Programme

PROGRAMME FOR 2025 – 2026

Talks take place at:

The Grange Junior School Hall
Beechwood Avenue, Hartford, Northwich CW8 3AU

There is car parking at the front of the School, including an area for less able people.  Turn into Beechwood Avenue at the roundabout on the Hartford to Weaverham road (B5153 Beach Road / Northwich Road) then turn left after about 50 yards into the school.

As a member of Northwich and District Heritage Society you enjoy free admission to the Society’s programme of talks listed below. Non-members are welcome on payment of £3.00 admission fee at the door

      

 

Getting There
Train: Greenbank station is a 19 minute walk from the Grange Junior School and is serviced by the Chester-Manchester line. Hartford station, a 26 minute walk, is on the line linking Crewe to Liverpool and Preston. National Rail enquiries telephone 0845 484950.
Bus: Buses stop at Hodge Lane in Beach Road / Northwich Road (3 minute walk) and at the St John the Baptist Church in Chester Road (14 minute walk).
Cheshire Traveline provides timetable information for any bus, rail or coach service serving Cheshire and Warrington:
0871 200 22 33 (Calls cost 12p per minute plus network extras).
or use the Traveline site to plan your journey online. 

Programmes from earlier years

 

Change to the Advertised Talk

Thursday 26th March 2026 – Clive Brooks - The Rise and Fall of the Salt Industry in the Northwich Area.   Salt has been manufactured in Britain for at least 5,600 years and until recently Northwich played the dominant role in British production. This talk looks at the economic, technological and community contribution to what began as a cottage industry that at first changed little over a long period, boiling brine from local natural brine springs in small crude pots to produce white salt. The competitive breakthrough for Northwich against rival brine sites was the discovery in 1670 of the top bed rock salt beds on the Marbury estate, followed later by the even larger bottom bed nearer Northwich. Production boomed as boiling rock salt yielded higher quantities of white salt compared with natural brine. The Weaver Navigation and Trent and Mersey Canal, followed by the railways, opened up markets across the empire and world via the Mersey ports. However, harnessing of steam power and electricity changed production methods, ending white salt making in Northwich and leaving a legacy of subsidence and just one surviving salt works.

We hope that Dr. Michael Nevell will be able present his talk Industrial Archaeology of Cheshire as part of our 2026/2027 Programme.

Thursday 23rd April 2026 – Davenham Timeline Mosaic.    This is a community inspired mosaic project depicting the social, anecdotal and humorous history of Davenham.  Jan Johnson and her team will describe how the project started; the stories depicted by the panels; and the mosaic design and construction.  They will share the panels installed in public spaces and businesses around the village, and will discuss the future plans for the project.

Thursday 21st May 2026 – The Society’s AGM at 7.30pm followed by Eli Lewis- Lycett – Tales From Antiquaria: The Real Folklore of Cheshire.    The nineteenth century is known as the ‘golden age’ of antiquarian writing, when collectors went out into the villages and towns, collecting the tales, traditions and beliefs of the people; many of which had been in place for hundreds of years. Tonight, writer and broadcaster Eli Lewis-Lycett presents some of the most interesting and intriguing pieces of Cheshire folklore collected during the period.

Thursday 23rd October 2025. The Richard Kelsall Lecture – Step into the World of the Roman Army!  Ever wondered what life was like for a Roman soldier?  Join us for an exciting journey back in time as we meet a soldier from the XX Legion, based at the Legionary Fortress in Deva (Chester). He’ll share what it was like to serve, the challenges he faced, and his future plans.  He will demonstrate authentic Roman armour and equipment.  Don’t miss this rare chance to learn about one of the world’s most formidable military forces.

Thursday 20th November 2025 – Judy Popley - Maurice Egerton: Tatton Park’s last Baron Egerton  Everyone knows of Tatton Park, but how much do we really know about the last of the Tatton Egertons?  Maurice was described as a quiet shy man who didn’t mix well but loved the wilds of the world, including the Klondike, British Columbia and Alberta and of course, his real home, Kenya.  Judy Popley peels back the stories and myths of this amazing gentleman.

Thursday 11th December 2025 – Clive Brookes - Robert Smith Barry of Marbury: The Man Who Taught the World to Fly  Robert was the last dynastic owner of Marbury, selling it to pay death duties. Educated at Eton and Cambridge, he briefly served as honorary British consul in Istanbul. After pursuing a career as a concert pianist, he was drawn to fast cars and flying, eventually becoming a flying instructor and a founding member of the Royal Flying Corps. Shocked by the air combat carnage in France, he set up a training school for instructors, revolutionizing flight training and drastically reducing aircrew losses, with his methods adopted worldwide.

Thursday 22nd January 2026 – Stephen Shakeshaft – Chester Uncovered  Stephen, a registered Guide for nearly 20 years, will take you on a informative and light-hearted virtual walking tour of the City of Chester.  He will show you places and tell the stories behind the features, some of which you will never have seen.

Thursday 26th February 2026 – Dave Thomas – Forties Farming Folk.   This talk, from the 2017 Field to Fork project, concentrates on the people who worked at the farm at Tatton Park during the 1940s.  Dave is one of the Learning and Interpretation Volunteers, wearing the costume of Teamsman, working with the heavy horses.  Dave will be accompanied by one of the other costumed characters.

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