Meetings are normally held at St Thomas Centre, Chatsworth Road, Chesterfield, S40 3AW and start at 7:30 pm unless otherwise stated.
There are no meetings in December or January.
There is usually a talk or presentation on a subject about, or related to, the history of Chesterfield and surrounding districts.
Admission is free for members and for visitors the charge is £3. Free parking is available on site or on neighbouring streets.
Doors normally open from around 7pm for a 7.30pm start and there is an opportunity to obtain light refreshments before and after our presentation (50p per cup of tea or coffee).
December 2024 – no meeting.
January 2025 – No meeting
February 17th 2025 – AGM followed by Jamie Mather – Wingerworth Stone Sawmill: How archaeology revealed a forgotten local industry
What is the history behind a long-forgotten and now demolished sawmill at Wingerworth? Extensively excavated and researched by our colleagues in the North East Derbyshire Industrial Archaeology Society this talk will look primarily at the physical evidence from the site and surrounding area. It will include new material that’s not been presented before, from analysis done during the lockdown period. (This talk was due to be given at our cancelled November meeting and represents a change to our previously advertised subject).
The Society’s AGM will proceed this talk. All are welcome to attend.
March 17th 2025 – Byron Machin – Rare Wild Flowers of the Peak District.
Featuring the many wild flowers to be found on our doorstep, including some that are unique to our county, illustrated via Byron’s wonderful photographs.
April 28th 2025 – NOT the third Monday because of Easter – Gay Evans – Forgotten Women.
Together with an overview of life in Derby County Asylum you will meet Emma and Catherine and hear their stories. You will also learn about Maud, who recovered and returned to her family.
May 19th 2025 – David Templeman – Mary Queen of Scots -The Captive Queen in England 1568-84.
Discover the fascinating story of Mary’s years in captivity in and around Cumbria, Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire and South Notts. This talk will reveal a story not found in any history book and conveys intrigue, passion, plots and escape attempts.
June 16th 2025 – Philip Riden – The Gentry of Scarsdale and their Homes 1500-1660.
During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries the gentry of Scarsdale become more numerous, wealthier and better documented. During the same period most of the smaller landowners in the area built or greatly improved their homes, many of which survive today. This talk will look at how these families rose to wealth, their role as landowners, farmers and in some case merchants, and the houses they built.
July 21st 2025 – Andrew Littlewood – Thornes of Leeds – A Chesterfield Story.
Thornes of Leeds were once a leading confectionary manufacturer, but they also have a direct link with a Edward Woodhead a former Chesterfield Mayor and prominent local grocer (who had well-known shop on Packers Row/High Street). This talk will reveal more about the Chesterfield business and its links with Thornes. Did Woodhead own Thorne’s? If he did, who was Henry Thorne? This and other questions will be addressed in this presentation.
August 18th 2025 – Maureen Taylor – The hidden secrets in the portraits at Hardwick Hall.
September 15th 2025 – Andy Miles – Stories from Spital Cemetery.
Tales from Spital Cemetery, an account of the tragic lives and deaths of some of the ordinary folk and some of the famous folk amongst the 26,000 who have been interred since it opened in 1857, including some nasty accidents, First World War casualties, farmed babies, and a great engineer.
October 20th 2025 – Richard Godley – The History and Industries of the Moss Valley.
November 17th 2025 – Philip Cousins – Hollingwood – A Case Study in Industrial Housing.
In the 1920s the Industrial Housing Association (IHA) built a total of some ten thousand houses across the country – mainly in coal mining and iron industry communities. Local examples include Hollingwood, Duckmanton, Poolsbrook, Bramley Vale, and Newbold. By taking a look at Hollingwood in particular this revised talk will aim to reveal the story of the IHA and the communities it built.
December 2025 – no meeting.
January 2026 – no meeting.