Programme 2012
Day
Date
Title
Speaker
Friday
20th January 2012
Annual General Meeting and members' evening
The AGM took place as planned, with no problems to solve, the only change to note being the retirement of Gaynor Wood as chairman, having completed her 3-year stint, and the introduction of David Swindlehurst as the incoming chairman.
Following closure of the AGM, the members enjoyed some short presentations on a variety of topics:
- Emma Heslewood gave an illustrated dissertation about a hoard of Anglo-saxon pennies recently discovered by a metal-detectorist in a field near Preston.
- Derek Forrest told us "What Romans wear under their tunics", a humorous and entertaining description of suggested solutions which looked distinctly uncomfortable.
- Philip Dixon explained a connection between Stonyhurst College and the author Evelyn Waugh, with a plea for the recognition of the historical importance of the cottage in which Waugh was a guest.
- Retiring chairman Gaynor Wood also gave an illustrated talk, about the site of the Brindle Workhouse and the excavation work done by UCLAN students.
- Bill Shannon showed a series of photographs taken on last year's excursions to Morecambe and Downham, with appropriate commentary.
Friday
17th February 2012
Haslingden Grane - a valley, its landscape and people.
The valley known as Haslingden Grane is superficially a monotonous stretch of rough moorland, with few obvious features (apart from the reservoirs), which the motorist on the Grane road aims to traverse as speedily as possible. in reality it is an amazing palimpsest of centuries of use and modification by generations of people. Dr Crosby treated us to a masterly presentation of its history, with his usual mix of erudition and humour.
The main features in the valley show (to the trained eye) how:
- serious development began in the valley bottom 1000 years ago.
- arable use spread slowly up the stepped plateaux on the valley walls as the demand for food production increased in the local developing towns, with a corresponding decline in animal grazing.
- more farmstead development occurred driven by more intensive land use.
- soil improvement was achieved (temporarily) on the high tops by introduction of land-tile drainage systems to increase arable acreages.
- the construction of the water catchments destroyed the only significant area of arable on the valley floor, leading to abandonment and desolation.
- huge quantities of the local slate (more correctly layered sandstone) were quarried for construction programmes elsewhere (including flooring Trafalgar Square!)
- ultimately the return to rough grazing and the re-introduction of sheep, that we see today.
The slides which he showed in support of his presentation will return to mind when we next visit Haslingden Grane.
Dr Alan Crosby
Friday
16th March 2012
What did the Romans really do at Walton-le-Dale?
Rachel Newman
Friday
20th April 2012
Viking DNA and the North of England project.
Dr Stephen Harding - Professor of Applied Biochemistry, University of Nottingham
Friday
18th May 2012
The Annual Dinner - venue to be announced
Saturday
9th June 2012
Excursion. A Study Day in memory of the late Ben Edwards. Booking details to be advised. (See Note B)
Organised by CNWRS, Lancaster A&H Society and C&WAS.
Saturday
14th July 2012
Excursion. (Provisional) Castleshaw Roman Fort. (See Note B)
Booking details to be advised
Saturday
15nd September 2012
Excursion. Liverpool's earliest docks, and tunnel ventilation shaft. (See Note B)
Booking details to be advised
Friday
19th October 2012
Bronze Age burials
Samantha Walsh
Friday
16th November 2012
Dispute maps in Tudor Lancashire
Dr W D Shannon
Additional information will be posted here, or in Society news, as soon as it becomes available. This information will include methods of travel (coach or car), costs, times and detailed itineraries.
Note B
Members and guests are only invited to participate in this visit on the condition that they take care to avoid injury to themselves and to others and to property belonging to themselves and others. By agreeing to participate in this visit they accept that neither the Society nor its officers or leaders accepts responsibility for any loss caused by any person on the visit, however caused.