a supporter of Georgian architecture. He designed furniture as well as buildings. He was knighted for his services to architecture. Bedfordshire Archives holds his company’s large and important archive, which includes architectural drawings for projects of all shapes and sizes throughout the British Isles. This talk discusses some of these projects. | |
| Answers on a Postcard | 1 hour | Pamela delves into the Swain and Chrystal picture postcard collections owned by Bedfordshire Archives and explains why detective skills are often needed when describing or using picture postcards as historical sources. | |
| Luton Works | 1 hour | In this talk Pamela looks at the development of Luton in the 19th to mid 20th centuries and the transformation of the town from a rural market town to an industrial centre attracting workers from around the world. | |
| Harpur’s Bedford | 1 hour | This talk looks at how the charities set up by William and Alice Harpur in the 1500s influenced the way the town of Bedford developed for centuries to come. | |
| Bedford’s Industrial Heritage | 1 hour | This talk takes a look at what the archives of Bedford businesses tell us about the development of the town in the 19th and 20th centuries | |
| Parish Records beyond parish registers | 1 hour to 1 hour 15 mins. | Parish registers record baptisms, marriages and burials, but what other records did Church of England parishes create? Pamela takes a look at these other records and how they can be used for family and local history. | |
| I Have A Plan | 1 hour | Building plans can be useful sources for local history. They come in all shapes and sizes and sometimes need a bit of background knowledge to work out what they are telling you. In this talk Pamela introduces us to a variety of plans from the collections of Bedfordshire Archives. | |
| To the Manor Born | 1 hour to 1 hour 15 mins | Using examples from Bedfordshire Archives Pamela takes a look at what made a manor, the records they produced and why those records can be very useful for family and local historians. | |
| History of Policing in North Bedfordshire | 75 mins | What was the role of a Parish Constable? What led up to the creation of a County Constabulary? Why did the northernmost Division end up in Sharnbrook? Do we know the names of the original Police Constables and what do we know of their careers? What crimes were the most common in a rural community? Were there any recidivists? Did criminal activity run in families? How successful were the police in apprehending the felons? Did the sentence of the Sharnbrook petty court match the crime? Were there any serious crimes in any of the surrounding villages? | |
| Land Ownership in Sharnbrook Parish | 75 mins | How did the geology of the area affect the use of the land? Is there any sign of habitation in prehistoric times? What does the Domesday Survey tell us about who owned the land? Who were the landowners and can we ascertain how they transferred ownership across the generations? What type of farm management / field system was used? What were the names of the fields over the years and can we determine in which estate they lay? How was the ownership/layout of the fields affected by events such as the coming of the railways and WW2? | |
| Using GIS to support Local History Studies | 75 mins | The results of archaeological excavations or fieldwalking can be recorded so that the location is known. These results can then be read into mapping software as a specific layer. Additional layers can be added from raster images such as Estate diagrams, LIDAR images, aerial photographic images, Portable Antiquities Scheme etc. A GIS project can use data from the county’s HER departments so one’s own research can be overlaid with data from formal infrastructure projects. The layers can be used to analyse datasets and create interactive online maps. | |
| Bedford and its River – from workplace to pleasure ground | 1 hour | The Ouse has been integral to Bedford’s development. The story of the Ouse navigation and riverside industries (mills, sea coal, breweries). As river traffic ceased, the banks became a Victorian pleasure ground. | |
| Jolly Good Boating Weather – pleasure boats, boat builders, regattas & rowing | 1 hour | Pleasure boats and river launches were a common summer pastime. Local boatbuilders provided and hired the craft, including a floating bandstand! The history of competitive rowing, clubs and Bedford Regatta | |
| Votes for Women! The suffrage movement in Bedford & north Bedfordshire | 1 hour | Bedford had an active and campaigning women’s suffrage movement. This talk tells their story and that of the brave women who led them. | |
