At the last meeting of the North Notts Association of National Trust Members, at The Crossing in December, speaker Michael Whysall spoke about the Victorian Music Hall. He spoke very vividly about the start of the music halls, when life was hard for the working classes with long hours, low pay and very poor housing. Accommodation was sometimes only one room for an entire family, with no sanitation or running water and eviction a constant fear. There were, however, many public houses; one street mentioned featured 19!
What started as an occasional singsong in public houses eventually developed into musical acts, comedians etc, and this was subsequently the start of entertainment which then became music halls in different venues. Some of those early music halls can still be seen in Nottingham.
Michael has a wide knowledge of Nottingham and its past and he will be sharing this with the group when they visit Nottingham in June.
The next meeting is on Wednesday 16th February, when speaker James Pogson will talk about Fairtrade Teas. He has personally tasted every one of the teas and coffees imported by Northern Tea Merchants of Chesterfield and regularly travels around the world to purchase what he believes to be the best teas, coffees and cocoa. His talk includes information about tea plantations, and he will explain the manufacturing processes of the leaves and discuss the grades and types of tea and how it is eventually blended in Chesterfield.
All meetings are held at The Crossing, Newcastle Street, Worksop on the third Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm. Doors open at 7.00pm. Masks should be worn if legislation requires. Visitors and new members are always welcome and the fee for each meeting is £6.00. Membership is £30.00 single, or £55.00 joint and covers seven talks from October to April. There are then five visits from May to September which are priced separately.
Future meetings
16th March: Susan Deal – The Portland-Druce Exhumation Case
20th April: AGM followed by Ian Morgan – Bolsover Castle
For further information please visit www.NthNottsNTAssoc.org or email NthNottsNTAssoc@gmail.com.