Although Sam Glasswell was unable to deliver her talk about the Pilgrim Fathers at the November meeting, Kasia Wosiak from the Bassetlaw Museum in Retford came to the rescue and presented ‘The Mayflower Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Nation’ (a similar talk that touched on the cultural connections between the Mayflower Pilgrims and the Native American Wampanoag Nation). Artefacts including clothing, wampum beads, rattles, and dolls were displayed.
In September last year, the Society nominated Edwinstowe Hall for consideration for the Nottinghamshire Preservation Building Trust’s Harry Johnson Award 2024. There were eight contenders, but sadly the bid was unsuccessful. However, praise was given for work well done on buildings in need, and an award entry in 2026 is anticipated.
One hundred years have elapsed since life in Edwinstowe, once a quiet agricultural village, changed significantly. It was in 1925 that work began to sink Thoresby Colliery on the outskirts of the village—the first all-electric colliery in the country. At the same time, work commenced on the building of 500 colliery houses, attracting many new families. When the colliery closed in 2015, the site was cleared, and plans began for the construction of 800 houses, creating a new community referred to as ‘Thoresby Vale’.
There is no meeting in January, and members are looking forward to their annual lunch.
February’s talk will be presented by Adrian Gray and is entitled ‘Worksop, Witches and an American Legacy: The Life of Richard Bernard’.
Meetings are held in the Church Rooms, Mansfield Road, Edwinstowe NG21 9NJ, on the third Wednesday of the month, commencing at 2.00pm and lasting for approximately two hours. Tea, coffee, and biscuits are available. The annual membership subscription is £15.00, and a welcome is extended to all at a charge of £3.00.
More information is available at www.edwinstowehistory.org.uk, and enquiries may be made to EdwinstoweHistorySoc@gmail.com.