| Bedford Between the Wars: 1914 to 1939 | 1 hour | Bedford during the First World War. Post-war challenges & recovery. Arc deco Bedford. | |
| A town transformed: Bedford in the 1950s-1970s. | 1 hour | How Bedford planned for the future and transformed itself. Waves of migration, new industries (Texas Instruments), housing estates & ‘local neighbourhoods’. | |
| Bedford in the 1950s | 1 hour | An illustrated tour of Bedford in 1950-51; the Festival of Britain; the Coronation; the Italians – ‘Little Italy’. | |
| A Bookless Town – the fight for Bedford’s Library | 1 hour | Bedford was one of the last major towns to have a public library. This talk tells the story of its private predecessors, and the battle from the 1930s against vested interests to provide citizens with a free library. | |
| Unhealthy Bedford – Plague, Pestilence & Fever | 1 hour | Even by Victorian standards, Bedford was a particularly unhealthy town. Polluted water, no sewerage, overcrowded dwellings & over-flowing churchyards. Bedford’s residents suffered badly from successive outbreaks of the plague, smallpox, typhus, cholera and typhoid. How Bedford Corporation cleaned up the town. | |
| The Story Behind the View-the Making of the Bedfordshire Countryside | 40 minutes max : questions welcome | This Presentation is an introduction to the countryside of Bedfordshire beginning with its geological foundations and linking this to the present pattern of land use and agriculture. The talk is based on a publication entitled, An Unassuming County: The Making of the Bedfordshire Countryside, which is now in a second edition (2023). This presentation provides a simple framework which is a useful guide to understanding the various distinctive areas within Bedfordshire. This talk invites the audience to ask more questions of what they see and perhaps take an active interest in present day countryside and its future. | |
| From Erik the Bald to Nigel de Albini: the Domesday Book in Bedfordshire | 40 minutes max : questions welcome | The preparation of the Domesday record throughout most of the counties of England, including Bedfordshire beginning in 1086 provides an intriguing snapshot into the land holdings at this time of radical change. As one historian puts this: William had conquered the kingdom all over again, this time statistically and in a form no disgruntled Motte and Bailey baron would ever overcome. We meet many characters in this account including the previous owners, and their tenants and the new estate owners such as Nigel d’Albini. The estate lands are given a value, we are told the number of pigs any woodland. | |
| How to Value a Skylark: The Countryside in a Time of Change | 40 minutes max : questions welcome | This presentation is based on a book of the same name, published in January 2021. Essentially the book and the 35-minute presentation pose the question: What do we expect from the countryside? The pandemic and lockdown in 2020/21 have forced a rethink of previous held views. Issues such as health and diets; food security; the aspiration to plant more trees across Britain; and an understanding of the part nature plays in mental health and wellbeing; are all part of an increasingly crowded agenda. The book and this presentation are illustrated by images from across the UK. | |
| It’s a Hole-A big, big Hole: The Extraction Industry and the Bedfordshire Landscape | 40 minutes max : questions welcome | The geology of Bedfordshire has provided resources for a variety of extraction industries over a long period, the best known being the brick clay workings of the Marston Vale. Additionally, there are other less well-known mining and quarry operations winning coprolites, Fullers Earth and industrial sand from the landscape. This has left Bedfordshire with a residue of abandoned mining sites which are now important as brown field development areas, nature reserves, and leisure facilities. This presentation includes the hard rock quarrying of chalk and sandstone; the sand and quarrying industry based in Leighton Buzzard; and other extraction sites. | |
| From Open Fields to Fletton Bricks: A history of landscapes in Bedfordshire from John Bunyan to the Malcolm Stewart | 40 minutes max : questions welcome | Two historical figures bookend this period of change in the Bedfordshire landscape. Bunyan walked through the countryside of the county as a tinker and this gave him an intimate knowledge of the landscapes which he used in his allegorical writings. Stewart had the business acumen to move the brick making industry on to a commercial basis and the political and practical approach which supported the Land Settlement Association communities in Bedfordshire at Potton and Wyboston | |
