Programme of events for 2012
Lectures, unless otherwise stated, are held at the Nottingham Mechanics 3 North Sherwood Street, NOTTINGHAM NG1 4EZ at 2.45 pm. This venue is fully accessible and has facilities for disabled people. A bookstall is available from 2.15 pm.
Saturday 14 January
Nora Witham Lecture: William Booth 1829-1912
Gordon Taylor, Retired Director, Salvation Army
Statue of William Booth at Notintone Place, Sneinton.
Gordon Taylor retired at the end of September 2011 after working for theSalvation Army as a researcher, archivist and historian for 25 years. He is currently working on a book about the life and legacy of William Booth, to be published in 2012 to mark the centenary of his death.
One hundred years ago, on 20 August 1912, General William Booth, Founder of The Salvation Army, died at his home in Hadley Wood, Hertfordshire, at the age of 83. He had travelled a long way since his birth in Notintone Place, Sneinton, Nottingham, on 10 April 1829, the third child of Samuel Booth, gentleman and his second wife, Mary (nee Moss). Apart from four years when the family lived in Bleasby, his first 20 years were spent in Sneinton, though the school and the Methodist chapel he attended were a short walk away in the centre of Nottingham, as was the pawnbrokers' shop where he served his apprenticeship.
In 1849 he went to London where he worked as a pawnbrokers' assistant before entering Christian ministry in London and Lincolnshire. After seven years as a minister in the Methodist New Connexion, he was a freelance evangelist and founded a Christian Mission in London, which in 1878 became the Salvation Army.
In 1890, just after the death of his wife, Catherine, he published his book, In Darkest England and the Way Out, which gave impetus to the development of the Salvation Army's social outreach. From Britain, the work extended to every continent, and at the time of his death in 1912, the Army was active in 58 countries.
To mark this anniversary, Gordon Taylor reviews the life and influence of William Booth, his debt to Nottingham and his legacy to the world.
Saturday 11 February
Myles Thoroton Hildyard Lecture: More Nottingham Town Houses - including No 17 Castle Gate
Pete Smith, English Heritage
No. 17, Castle Gate, Nottingham.
Pete Smith is a Senior Architectural Investigator with English Heritage and a member of the Council of the Thoroton Society. He has published widely on various aspects of the country house, particularly those in Nottinghamshire.
This lecture will concentrate on the 18th century townhouse now known as No. 17, Castle Gate, Nottingham. It will form a prelude and introduction to the Society's planned visit to No. 17, Castle Gate arranged for Thursday, 19 July 2012. It will also attempt to place this townhouse in the wider context of the townhouse in general and in comparison with other examples in Nottingham in particular. The lecture will also explore a number of Nottingham townhouses which were not included in the lecture given by Pete in January 2004.
Saturday 10 March
Maurice Barley Lecture: Recent work on the West Front of Lincoln Cathedral
David Taylor, Lecturer Department of Archaeology, University of Nottingham
David Taylor is a lecturer at the Department of Archaeology at the University of Nottingham. Fortunate to work with the late Maurice Barley, his interest in recording standing buildings began in the 1980's and has continued under the guidance of Philip Dixon. He has also published work with Pamela Marshall on Newark Castle and Wollaton Hall.
Over the past few years, David Taylor has undertaken, with the enthusiastic help of a series of University of Nottingham students, a detailed archaeological survey of the thirty-six voids, chambers and staircases within the west front of Lincoln Cathedral. Just published, the preliminary results of the survey show a new understanding of the process of construction in the 11th and 12th centuries including evidence of a great fire which has never previously been recorded.
Saturday 28 April
Spring Meeting & AGM at Oxton Village Hall
Saturday 19 May
Excursion: Lichfield - led by Alan Langton
Saturday 9 June
Excursion: Archaeological sites in Nottinghamshire - led by David Knight
Thursday 19 July
Wine Tasting & Social at No 17 Castle Gate, Nottingham - Limited numbers Courtesy of Weavers of Nottingham Ltd
Thursday 2 August
Excursion: Melbourne Hall - led by Alan Langton
Thursday 6 September
Excursion: Deene Park - l ed by Penny Messenger and Margaret Trueman
Tuesday 9 October
Keith Train Lecture in association with Nottingham Civic Society: Post War Architecture
Elain Harwood, English Heritage
Venue: Cathedral Hall, Wellington Circus, at 7.30 pm
Saturday 13 October
Archaeology Lecture: Archaeology of the A46 Widmerpool to Newark widening
Neil Macnab, Principal Archaeological Consultant, URS Scott Wilson
Saturday 3 November*
Annual Luncheon at Ye Olde Bell Hotel, Barnby Moor
Saturday 10 November
Nottinghamshire History Lecture: The Designed Landscape of Rufford Abbey, 1700-1750
Sarah Law, School of Geography, University of Nottingham
Saturday 8 December
Neville Hoskins Lecture: The Raising of the Standard revisited: Twenty years on
Prof. Martyn Bennett, Nottingham Trent University
Further details of events marked * will be announced in the Newsletter and on the website.