Retford and District Historical and Archaeological Society has been running since 1967. The society meets on the second Wednesday of the month, September to May, at 7.30pm in the Chapelgate Hall situated behind Grove Street Methodist Church.
This year, the society has had a varied lecture programme, which began with Hary Foxley talking about Retford’s Crimea Volunteers, Dr Richard Gaunt told members about ‘The Women in the Lives of the 4th and 5th Dukes of Newcastle, Michael Parkin informed of ‘The Violent and Bloodied Pentrich Revolution’ and Dr David Allen described ‘The Essence of a Georgian Gentleman’. James Wright spoke about ‘The Castles of Nottinghamshire’, while Kevin Murphy’s talk was entitled ‘Our part in Pow Camp History’ and Daryl Garton spoke of ‘Ice Age Journeys’.
The society has two evening visits to a village or a town, and a day out when members usually visit a city or town which involves a guided walk and historical buildings and ending with a WI tea on the way back to Retford.
Once a year, the society has an Open Lecture, this year Professor Carenza Lewis (of Time Team fame) will speak about ‘The Garden of Archaeology of the Black Death’ at St Swithun’s Church, Cannon Square, Retford on Wednesday 23rd May. Tickets cost £5.00 and are available from Bookworm, Spa Lane and The Hub, Cannon Square, Retford. For further information call Janet on 01777 248297 or Jean on 01777 705980.