| Cities with Walls of Water: How the Dutch used water in times of war. | 40 minutes max : questions welcome | From the mid-16th century, the Dutch state employed a system of defense lines to protect towns and cities from invasion. This novel technique made use of strategic flooding of low land in times of need. A carefully engineered system of defensive forts was constructed linking dykes which could be breached, flooding areas to a pre-calculated depth-too deep for a man to wade across easily, but not deep enough for boats to be deployed. The forts are still in good condition and now tourist attractions. This Presentation explains this typical use of resources by the Dutch and is illustrated by slides | |
| The Women Pilots of the Air Transport Auxiliary | 45-60 minutes | The story of how the women’s section of the Air Transport Auxiliary came into being and of the young women recruited to ferry aircraft from factories to operational RAF stations in the Second World War. | |
| 60 Years in the Book Trade | 45-60 minutes | The speaker’s experiences in printing and publishing throughout his working life. | |
| Engineer or Profiteer | 45-60 minutes | John Viret Gooch was an early railway engineer who found a way to line his pockets when working for the Great Eastern Railway | |
| Fleet Street 60 Years Ago | 45-60 minutes | The speaker’s experiences in the street of shame. | |
| The Great Northern Railway | 45-60 minutes | The pioneers behind the second route to Scotland through Biggleswade and Sandy | |
| The Old Printing Trade | 45-60 minutes | The history behind how we used to produce our print. | |
| Terrific Types | 45-60 minutes | The stories behind the typefaces we see and use every day. | |
| RAF Henlow | 45-60 minutes | The story of this soon to be closed RAF Station from its foundation during the First World War, its great contribution in the second world conflict and later wars to the present day. | |
| Heraldry and Bogus Heraldry | 50 mins + questions | The Victorians loved heraldry but many of their coats of arms are completely bogus. A brief history of domestic heraldry and how to spot bogus arms. | |
| Flitwick before main drainage | 50 mins + questions | Flitwick was a very different place in the early 1940s – no main drainage, so a two-holier the garden and a well , a fully functioning blacksmith’s forge. Enormous mushrooms in the fields, a walk every Saturday to Ampthill for children’s cinema at the Zonita. | |
| The British in India | 50 mins + questions | Several thousands of people went to India between 1600 and 1947. Most died there. Extensive records remain. How to find and use records. | |
| A History of Bedfordshire Hedgerows | 75 minutes | This talk focusses on the creation of hedgerows in the county over the last 2000 years and shows that today’s field patterns are not entirely a product of the last 200 years but the result of medieval assarting, piecemeal enclosure of common fields by private agreement from the later 14th century and in some places parliamentary enclosure of the 18th and 19th centuries imposing a rectilinear field pattern on the landscape. Documentary records also provide a glimpse of hedgerow maintenance and allow us to recognise their economic and practical value, especially their trees, often the subject of detailed surveys. | |
| The Festival of Britain (in Bedfordshire) | 1 hour | This talk explores Bedfordshire’s involvement with the nationwide Festival celebrating the best of Britain in 1951. Although focussing on the five significant projects pursued by the County Council, whose results have been of long standing value across the county and remain prominent today, the multifarious events held in the county’s major towns are also highlighted. The talk also includes a brief look at the main exhibitions on the South Bank in London, including the intriguing Skylon with its Bedford connection. | |
| Woodland Archaeology in Bedfordshire | 75 minutes | Many woodlands surviving today contain features that are archaeologically significant. These form the main subject of this talk besides introducing documentary records which demonstrate the wide range of valuable products obtained from such woods. Besides the bordering woodbank other earthworks found include subdividing compartment banks and depressions which may be the remains of ponds, saw pits, marl pits or quarries. Occasionally woods contain earthworks which are not the result of woodland activities but are present because they have become overgrown following their abandonment, such as hillforts, moats and fishponds. Sometimes the remains of World War II activity are present. | |
