Helen Kerr, one of our members, notes that Roger Wickson, ex headmaster of the King's School Chester, who gave a fascinating
talk to the History Society on the Fourth Crusade earlier this year, will be giving a series of
twelve lectures on The Anglo Norman Realm 1042 to 1154 at Nantwich museum beginning
on Monday 4th November this year.
The lectures will take place from 10a.m. to 12noon each Monday for six weeks before Christmas
and a further six weeks in the New Year.
They will be held under the aegis of the School of Humanities at Keele University.
For further information, see the course leaflet and application form (link to page 1 and page 2) or contact Roger at: wickson@audlem2.freeserve.co.uk
Our new season opened with a talk by local historian Mark Bevan. Mark told us an intriguing tale that ranged from the history and demise of Vale Royal Abbey to the high life of British ex-pats in Kenya. This was a well polished talk with the added ingredient of a detective murder story.
Di Carr has now confirmed the dates of the Christmas and June outings.
We visit Peckforton Castle for a tour and lunch on Thursday 12th December.
We visit Port Sunlight and the Lady Lever Art Gallery on Friday 27th June.
See the programme page. More details will be given nearer the dates.
The Society's 2013/2014 season starts on Thursday 26th September with a talk by Mark Bevan titled 'White Mischief and the Vale Royal Legacy'. Mark is a regular speaker at our meetings. Members should recall his talks on the histories of Oulton Park and of Tarporley Races. In 'White Mischief', Mark will give us a tale of intrigue set in colonial Africa but with local connections.
'From the riverbanks of the Weaver to the heart of Africa,
this talk follows the incredible story of Lord Delamere, of Vale Royal,
possibly the last great white explorer; the man who almost single-handedly
rocked the cradle of Kenya… and the impact, thousands of miles away
in Cheshire, is still being felt today! And who hasn’t heard of White
Mischief, the book and the film based upon murder and the indolent aristocrats
of Kenya’s Happy Valley? Now, over sixty years later, Lord Delamere’s
great grandson has become embroiled in a life and death drama of the 21st
century'
As usual we meet in Tiverton Village Hall at 7.30 pm. All or welcome - returning members and guests.
Di Carr, our programme secretary, has been busy putting together the Society's programme for the new season starting in September. We now have the confirmed list of speakers and events. Please see the 2013/14 Programme page.
On the 27th June, 29 members of the Society enjoyed a private visit to Dorfold Hall, the lovely
Jacobean house on the edge of Nantwich. The house was built in 1616 and
members were delighted by the wonderful plaster ceilings, particularly
in the first floor Drawing Room which has a rare barrel vaulted ceiling.
The house is a much loved home and has been in the ownership of the
same family for 400 years. The large number of family portraits reflects
this.
Members then explored the extensive gardens covering 18 acres. They
enjoyed the woodland gardens, colourful herbaceous borders with a
wonderful display of roses and the lily pond which was covered in water
lilies.
The visit was followed by an excellent lunch at The Farmer's Arms at
Ravensmoor. Altogether a very pleasant day out, enjoyed by all.
Ann Wall
Gill Clough has noted an article in the May Family Tree introducing a new website http://www.arleyhallarchives.co.uk/index.htm. Arley Hall, near Warrington, is the family home of the Warburtons. This website provides detailed information of Arley Hall estate documents during 1750 - 1790. Well worth visiting.
