8th September
Dr. Steve Kershaw
The Adventures of Charles Robert Cockerell
The story of a young amateur archaeologist and drinking companion of Byron who acquired many priceless works of art on his travels, as told by a professor of classics and the history art at UK and American universities.
22nd September
Bruce Bailey
Revising Pevsner : Experiences in Northamptonshire and the New Forest
The speaker, an architectural historian, revised Pevsner’s 2014 Northamptonshire volume and is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London.
6th October
Jenny Rowlson
The archaeology of Capernaum
A photographer’s guide to ancient remains on the Sea of Galilee, focussing on the biblical town of Capernaum, which features the remains of St. Peter’s house and the synagogue and churches built over it.
20th October
Prof. Stephen Upex
Post Roman landscapes and what the Saxons did for you
A novel interpretation by an archaeologist, landscape historian, lecturer, author and former professor at Brunel University.
3rd November
Speaker to be confirmed
The recent work of Albion Archaeology, Bedford
A review of work undertaken by the company, which was formerly the Bedfordshire County Council Archaeology Service.
17th November
Roger Laing
Trafalgar : Personalities and prelude, the battle and its aftermath
The speaker, a retired regular army officer and later civil servant with the Ministry of Defence who now lectures on cruise ships gives a detailed account of this critical naval battle.
1st December
Andrew Grout
The role of the Head Gardener at Woburn Abbey Gardens
Led by the speaker, the award winning gardens are being painstakingly restored to Humphrey Repton’s original design.
15th December
Sue Edwards
The Empress Elizabeth of Austria 1837 – 1898
The speaker, a senior guide at Cottesbrooke Hall, Althorp House and Kelmarsh Hall, lectures on art history and will give an account of the monarch’s life and her visits to this area.
2016
5th January
Ruth Thomas
Medieval Northampton – Part 2
A popular speaker at our Society with an encyclopaedic knowledge of both Ancient Egypt and Northampton returns to continue the history of the county town, following her first instalment in January 2015.
19th January
Ray Rowlson
China
A professional photographer gives his impressions of the contrasting appearance of different landscapes and a rapidly changing society after a recent five week tour of the country.
2nd February
Alan Cox
Historic Street Furniture
An architect based in Bedford with a specialist interest in older buildings describes the fascinating details which can be spotted in structures that are often overlooked but make an important contribution to the character of any town.
16th February
Rev. Malcolm Deacon
The Gunpowder Plot : a Midland conspiracy
The founder of Park Lane Publishing, a retired minister, sheds light on the very local aspects of this infamous episode.
1st March
Geoffrey Toms
The Venetian Empire
A regular speaker at our society and former Head of Education at the London Museum gives a detailed account of an empire which he describes as “ruthless, egocentric, imperialistic and resulting in spectacular archaeology”.
15th March
Ray Aspden
The tomb of Lord Pakal
The excavation of a sarcophagus deep inside a pyramid in the ancient Mayan city of Palenque revolutionised understanding of the Maya.
5th April
Peter Scott
The rose and its history
A leading member of the Historic Rose Group of the Royal National Rose Society who has organised exhibits at Chelsea and Hampton Court gives his insights into the botany of the plant, its prominent role in the arts and religion and the evolution of present day roses.
19th April
Peter Liddle
The building of Kirby Muxloe castle
A Visiting Fellow at the School of Archaeology and Ancient History at Leicester University with over 40 years experience describes how the castle was built, using rare building accounts and a study of the existing remains.
3rd May
Andrew Nash
The church of St. Kyneburgha of Castor
A member of the Nene Valley Archaeological trust describes this early medieval church which stands on a Roman and Saxon site and tells the story of the saint. The church is now the subject of an innovative community history project.
11th May
Ian Meadows
Irchester : town and countryside
An archaeologist formerly working for Northamptonshire County Council describes the relationship between the town and its surrounding landscape, which produced the provisions to sustain the urban population.
7th June
Dr. Maggie Boxer
Trinity House : Safeguarding the Mariner since 1514
and
OAS Annual General Meeting