| Woodland Archaeology on the Bedfordshire Greensand | 1 hour | See details for the similar Bedfordshire wide talk described above. However, this talk focusses on the nature and identification of typical archaeological features to be found in several of the ancient woods on the Greensand Ridge. Also an introduction is provided to the historical documents which are available for some woods, including disbursements for materials and labour necessary for managing woods, wood sales accounts and woodwards papers | |
| Before the Saxons: Early Archaeology on the Greensand Ridge | 90 minutes | A talk summarising what we know about archaeology across the whole of the Greensand Ridge in Bedfordshire before the Romans abandoned Britain. Highlights include some significant Mesolithic camp sites, many Bronze Age barrows, burials and finds, numerous Iron Age and Roman farmsteads (several only known from aerial photographs), higher status sites like the ‘Belgic’ burials at Stanfordbury and the settlement at Ruxox, some important Iron Age mirror finds and later Roman hoards. The strategic location of Sandy is also emphasised as evidenced by the Iron Age hillforts located there followed by the Roman town whose excavated remains are discussed. | |
| Roman and Saxon Archaeology across Greensand Country | 75 minutes | A talk summarising some of what we know about archaeology across the whole of the Greensand Ridge during the Roman and Saxon periods. Beginning with the results of excavations at the strategically important site of Sandy Roman town, including extramural burials, and at other sites nearby, the talk then highlights many of the Roman farmsteads across the Ridge besides the higher status settlement at Ruxox and some important Roman hoards. Evidence from the Saxon period is rather more limited and apart from some chance finds is mainly confined to cemeteries, as at Sandy and the three north of Leighton Buzzard. | |
| Researching the History of a House | Half day | An introduction as to how to research the history of a house in Bedfordshire (its architecture, materials, past inhabitants and general history) in particular using material held by the Historic Environment Records and Bedfordshire Archives. The full range of historic maps is covered including historic O.S. maps, Tithe and Enclosure maps and their associated Award Books along with Estate, Town and Rating Valuation maps. Other documents shown and their use and problems discussed include title deeds, terriers, sale catalogues, rating valuations, estate records, manorial records (including court rolls), building plans, illustrations, Directories, Census Returns, tax records, wills and probate inventories. | |
| Using Historic Maps for Local History and Archaeology | Half or whole day | A look at how the wide range of maps available online or in Record Offices can be used and interpreted for archaeological purposes and for studying local history. First a detailed examination of O.S. maps from the earliest 1” including the detailed 1:500 town maps of the 1880’s and an emphasis on the value of the 1st edition 1:2500, e.g. the accurate mapping of trees, and its use for the Rating Valuation of 1910. Also examined are town, estate, Tithe and Enclosure Maps – their purposes, value to local study, (including provision of fieldnames and field shapes), and pitfalls. | |
| A Century of Orchards: the Aylesbury Prune in Bedfordshire (and Buckinghamshire) | 45 minutes to 1 hour | This talk is the story of the once extensive plum orchards which became prominent in south west Bedfordshire between the 1850’s and 1950’s. Planted at the foot of the chalk scarp where its soils intermixed with those of the Gault clay vale to provide excellent conditions for growth, these orchards allowed a significant commercial industry to develop. In Bedfordshire Stanbridge, Billington, Totternhoe and Eaton Bray were all involved with orchards also present in neighbouring Buckinghamshire parishes and beyond through the Aylesbury Vale. Produce was sent to London and elsewhere, mainly through the station at Cheddington but also from Stanbridgeford Station. | |
| Humps, Bumps and Names: Clues to Archaeology and Historic Landscapes in South West Bedfordshire | 45 minutes to 1 hour | Focussed on the landscape north west and west of Dunstable, an area once traversed by the ancient Theedway and including Wingfield, Hockliffe, Tilsworth, Eggington, Stanbridge, Eaton Bray, Totternhoe and Dunstable Downs, this talk examines the many and varied ancient earthwork remains which survive there today alongside indicative field- and place-names. The talk reveals what these physical and written clues tell us about the area’s prehistoric archaeology and fascinating medieval and later landscape history whilst emphasising the value of aerial photographs and historic maps. | |
