Thoroton Society events
Programme for 2010
Lectures are normally held at the Nottingham Mechanics, 3 North Sherwood Street, Nottingham NG1 4EZ at 2.45 p.m. This venue has full disabled access and facilities. A bookstall is available from 2.15 p.m. Further information on all events is published in the quarterly Newsletter.
Non-members are welcome to attend Thoroton Society lectures. We ask that they give a donation towards the cost of putting on the lecture at the table by the entrance and sign the visitors book. Should they later decide to join the Society they will be very welcome.
Saturday, 9 January 2010
Gideon.
Nora Witham lecture: Conservation and decoration in the National Trust; recent work at Hardwick Hall and Belton -
Andrew Barber
Gideon.
Andrew Barber is Curator Interiors for the East Midlands Region of the National Trust based at Clumber Park. His lecture will look at the history of the great set of thirteen tapestries telling the story of Gideon, from the Long Gallery at Hardwick Hall, which Bess of Hardwick acquired from the estate of the recently deceased Sir Christopher Hatton in 1592, and the challenge of cleaning and conserving over 400 years' accumulation of dirt and damage. By contrast he will look at Belton House near Grantham, built in 1685-8 and at the decade long campaign to enliven and restore the grand state interiors to the glitz and glamour of their 1930's heyday at the time of the charismatic 3rd Earl Brownlow. Thoroton members will recall that we have recently visited both stately homes on our excursion programme.
Saturday, 13 February 2010
Maurice Barley Lecture: Laxton; the contemporary significance -
Hugh Matheson
Detail from the twentieth-century tracing of Mark Pierce's estate map of Laxton, drawn in 1635 on the orders of the then Lord of the Manor, Sir William Courten. Published by kind permission of the University of Nottingham Manuscripts and Special Collections Department (reference MS 280).
Hugh Matheson represents the outright denial of the principle of primogeniture which, for centuries, determined the inheritance of property in England. In 1976 he came into the Pierrepont estates in Nottinghamshire as the youngest child, of the youngest child, of the youngest child of the 3rd Lord Manvers. He has been a trustee of the National Trust since 2005 after serving for nine years as Chairman of the East Midlands Regional Committee. The NT connection began in 1994 at the same time as he began to build a new house at Thoresby to replace the 84,000 square feet of Salvin's Imperial magnificence which is now a destination resort owned by Warner Holidays. Critical to the new building, which is far from complete, is the five years he spent as a bricklayer and plasterer after leaving University without a degree in 1969. The bulk of the collection of pictures and furniture is now in the house and the room currently under construction is the library to hold the books which have been on loan to Spencer House in London for 21 years.
The Pierreponts owned the freehold of Laxton from 1640 to 1952 when it passed to the Ministry of Agriculture under the 'acceptance in lieu' provisions for death duties on the 5th Earl Manvers, whose estate was held in trust by the Master in Lunacy. Hugh Matheson will attempt to unravel the agricultural practice, principles of good husbandry and legal obligations which are of such enduring significance that they must survive the continual mutations of farming so that the unique inheritance of Laxton can persist.
Saturday, 13 March 2010
The Myles Thoroton Hildyard Lecture: The Longcase Clock 1675-1900 – Alan Middleton
Viscount Alan Middleton, FBHI,worked in antique clock conservation before becoming Keeper of Horology at the John Gershom Parkington Memorial Collection of Time Measurement Instruments in Bury St. Edmunds from 1986 to 2000. He was one of the horological experts on the Antiques Roadshow for eleven years until 2006. He is now Curator and Librarian at the British Horological Institute, The BHS was founded in London in 1858 and moved its headquarters to Upton Hall near Newark in 1972.
Upton Hall houses the library and museum, has facilities for research and hosts seminars for the BHI examina¬tions which award the Certificate in Clock and Watch Servicing and the Certificate in the Repair, Restoration and Conservation of Clocks and Watches. Membership of the BHI is offered at grades of Fellow, Member, Associate and Student. Alan will talk with illustrations on the Longcase clock over the period 1675-1900. He will cover the subject broadly including examples from the USA.
Saturday, 24 April 2010
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING in Bingham
Sunday, 23 May 2010
Excursion to Grimsthorpe Castle and Harlaxton Manor –
led by Pete Smith and Alan Langton
Please note that this is a Sunday visit and not the usual Saturday one.
It is unusual for Thoroton to have an outing on a Sunday, but for this particular excursion, entry to the properties makes it necessary. It will be interesting to see how popular Sunday is for members.
Our planned tour of the 700 year old Grimsthorpe Castle will give members the opportunity of seeing painting, furniture and tapestries which have belonged to the ancient Lincolnshire family who have lived here since 1516. Henry VIII visited Grimsthorpe in 1541.
Soup and sandwiches will be served after the tour of the castle and members will have a chance to see the gardens. In the afternoon, after a short journey to Harlaxton, we will be given a tour of the state rooms of the Manor, followed by tea and scones. Again, the gardens will be available for members to view.
Saturday, 26 June 2010
Excursion to Worksop and Blyth Priories and North Nottinghamshire Churches – led by Alan Langton
Worksop Priory dates from the 12th century; but its 140 foot long Norman nave in now all that remains of the original monastery. Our guide will describe the history of the Priory and show us the south porch with its original oak door together with the modern additions to the east end of the church. We shall also see the battered alabaster tombs of Lord and Lady Furnival and Sir Thomas Neville.
En route to Blyth we will stop to see the splendid Saxon church of Carlton-in-Lindrick with its collection of very old artefacts. After time for lunch in one of the several public houses in Blyth, we will go into the Priory church and have a talk about its history and rare Norman remains. Significant items include the 13th century vaulted roof of the nave and the 15th century oak screen. Tea will be served at Ossington Village Hall.
Saturday, 10 July 2010
Excursion to Winkburn Hall and church – led by John Hamilton
This has been described as 'one of the most interesting houses in Nottinghamshire' and one former owner said 'The house enjoys a seclusion as complete as it is charming ... The pretty village over which it predominates is as quiet as an empty church and great trees surround its venerable walls.'
The house was built around 1695 with virtually nothing remaining of the original manor house. An upper storey was added in 1840. Inside there are some fine Adam fireplaces and carved panelling.
The church has a splendid set of box pews and was given to the Knights Hospitallers in the 12th century. After their suppression in 1540 the whole estate was acquired by Wlliam Burnell and his wife Constance and it remains with their descendants to this day.
The present owner, Richard Craven-Milnes, a member of Thoroton, has kindly agreed to be our guide. There is no Thoroton tea on this occasion.
Thursday, 9 September 2010
Excursion to the British Horological Institute – led by Margaret Trueman and Penny Messenger
This visit will commence at 10.30 a.m. at the Institute building in Upton. It is not proposed to hire a coach for this outing and it is hoped that members can share cars for those who need a lift: arrangements for this will be made nearer to the date. There is car parking in the grounds of the Institute.
We will be given a talk on the history of the hall and the collection of time-pieces (together with some details of resident ghosts too!) before being taken on a tour of the building. Members may well wish to have some refreshments before the drive home; there is a tea-room attached to the hall and there is a public house over the road in Upton, together with other eating places in nearby Southwell