FRIENDS STUDY DAYS AND VISITS

Full reports of these visits, outings and study days are contained in our newsletters and you can access them here

Date	Place
April 2025	PROPOSED VISIT TO THORNBY HALL AND NASEBY BATTLEFIELD
21/09/2024	VISIT TO AYSCOUGHFEE HALL (Spalding, Lincolnshire) : Talk on the history of Ayscoughfee Hall by Museum Manager Julia Knight followed by a talk by Michael Gilbert and Sue Hughes on future projects at The Centre for Fenlands Studies; tour of the hall and the Fenlands Studies Centre; viewing of items from the Special Collection at Spalding Gentlemen’s Society with the museum’s curator Ian Hoult.
07/10/2023	WALLINGFORD STUDY DAY (Wallingford, Oxfordshire) – The study day was hosted by Wallingford Museum and commenced with an introductory talk from Judy Dewey aided by Leicester University Professor Neil Christie, followed by a tour of the museum. There were then guided tours of the Saxon town and the Norman castle site (‘slighted’ and comprehensively destroyed on the orders of Oliver Cromwell in 1652) both walks guided by Judy and Neil.
01/10/2022	QUEEN STREET MILL STUDY DAY (Burnley, Lancashire) – The day began with talks in the morning, then lunch and a tour of the mill. The first talk by Dr Michael Winstanley on life and work in the Victorian (and Edwardian) Cotton Towns was followed by Dr Jack Southern who spoke about the mill and its local context, and finally Dr Phil Batman who spoke on the experience of children in ‘cotton Lancashire’.
14/09/2019	AUTUMN VISIT TO NEWARK (Newark, Nottinghamshire) – A visit to the historic market town of Newark with talks on the medieval and Civil War history followed by an afternoon’s guided tour of the National Civil War Centre, town and castle. Dr Richard Jones opened the day with an insightful explanation of the history of the town and its name. Kevin Winter then spoke about Newark in the Civil War.
26/04/2019 to 28/04/2019	NORWICH STUDY WEEKEND (Norwich, Norfolk) – The study weekend was held in the Maids Head Hotel in the heart of the medieval quarter of Norwich and directly opposite the cathedral. The event covered several themes including a talk by Professor Andy Wood of Durham University on Kett’s Rebellion; a visit to the Old Meeting House Congregational Church; Norwich in the Civil War; Protestantism and the medieval architecture of the city.
15/09/2018	VISIT TO BUCKMINSTER AND SEWSTERN (Leicestershire) – The purpose of the visit was to compare ‘open’ and ‘closed’ villages bound closely together by being within the same parish. The day began in Buckminster Village Hall before a morning guided tour of the village and the thirteenth/fourteenth-century church dedicated to St John the Baptist. In the afternoon the group moved a mile or so to Sewstern, calling to look at the village school on the way.
23/09/2017	A VISIT TO STAFFORDSHIRE (Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire) – The principal aims of this outing were to visit and tour the Gladstone Pottery Museum and the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery particularly in order to experience the practicalities of pottery production and to view the Saxon treasure held by the gallery as well as viewing galleries of art displaying works by world famous artists; a stunning collection of ceramics of every type and not least the Spitfire gallery.
31/03/2017 to 02/04/2017	STUDY WEEKEND IN LINCOLNSHIRE (Lincoln, Lincolnshire) – The program began with a talk on the history of Lincoln Castle followed by a guided tour of the Minster and Castle before moving on to the Museum off Lincolnshire Life. There was then a talk from a local historian about the importance of industry in Lincolnshire. On Sunday the group moved on to visit Gainsborough Old Hall and afterwards for an exploration of Gainsborough Town.
09/10/2016	VISIT TO CASTOR AND ST. KYNEBURGHA’S CHURCH (Castor, Cambridgeshire) – The day began in Wansford before moving on the Castor Church and a talk by Dr. Susan Kilby on Castor’s Roman origins, and about the site of a Roman palace (circa 250 AD) to the north. There followed a detailed guided tour of the church and a spirited discussion on legend and medieval imagery of St Kyneburgha.
