Society's Programme

Society’s Programme 2025/26

All meetings are held in Whittingham Memorial Institute at 7.30.

Visitors are always welcome at £3 per meeting.

The Society's Programme for 2024/2025 is still available by scrolling down the page.

16 April 2025: Josephine Butler,Victorian Social Reformer and Feminist
Born in 1828 at Milfield Hill in Glendale, Josephine Butler went on to become one of the most well-known social reformers of the Victorian age. Northumberland based theatre company, November Club, became intrigued by her story and decided to make it the basis of a new musical. They are working in partnership with North-East Singer/Songwriter Katie Doherty to create the show. During this evening’s talk, members of the theatre company will share a talk, commissioned from Bryony Taylor, about Josephine’s work as an activist, her home life in Northumberland, her encounters with parts of the North and her legacy. Following this, November Club will play you “Josey, The Indignant Daughter”, a digital audio that gives you a little taste of what the musical will have to offer.
22 May 2025: Empathy Architecture: Why our Built and Natural Heritage Matters
Speaker: John W. Matthews

Chairman and Trustee, Northumberland and Newcastle Society

This meeting will start with the Society’s AGM
18 June 2025: The History of Alnwick and its Surroundings
Speaker: Nick Lewis, National Trust

Society’s Programme 2024/25

20 March 2024: Local Boy, International Sensation
W T Stead of Embleton 1849-1912

Controversial journalist, pacifist, convict, Titanic victim.

Speaker: Dr Helena Goodwyn

Dr Helena Goodwyn is a Vice Chancellor’s Senior Fellow in the Humanities Department at Northumbria University. Her research interests include British and American literature of the long 19th century, women’s literature, and book and media history. She is the author of several articles, books, and book chapters on these subjects. Her monograph, The Americanisation of W. T. Stead is forthcoming with Edinburgh University Press.
17 April 2024: Northumberland Archives

An introduction to who we are and what we do

Speaker: Jo March

Jo has worked in the archives sector for 20 years and still gets excited about looking at old documents. She has been fortunate enough to have worked in record offices across the country, including in Cambridge, London, Durham and Bristol. Now much of her time is spent sharing her enthusiasm with school children of Northumberland

Northumberland Archives are based at Woodhorn Museum, QE II Country Park, Ashington
15 May 2024: Archeology of Ad Gefrin

Ad Gefrin (Yeavering), near Wooler, one of the most remarkable UK archaeological discoveries of the 20th century

Speaker: Dr Chris Ferguson

Director of Visitor Experience, Ad Gefrin Museum, Wooler. An Oxford scholar with a PhD in the archaeology of early medieval Northumbria, Chris Ferguson epitomises Ad Gefrin’s passion for the ancient values of Northumbria’s Golden Age

Chris Ferguson happy to be at Ad Gefrin
19 June 2024: Visit to St John the Baptist Church, Edlingham, NE66 2BL

With a talk by Rev Rich Townend entitled 'Sacred Space' exploring how church architecture influenced the Book of Common Prayer.

Guide: Rev Rich Townend

Priest-in-Charge of Felton, Longframlington and Whittingham.
He researched this topic for his recent dissertation.
Please lift share if possible as there is limited parking.
There are no facilities in the building.

Edlingham Church - photo courtesy of Paul Bartlett
18 September 2024: Investigations at the Medieval Settlement of Linbrig

Speaker: David Jones

David chairs Coquetdale Community Archaeology and manages the group’s fieldwork projects
16 October 2024: 'Angels of the North: Volume Two - More Notable Women of the North East'

Joyce Quin and Moira Kilkenny's new book delves into the stories of thirty-five remarkable North East women whose achievements deserve recognition.

Speaker: Joyce Quin - The Right Hon. the Baroness Quin
20 November 2024: The Butcher, the Baker and the Candlestick Maker - Shops and Shopkeepers of Seahouses in the 19th Century

Speaker: George Scott
19 March 2025: Northumberland in Parliament

Speaker: Alan Beith, The Right Hon. the Lord Beith
16 April 2025: Josephine Butler, Victorian Social Reformer & Feminist

Speaker: Andrea Perrett

Business Operations Director, The November Club
21 May 2025: ‘William Turner of Morpeth: the Tudor “Father of English Botany”’

Speaker: Professor Brycchan Carey, Northumbria University
18 June 2025: Outside Visit TBA

Society’s Programme 2023

15 March 2023 - The Blacketts : Rise, Crisis and Redemption .
Speaker: Dr Greg Finch, historian and author.
19 April 2023 - The Buildings of William Newton.
Architect of over 40 buildings including Howick Hall and Lemmington Hall.

Speaker: Richard Pears, Librarian, Durham University.

Lemmington Hall - Copyright Stephen Richards
17 May 2023 - The Roman Presence in the Vale of Whittingham.
Speaker: Dr Anthony Henfrey, President ABLHS.

Section of Roman Road at Sharperton Edge. Excavated 2022
21 June 2023 - The Church of St Michael & All Angels, Alnham.
Our final event before the summer break is a visit to Alnham Church on the evening of the summer solstice. This is a rare opportunity to explore the church’s interior with knowledgeable guide Rev Ann Peters. Discover historical features unveiled after centuries during a recent major restoration project. Hear how this small, dingy and damp church was transformed into a bright, airy space designed for modern day use yet still brimming with historical detail.

Alnham Church - photo courtesy of Paul Bartlett
Meet at the church, Alnham NE66 4TL for 7.30pm
Please park on the verge outside the church and be prepared for a short walk on rough ground around the churchyard.
20 September 2023: Dere Street - Its Life and Times.
Speaker: David Jones

David chairs Coquetdale Community Archaeology and manages the group’s fieldwork projects including research into the ancient roads through the Cheviots
18 October 2023: Searches for Churches on Lindisfarne
Exploring the origins of the early Medieval Monastery on the island based on recent archaeological evidence

Speaker: John Woodhurst
Local historian and Natural England volunteer

An artist’s impression of the 10thC Heugh with the two recently discovered chapels.
Drawing by Keith Cooper who worked on the digs
15 November 2023: Hidden Gems of Northumberland
The story of Northumberland’s early history through images of historic sites that can still be found in its landscape

Speaker: Richard Booth

Moving to Northumberland allowed Richard to combine his interests in hill walking, photography, history and archaeology. He is particularly interested in Northumberland’s early history, its Neolithic rock art sites, its Iron age hill forts and the Roman military activity North of Hadrian’s Wall

Ketley Crag rock shelter near Chatton - Photo courtesy of Richard Booth