| Rushmere Park and Stockgrove Before the Trees: some landscape history | 75 minutes | Rushmere Park north of Leighton Buzzard is not a classic landscape park. Rather it is the result of the cobbling together of several pre-existing historic landscape components, initially over 200 years to create the impression of a grander parkscape than really existed adjoining Stockgrove House, but latterly for the creation and expansion of a Country Park for public enjoyment. This talk examines each of the historic landscape components brought together in Rushmere Park and touches upon heathland, warrens, sheep walks, parliamentary enclosure, ancient woodland, lakes and ponds, a brick kiln and its fuel supply and the establishment of coniferous plantations. | |
| From King’s Wood to Knolls Wood: 4,000 years of heathland use, archaeology and history | 90 minutes | The high ground north of Leighton Buzzard is dominated by woodland including both ancient stands, such as King’s and Baker’s Woods, and 19th century plantations, such as Knolls Wood and the majority of trees at Rushmere. These woodlands, their products and the features they contain indicative of their management, are of considerable interest but the general landscape history of the area is also fascinating, including Bronze Age burials, Iron Age occupation, Saxon cemeteries, medieval mills and abandoned settlement. The formerly extensive open heathland, rabbit warrens (and related disputes), 19th century parkland creation and World War II activity are all discussed. | |
| Caddington: Historic Landscape and Settlements | 1 hour | A talk describing the historic landscape development of this large south Bedfordshire parish once divided between Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire: in particular its several scattered farms and settlements and their most significant buildings, the history of its common fields and the various processes of their enclosure and the violence engendered by the enclosure of the extensive Caddington Common. Caddington’s several manors also had a significant impact historically and even more significant were relationships with Dunstable to the north and Markyate and its Priory within the parish to the south. | |
| Willington, Tempsford, the Danes and some Bedfordshire Moats | 1 hour | A talk examining 10th and 11th century references in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle to a Danish fortification at Tempsford – where was it and does it survive. The medieval moat at Gannocks Castle in Tempsford has been suggested as has also the site in Willington known as the ‘Danish Docks’, another medieval moat. The latter is discussed in detail including the various excavations there and its restoration whilst Gannocks Castle is also reviewed along with other suggested Danish sites at Beeston Berries, Bolnhurst, Etonbury and Shillington, and comparisons made with other certain medieval moated sites. | |
| Flitwick Manor Park and Grounds: A 19th Century Visitor Attraction and Botanic Treasure House | 75 minutes | A talk focussing on the surviving Manor Park but also including the pleasure gardens adjoining Flitwick Manor and areas no longer parkland. Grazed by deer in the 19th century Manor Park includes a lake and the remnants of an arboretum of national significance and a pinetum of European importance. Both were planted by John Thomas Brooks who laid out walks for visitors and instigated other developments and plantings between 1816 and 1857, including the creation of the Upper Park, now lost under housing (except for the Mount, originally a medieval motte, and nearby fishpond), and once incorporating Flitwick Wood. | |
| Some History of Studham Common and Nearby | 1 hour | Studham parish was formerly divided between the counties of Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, part of the boundary running through the middle of the original extent of Studham Common. This talk highlights some of the tricky issues this raised and examines the history of settlement around it, including squatter encroachments. Common rights would have been exercised over the Common, including grazing and digging for turf, stone or other materials. Areas of gravel extraction are marked by earthworks. Although the Hertfordshire part of the Common was enclosed and disappeared in the 19th century the Bedfordshire part was never enclosed and thus remains today. | |
| Beeston: Some Archaeology and Landscape History | 1 hour | A talk describing landscape development and the rich archaeology of Beeston and its surrounding area in the Ivel valley of east Bedfordshire from the Palaeolithic onwards. The talk covers Neolithic and Bronze Age burials, Iron Age and Roman settlement, medieval moats and manors, Beeston planned medieval village and its buildings, including onion sheds. | |