16/07/2016	LEICESTER OUTING (Leicester, Leicestershire) – A whistle-stop journey conducted by Colin Hyde of the Oral History Archive of how the city expanded from its Roman grid-pattern centre. The tour started on New Walk then crossed London Road and entered an area of Victorian streets then back to Goddard’s art deco silver polish factory and through Museum Square to The Castle area and the Newarke then The High Cross, The Guildhall and Town Hall.
10/04/2015 to 12/04/2015	YORK WEEKEND (York, Yorkshire) – Based at Askham Bryan Agricultural College the group were welcomed with a talk by Frank Galbraith on the general area. After there was a lecture by Prof Bill Sheil, University of York on The Reformation in the countryside. The visit to York Minster included a tour of the ground floor which included the octagonal Chapter House and the bell tower. There followed a visit to the National Railway Museum and visit to Beningborough Hall.
13/09/2014	WARWICK OUTING (Warwick, Warwickshire)- A group of the Friends gathered in the Great Hall of the medieval Lord Leycester Hospital for a day organised by Sylvia Pinches who gave an introductory talk on the history of Warwick followed by a tour of the Hospital. In the afternoon the group visited St Mary’s Church for guided tours. The final visit was to Hill Close Gardens for a guided tour of the site.
07/09/2013	CALKE ABBEY OUTING : Following a talk on the construction between 1701 and 1704 of the current building and its envelopment of the Tudor building that remains within it and the subsequent rescue by The National Trust the party toured The Abbey and then moved on by coach to Ashby-de-la-Zouch to view The Castle
19/04/2013 to 21/04/2013	COTSWOLD STUDY WEEKEND (Cirencester, Gloucestershire) – The weekend began with talks on the Cotswolds and a study of the region’s Norman churches. On Saturday the group visited the parish church of St John the Baptist, Cirencester town and Chedworth Roman Villa. On Sunday the group visited Hetty Peglar’s Tump a Neolithic passage grave, and then on to Woodchester mansion, finally some of the group visited the church of St Mary in Fairford.
September 2012	BEWDLEY OUTING (Bewdley, Worcestershire) – Starting in Wribbenhall Heather Flack talked about the work of the Bewdley Historical Research Group and the history of Wribbenhall before conducting a tour of the town that included the seventeenth-century timber frame houses as well as the ropeworks. Then on to Bewdley and the Bewdley Museum followed by an afternoon with the Severn Valley Railway and a trip to Hewley Station and the Engine House museum.
17/09/2011	MALVERN OUTING (Malvern, Worcestershire) – Following a talk by Ian Rowat, Warden and former Director of the Malvern Hills Conservators the group travelled by coach to Little Malvern Priory for a series of talks by three of the Community Conservation Champions who explained the unique geological features of the Malvern Hills. Then on to Stourbridge and Malvern itself for a guided tour of The Priory followed by a visit to the hill fort of British Camp
06/05/2011 to 08/05/2011	VISIT TO DUNHAM MASSEY (Greater Manchester) – Don Bayliss of the Altrincham Historical Society gave a background history of the area and after dinner Dr. Graham Jones of St John’s College, Oxford spoke about the early development of the church in the area. On Saturday the group visited a number of local churches and on Sunday embarked on a narrow-boat of the Bridgewater Boat Company for a cruise down the Canal from Sale to Dunham Massey.
JULY 2010	BOLSOVER AND HARDWICK HALL (Bolsover, Derbyshire) – Distinguished historian (and MA from the then Department of Local History), Dr Clive Hart, conducted a tour of Bolsover Castle, the group then visited the local church and Assembly Rooms before moving on to Hardwick Hall for a guided tour conducted by Professor David Hey, formerly of the University of Sheffield (and another alumnus of the Centre)
September 2009	SOUTHWELL (Southwell, Nottinghamshire) – Dr Richard Jones introduced the Minster’s history followed by a tour of the building and grounds and a viewing of the famous Leaves of Southwell in the chapter house. The group then moved on past the Prebendial Houses to The Southwell Union Workhouse restored partly to how it would have been in the mid-nineteenth century when the aim of the workhouse system was to deter all but the desperate to seek its shelter.
