Little Chester Training Excavation

Richard Sheppard will give a guided tour of Bolsover Castle in the morning (11.00am to 12.30pm) with a walk around the site to get the feel of its medieval origins and its 17th century heyday. After a lunch break, we reconvene at 2.00pm on the other side of the Doe Lea valley at Sutton Scarsdale Hall, the shell of a Georgian mansion built in 1724-1729 where we delve beneath its 18th century exterior to examine the perplexing structural evidence within its interior for its earlier past.

Most of the modern parish of New Mills was formerly within the royal forest of the Peak.  A corn mill was built before 1391 and was called the New Mill.  By the 17^th century a small village had grown up in the vicinity of the corn mill and took the name New Mill.  The settlement expanded in the late 18^th century when water powered cotton mills were built and the name became New Mills. Most of the early mills were sited near the river Goyt and its tributary, the Sett.  Here there is a dramatic natural gorge, once a busy industrial area, and now a spectacular feature of the modern town.

introductory talk by Roger Bryant followed by a guided walking tour by Mike Daniels.

Organised by the Local History Section

NON MEMBERS WELCOME ON THIS VISIT

Colin Merrony will show us around the site of this summer's archaeological excavations at Castleton in the Hope Valley, and tell about the recent finds, and how these illuminate the history of the area.

Meet at 10.30am at Castleton Visitor Centre, Buxton Rd, Castleton S33 8WN. There are two car parks close to the visitor centre. There will be a 500m level walk along the village street from the visitor centre to the excavation site.

20 places, book on Eventbrite, £8.00 per person.

Organised by the Archaeological Research Group

A visit to the newly upgraded Industrial Hamlet, a site of scythe and steelmaking since the 1700s. Workers’ cottages, waterwheels, workshops, crucible furnace and tilt hammers are among the many features. The site was recognised as an important example of Sheffield’s industrial heritage as early as 1935 and opened as a museum in 1970. A recent lottery grant has refreshed the way in which the site is presented, so a return visit will be well worthwhile even if you have been before.

Organised by the Industrial Archaeology Section

NON MEMBERS WELCOME ON THIS EVENT

Laxton in Nottinghamshire is the only remaining working ’open field’ farming village in Europe still operating this ancient system. Stuart Rose will walk us around the village and give us the history. There will also be chance to visit Laxton Visitor Centre.

Meet at 10.30am.in the car park of the Dovecote Inn Main Street, Laxton, Nottinghamshire NG22 0SK.

Orders will be taken for lunch if required before the tour. Or bring along a picnic.

20 places, book on Eventbrite, £8.00 per person.

Organised by the Archaeological Research Group

A guided tour of the Cathedral Church of All Saints, Derby.  It became a cathedral in 1927.  The original church was founded in the mid -10^th century but the main body of the church, as it stands today, is a Georgian building by James Gibbs.  The tower dates from the 16^th century.

Organised by the Local History Section

NON MEMBERS WELCOME ON THIS VISIT