| Bradgers Hill Lynchets, Luton – An Ancient Survival | 45 minutes | A detailed look at the medieval cultivation terraces which survive as earthworks on the steep chalk slope at Stopsley north east of Luton: their form, history, use and recent conservation activity. Also comparison with other similar lynchets in south Bedfordshire and an introduction to nearby significant archaeological and landscape features. | |
| Swineshead and Spanoak Woods: Some History | 45 minutes | A talk examining the history of two, once one, ancient bluebell woodlands in the far north of the county on the north Bedfordshire Wolds. A story mainly told through a study of several historic maps and surveys within the woods which recorded the earthworks of medieval woodbanks, quarrying activity, and fragments of ridge and furrow. Historically managed as coppice with standards, like many similar ancient woodlands located along parish boundaries these can be shown to have originally been at the centre of an area of medieval assarting with moats in the vicinity. | |
| General – A Brief History of Wrest Park | Talks usually last around 45 minutes plus questions. | Our 800-year history and stories. | |
| Wrest House – The Old House(s) at Wrest | Talks usually last around 45 minutes plus questions. | The history of the previous house to the 1830’s, and its proposed replacements. | |
| Wrest House – The Historic Wallpapers of Wrest | Talks usually last around 45 minutes plus questions. | Our magnificent Chinese and French wallpaper. Tours are also available. | |
| General – Christmas at Wrest | Talks usually last around 45 minutes plus questions. | Food, festivities and one of the oldest Christmas trees. | |
| Wrest Buildings – Thomas Archer and his Pavilion at Wrest | Talks usually last around 45 minutes plus questions. | The iconic pavilion and its architect | |
| De Greys – Thomas Earl de Grey, Sailor | Talks usually last around 45 minutes plus questions. | Yacht owner and founder member of the Royal Yacht Squadron. | |
| 20th Century Wrest – An American at Wrest | Talks usually last around 45 minutes plus questions. | A weekend retreat for the US Ambassador and his prestigious guests, 1906-12. | |
| 20th Century Wrest – The World War One Hospital at Wrest | Talks usually last around 45 minutes plus questions. | Stories of life in a country house military hospital, 1914-16. | |
| 20th Century Wrest – The National Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Wrest Park | Talks usually last around 45 minutes plus questions. | Its pioneering history, 1947-2006. | |
| Medieval and Tudor Greys – Sir John of Shirland | Talks usually last around 45 minutes plus questions. | The Greys come to Wrest, marry well and serve King Henry, although brother Richard supports Simon de Montford. | |
| Medieval and Tudor Greys – Reynold de Grey, 1st Baron Wilton | Talks usually last around 45 minutes plus questions. | Welsh and Scottish campaigns in service to the King. Reynold may be the Sheriff of Nottingham who captured Robin Hood. | |
| Medieval and Tudor Greys – Reynold Grey, 3rd Baron Ruthin | Talks usually last around 45 minutes plus questions. | ‘as if the park and warren had been in the hands of the French’. Just as hard on neighbours as he was on the King’s enemies. | |
| Medieval and Tudor Greys – Edmund, 1st Earl of Kent, Hero or Blackadder? | Talks usually last around 45 minutes plus questions. | Rises to Lord Treasurer of England by the end of the Wars of the Roses, including changing sides at the Battle of Northampton. | |
| Medieval and Tudor Greys – The long way back after the ‘waster’ Richard | Talks usually last around 45 minutes plus questions. | ‘an vnthriftie vncle of myne’ who wasted the family fortune taking 50 years to recover under Queen Elizabeth I. | |
| 20th Century Wrest – Wrest Park Hospital Fire | Talks usually last around 45 minutes plus questions. | The fire of September 1916 and the end of the De Grey connection with Wrest. | |
| Wrest House – Behind the Scenes at Wrest | Talks usually last around 45 minutes plus questions. | The changing uses of our basement and service areas, and stories of those who worked there. Tours are also available. | |
| De Greys – Tom, Fred and Phil: a Georgian Childhood | Talks usually last around 45 minutes plus questions. | Thomas Robinson, (future Earl de Grey), and his brothers Frederick Viscount Goderich (Prime Minister 1827-8), and Philip Robinson | |
| De Greys – Power, Prestige and Personality – a life through Houses | Talks usually last around 45 minutes plus questions. | The influence of Thomas, Earl de Grey, through his properties and positions | |