03/04/2009 TO 05/04/2009	BEVERLY AND THE EAST RIDING STUDY WEEKEND (Beverly, Yorkshire) – The group was based in the Bishop Burton Agricultural College and began the weekend with an introductory talk by Pamela Hopkins a local historian. The visit to the Minster and the Georgian domestic architecture of Beverly Town was followed by a visit to Wharram Percy deserted medieval village, and Hull for a guided tour of the Old Town with Nick Evans.
28/07/2008	FRIENDS TOUR OF VICTORIA PARK AND FOSTON CHURCH (Leicester, Leicestershire) – Dr Helen Boynton gave an introduction and lead a walking tour of the park including De Montfort Hall, the Lutyens War Memorial and on to The New Walk. After lunch the group drove to Foston and were met by David Holmes who gave a guided tour of the church of St Bartholomew.
April 2008	STAMFORD STUDY DAY (Stamford, Lincolnshire) – Beginning with a guided tour of The Town Hall followed by a presentation on Stamford’s history by Professor Rogers, the group then moved on to a tour of five of the town’s seven surviving pre-Reformation churches and went inside four of these St Mary’s, St Martin’s, All Saints and St John’s. Browne’s Hospital is Stamford’s only medieval building to have survived, unharmed, and it was here that the tour ended.
	FRIENDS SUMMER OUTING TO RUTLAND CHURCHES (Rutland) – The outing began with a guided tour of St Mary’s Church Ashwell conducted by Roger Willson followed by St Mary Magdalen, Stapleford and then after lunch St Peters Church Brooke. The group then moved on to St Andrews Lyddington and finally to St Andrews Stoke Dry with its limestone exterior, thirteenth-century window tracery and medieval wall paintings.
2007	OXFORD STUDY WEEKEND (Oxford, Oxfordshire) – The weekend began with a visit to Christ Church and then evensong in The Cathedral. There then followed a lecture by Chris Day, Director of Academic Programmes at The Department for Continuing Education. A second lecture was given by Dr Malcolm Graham who focussed on the ‘town’ rather than the ‘gown’. There were also three excursions over the weekend to Merton College, Dorchester Abbey and Ewelme.
2006	AUTUMN OUTING TO BAKEWELL (Bakewell, Derbyshire) – Our guide for the day, Mr Jan Stetka of Bakewell Historical Society took us first for a tour of all Saints church and then on to Bakewell Museum. After lunch there was a tour of the town which took in the Bath House. Later the group also visited the open-field system which still exists near the church.
November 2005	AUTUMN OUTING TO NORTHAMPTON (Northampton, Northamptonshire) – The day began in Holy Sepulchre Church, one of five surviving round churches, before moving on to The Guildhall and then to All Saints Church. After lunch the group moved on to 78 Derngate once the home of the manufacturer of high-quality model railways, W. J. Bassett-Lowke. During the day the group saw three very different buildings, each representing a different period.
01/11/2004	AUTUMN OUTING TO MELTON MOWBRAY (Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire) – The group met in St Mary’s Church before being taken on a tour of the town by local historian John Plumb. Following a discussion on foxhunting John pointed out the Old Club House one of the grand lodging houses with stables that still remains. After lunch the group travelled to Kirkby Bellars where Alan Fox lead a tour of the village.
08/04/2004 to 10/04/2004	A WEEKEND IN KING’S LYNN
06/03/2004	STUDY DAY IN KINETON (Kineton, Warwickshire) – Professor Chris Dyer began the day with a review of the historical factors which lead to the creation of the ‘town’ of Kineton and was followed by Dr Richard Goddard of the University of Nottingham and Hugh Jones who spoke on the ‘building stones of Warwickshire’. The group undertook a tour of the village before ending the day with a presentation on the battle of Edgehill.
Summer 2004	SUMMER OUTING TO ASHBY PARVA (Ashby Parva, Leicestershire) – The outing began at The White House, home of Dr John Goodacre who gave a brief resume of his family’s association with the village before taking the group on a guided tour of the village past the almshouses, pub and old school to the church and told a little of the history of the village since its enclosure in 1665.
26/10/2003	STUDY DAY AT MUCH WENLOCK (Much Wenlock, Shropshire) – The group met for an introductory talk on the history of the town followed by a second talk on St Milburga and the Saxon Church. There was then a guided tour of the town-centre ending in The Priory. Lunch was followed by a talk on the local railway followed by a history of Bridgenorth presented by Professor Malcolm Wanklyn.
25/04/2003 TO 27/04/2003	SHROPSHIRE WEEKEND (Telford, Shropshire) – The theme of the weekend was ‘Contrasting landscapes in Shropshire’ and was explored by Dr Sylvia Pinches and David Pannett. The group visited The Ironbridge Institute before touring the settlements of what is now Telford New Town. The tour then moved on to Wroxeter for a guided tour and talk on the Roman history of the town.
	SUMMER OUTING TO THE WHITTLEWOOD PROJECT (South Northamptonshire) – The Whittlewood Project is an archaeological and historical investigation of the landscape and settlement patterns of an area of medieval forest on the Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire border and the Friends trip comprised a trip around various villages being studied as part of the project and was conducted by Richard Jones and Chris Dyer. The tour included Whittlebury, Lillingstone Lovell, Akeley, Leckhampstead and Wicken.
13/10/2002	AUTUMN OUTING TO LEICESTER CASTLE (Leicester, Leicestershire) – (Leicester, Leicestershire) – Ulverscroft Priory was to have been the venue for this outing, but due to the restrictions of foot and mouth disease, the group gathered for a visit Leicester Castle, the church of St Mary de Castro and Castle Garden. The tour guide, Maureen Carlidge, a long-standing blue badge guide, took the group through John of Gaunt’s Cellar, the motte and St Mary de Castro.
06/07/2002	SUMMER OUTING TO CAMBRIDGESHIRE (St Ives and Ramsey, Cambridgeshire) –
26/04/2002 TO 28/04/2002	WEEKEND SCHOOL IN GLOUCESTER : Twigworth, Highnam, Hartbury and Tewksbury (Gloucestershire)
21/04/2001	STUDY DAY IN THE LEADON VALLEY (Gloucestershire) : Dymock and Kemperley
07/07/2001	SUMMER OUTING: Worksop and Retford (Nottinghamshire)
08/07/2000	SUMMER OUTING : Bewdley and Stourport (Worcestershire)
01/04/2000	BRIXWORTH STUDY DAY (Brixworth Northamptonshire)
21/08/1999	IPSTONES STUDY DAY (Ipstones, Staffordshire) : Talks on the Sneyd family, Victorian medical care and the Leek silk industry, guided tour of St Leonards Church
10/07/1999	SUMMER OUTING TO PETERBOROUGH (Cambridgeshire) : Guided tour of Longthorpe Tower and St Peg’s Church in Peakirk, Flag Fen Bronze Age site.
20/06/1998	SUMMER OUTING TO NORTHAMPTONSHIRE : Rushton Market Hall then Rushton Hall and gardens, Corby and Lyveden New Bield
21/06/1997	SUMMER OUTING TO WARWICKSHIRE: Guided tour of the restored canal basin of Kingston Canal Junction at Lapworth, Wooton Wawen church, and Charlecote House and Park
June 1996	TOUR OF NORTH-WEST LEICESTERSHIRE AND SOUTH DERBYSHIRE : Conducted tour of the ecclesiastical ruin of Ulverscroft Priory; Melbourne Hall, Castle and Norman Church
17/06/1995	VISIT TO GLOUCESTER (Gloucestershire) : Beginning with a conducted tour of the Record Office by Archivist Paul Evans, lunch and a talk at The National Waterways Museum, visit and guided tour of the Cathedral, ending with a tour of the Docks
1994	OUTING TO THE CHILTERN OPEN AIR MUSEUM (Chalfont St Peter, Buckingham) : Chiltern Open Air Museum (COAM) is an independent open-air museum of vernacular buildings and a tourist attraction. Its collection consists mainly of historic buildings at risk of demolition that have been dismantled and reconstructed in the museum grounds in a process of structure relocation.
June 1993	PEAK DISTRICT FIELD TRIP (Derbyshire) : Visit to Lawrence Field abandoned medieval field system and hamlet, Hope, Bradwell and Tideswell, Chelmorton with its strip fields and linear village plan, Flagg with its preserved Cornish beam engine, Bakewell