| Various Aspects of Luton Heritage | 50 mins | Various Aspects of Luton Heritage | |
| The Mystery & Magic of Egyptian Hieroglyphs | One hour. But can be 15 minutes shorter or longer. | My talk shows how Egyptian hieroglyphs were the world’s first form of writing, cleverly using pictures of everyday objects, birds, animals, tools, buildings etc to construct words. Which actually makes it surprisingly easy to learn once you have the ‘key.’ I describe how this key was lost for 2,000 years after the fall of the Ancient Egyptian and only rediscovered by the work of an Englishman called Thomas Young, and a Frenchman called Jean-Francois Champollion. My presentation is gloriously illustrated throughout, using original paintings from tombs, temples, coffins and papyrus., showing famous Pharaohs, Queens and, of course, many gods | |
| Miracles, Wonders And A Broken Heart | 45 – 60 mins | Continuing from The Admiral, The Rector and Long John Silver, the second talk includes the Keysoe Miracle involving William Dickens’ fall from Keysoe church steeple, Eilward Of Westoning and his miraculous recovery from castration and Alice Anderson’s touching memorial on which she records how her heart is forever entombed with her dead husband – four years before she re-married! | |
| The Admiral, The Rector And Long John Silver | 45 – 60 mins | Amongst many other things, this first talk reveals the starting and finishing post of the first English Grand National; the death of Admiral Byng of Southill, executed by firing squad for failing to do his utmost; Rev Dr Edward Drax Free – arguably the worst rector in the history of Bedfordshire – and Long John Silver – the famous pirate – whose ashes are scattered at Cockayne Harley. | |
| Poor Nell And The Marshall Of Hadleyville | 45 – 60 mins | The third chapter from Tales From Bedfordshire Churches includes more from the rich tapestry of facts, fiction and legends from Bedfordshire includes medieval wall carvings in Leighton Buzzard, a cowboy story from Houghton Regis and the author of one of the most significant works of theological fiction in English literature. | |
| The Women’s Land Army during the First World War. | 1 hour | Be enthralled by this new army doing their National Service; one that made such an incredible contribution to the war effort at home, but that have, in the intervening decades been all but forgotten. The pioneering Women’s Land Army of the Great War years aimed to recruit women largely from wealthier backgrounds for the first time although this was not always the case! For the many women who worked in mainly towns and cities in well-paid jobs or didn’t work at all prior to the war, they were strongly encouraged to come and work on the land, (often for the first time) in large numbers. The years 1914-1918/19 however, gave women from all classes in all counties and regions of Britain opportunities that were simply unthinkable of before the Great War. Officially formed in February 1917, the women that eventually went on to join the Women’s Land Army during the First World War enabled vital food production to continue on the Home Front. Their efforts attempted to fill the enormous void left by men who had gone to serve overseas; men who had previously worked in farming and agriculture. The chief purpose of the Great War Women’s Land Army was to stave off the very real threat of starvation to the British population by turning more land over to cultivation whilst continuing to farm existing land. This threat to food supply was caused by the devastating impact German U-boat attacks had on Allied merchant shipping. From its infancy, pre-1917 through to its peak and subsequent demobilisation, this illustrated talk will take any audience on a captivating journey of the history of this rather neglected aspect of the First World War’s history right from when the earliest branches of the Forage Corps and Forestry/Timber sections were set up right up until it was ‘officially’ formed in February/March 1917. Then finally, right the way through to November 30th 1919 when it was officially demobilised. | |
| Keeping Faith at the Front during the First World War. | 1 hour | Some people had a faith and some did not – so how did the men and women who served in the Great War cope with the constant mental and physical strain that years of war perpetuated? So many cultures and faiths came together to serve. So many different nationalities served together. The Great War was truly a shared history. This illustrated talk focuses on two particular aspects: Firstly, the extraordinary and unusual true stories and accounts of the unarmed chaplains and how they not only took and delivered ministry and faith to the soldiers and nurses at the front lines during the Great War but also how many went far beyond their calling to deliver kindness, reassurance and care during their service. Many were awarded medals for their bravery. Secondly, there are also true stories and first-hand accounts told by the people that served their country and kept faith, (in a non-religious sense) who trusted in each other during these terrible years of war. Stories of simple, heart-warming acts of kindness given during times of immense stress. Acts that eased the suffering and nerves shattered by the horrors of war. It is a fascinating, thought-provoking, inspiring, funny and yet incredibly moving illustrated talk. | |
| When the landships came to town: What happened during a typical ‘Tank Week’ in WW1? | 1 hour | This illustrated talk is about the incredible story of the ‘Tank Banks’ which aimed to raise as much money for the war effort through investments in War Bonds and War Savings Certificates. This talk will take any audience on a whirlwind journey as they find out about the excitement the tanks whipped up as they visited towns and cities all over the country. The atmosphere of ‘tank fever’ will be recreated with the assistance of vivid contemporary accounts and music. What were the final totals raised? Can the audience match the towns and cities to the totals that were raised? There are sure to be some surprises as they test themselves! They will have the chance to pit their wits in the true or false quiz, learning weird and wonderful things about Tank Weeks. What else happened during Tank Week and who took part in them? What was the money spent on? What was the return of interest for investors? Audiences will see the fascinating spin-offs and merchandising that was sold to promote Tank Weeks too. There are SO many quirky and unusual stories connected to this initiative and plenty of opportunities for groups to engage in the subject. They will be hooked by the stories of Drake, Egbert, Iron Ration, Julian, Nelson and Ole Bill! Are you ready to invest in this fun, informative and fact-filled illustrated talk? | |
| Convalescing at a country house during the First World War. | 1 hour | This illustrated talk describes and brings to life, (as much as it is possible to do so) what it was actually like to convalesce in a country house, (such as Cottesbrooke Hall in Northamptonshire). What illnesses, injuries and cases were treated in these country houses? Where were they located in Northamptonshire? What social activities were provided for the men? My illustrated talk has uncovered wonderful stories of courage and dedication from staff and patients alike and funny stories of what else took place in these houses to help men recover from their physical injuries as well as try to begin to heal the mental scars caused by war. It is a heartwarming and interesting illustrated talk, full of surprises and is moving and funny in equal measure too! | |
| Women in the First World War | 50 mins | Women played many roles in the First World War, including in the military, on the home front, and in factories. This talk aims to highlight some lesser-known themes. As well as increased financial independence, women also enjoyed a greater social freedom. For the first time, young single women could openly visit pubs, cinemas, and other public places unaccompanied by men. Not all of these freedoms were welcomed by all however, societal concerns about ‘morality’ often resulting. The talk also highlights the impact of the war on women’s health. | |
| Trench Humour of the First World War | 50 mins | This presentation takes a light-hearted look at trench humour in slang and through tunes, cartoons, satirical journals, concert parties and in many other ways. The presentation is fully illustrated, includes film clips and the odd musical recording. (There may be singing and the odd profanity thrown in!) | |
| The British Civil Wars in Eight Paintings | 50 mins | This presentation highlights some important moments during the Civil Wars of the mid seventeenth century, as represented in works of art. It focuses particularly on portraits and scenes executed at the time and those canvases produced in the Victorian era. | |
| Lagomania in Bedfordshire: The Story of Masquerade and the Hunt for the Golden Hare. | 60 to 70 mins | In 1979 a book called Masquerade, by Kit Williams, was published. Hidden in its pages was a puzzle which would lead its solver to a valuable prize – a golden hare buried somewhere in Bedfordshire. The story has heroes, villains, skulduggery, beautiful artwork and a supporting cast of colourful eccentrics. An anecdote-rich story with video and audio content. |