A list of lectures, talks and visits from the past few years.
2020
The AGM will be followed by a showing of the film "Magnet". Filmed in 1964 by C. H. Wood of Bradford, this is a promotional film for the Tadcaster brewery of John Smiths and their Magnet beer. The film contains extensive footage of the entire process of brewing beer from its origins in barley to the end product being delivered to pubs. This film has been provided by the Yorkshire Film Archive (Film ID: YFA 4898)
(There was no meeting in January.)
(There was no meeting in January.)
2019
It is still just possible to make out the name 'BOARD SCHOOL' on the gable end, but the date the building was opened is now lost.
The Tadcaster Community Archive has a large collection of photographs of the town. However it has not always been possible to record an accurate date for all photographs. A date has therefore to be inferred from objects appearing in the image; clothing, shop names, vehicles, street lamps and so forth. Dating old photographs thus becomes an interesting voyage of discovery through the minutiae of daily life.
7pm — a walk around Clifford with a guide to tell us about the history of the village.
7pm — meet at Cooplands for a walk around Tadcaster talking about the history of some of the buildings as we go
We are meeting at All Saint's Church, on Church Hill off Kirkgate for a 2pm start. There is parking by the Church Hall and some at the scout hut lower down the road. Sherburn Historical Society are hosting this visit and have arranged a short talk in the Church followed by a walk to the Old Girls' School. There we will have another talk on the history and renovation of the School which is now used as a Community Centre. Refreshments will be provided at the School.
The Annual General Meeting will be followed by a selection of images from the Community Photographic Archive
The history of the park, buildings and owners up to to its sale to the Fielden family in 1872
2018
A look at local building materials and construction techniques
How commercial archaeology works - the frustrations, finding more than we bargained for and the brilliant moments of discovery.
Outlining some of the interesting information about Tadcaster's inhabitants contained in the records.
Grain and animal feed production in the mills in Mill Lane
A lithograph of Tadcaster Mill published in 1868.
David Page has kindly provided the society with a shortened version of his book:
Pages of 20th Century Tadcaster: a contemporary account of 20th century Tadcaster.
Members may download a copy of the book here.
Summer visit
Meet at 2pm.
This tour offers the chance to see the interior of the Lodge which was redesigned by the Tadcaster architects Bromet and Thorman. (You may be amused by the BBC Domesday entry for the Tadcaster compiled by school children in 1986.)
Toulston Lodge in the early 20th Century.
Summer visit
A conducted tour St Mary's church by various members of the society. St Mary's church has ancient origin, but the oldest parts are of the 14th and 15th centuries. The church was often flooded. In 1875 the church was carefully dismantled and over the next two years rebuilt with the floor 5 feet higher. Unfortunately this did not prevent the church being flooded in 2015. The entry in the Corpus of Romanesque Sculpture"
St Mary's Tadcaster in the 19th century.
Summer visit
A talk and conducted tour of this 12th century church by Peter Jesty. The church is famous for the grave of Lord Dacre, killed at the battle of Towton and buried with his horse. There is a comprehensive entry for the church in the Corpus of Romanesque Sculpture"
A medieval cross on the wall of the church tower.
Vindolanda was a Roman auxiliary fort (castrum) just south of Hadrian's Wall in northern England. Archaeological excavations of the site show it was under Roman occupation from roughly 85 AD to 370 AD. In recent years the discovery of well-preserved writing tablets has provided a unique insight into the lives of the fort's inhabitants.
(This talk postponed from March due to the bad weather.)
(This talk postponed from March due to the bad weather.)
A model of Vindolanda and the associated vicus
Moving heavy loads through the ages. The talk will be followed by a video of the last train from Church Fenton to Tadcaster.
A view of the Middleton Railway in 1814, the engine moving coal from the colliery to a wharf on the River Aire. The first commercial use of a steam engine, constructed in Leeds by Fenton, Murray and Wood. David Wood was once the blacksmith in Bolton Percy.
Followed photographs from the Tadcaster Community Archive : Peter Bradshaw
Marking 250 years since the death of author Laurence Sterne. Laurence Sterne (24 November 1713 -- 18 March 1768) was an Irish novelist and an Anglican clergyman. He wrote the novels The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman and A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy, and also published many sermons, wrote memoirs, and was involved in local politics.
More on Laurence Sterne and Shandy Hall.
More on Laurence Sterne and Shandy Hall.
2017
Photos of Tadcaster in 1960, from the Community Archive
Background information for Tadcaster Workhouses.
A memoir on a child's life in the Workhouse by Charles Shaw.
A memoir on a child's life in the Workhouse by Charles Shaw.
"What has it got in its pocketses"
The medieval world explored by an archer's kitbag.
The medieval world explored by an archer's kitbag.
"Finding Fryston" - an active, local archaeological group
English Heritage information about the castle.
2016
& Local Photographs : Peter Bradshaw
Michelle Petyt
2015
- January 8th
- Annual General Meeting : followed by an update on the Riverside Archaeological Project, a Quiz and Refreshments.
- February 5th
- "Down memory lane" ; a walk-through of a selection of photographs of Tadcaster, compiled by Peter Bradshaw
- March 5th
- Roman Roads in North Yorkshire, with special reference to the Tadcaster area : Mike Haken
- April 9th
- Tenants of the Percys (to the end of the 18th Century) : Margaret Dawson
- May 7th
- Settlement and Legacy of the Anglo-Saxons in Yorkshire : George Roe & Jenny Ashby
- June 4th
- A visit to Newton Kyme Church
- July 2nd
- A tour of the Towton Battle Field.
- August 6th
- A conducted tour of Bolton Percy Church.
- September 3rd
- Tadcaster Riverside Archaeological Dig - a report of the dig with a chance to see some of the finds : John Firth
- October 1st
- Gallipoli - the experience of the troops : Dr Peter Liddle
- November 5th
- World war One Pilots and Bramham Moor Airfield : Michael Turner
- December 3rd
- Dickens - the man who invented Christmas : The Charles Dickens Society (Malton Branch)
Including special Christmas refreshments !
2014
- January 23rd
- Annual General Meeting : followed by a quiz and refreshments.
- February 27th
- Community Archaeology Project in Tadcaster : Peter Murphy and Brian Elsey who will talk about the archaeology of North Duffield and its relevance to the Motte and Bailey project in Tadcaster.
- March 27th
- Jane Austen : Marilyn Joice
- April 24th
- A guide to the Military History of Tadcaster in the Great War : Keith Matthews
- May 22nd
- Digitising the Historical Society Archive : John Firth
- Saturday June 21st, 2-4pm
- A Tour of Roman Aldborough : The tour will be conducted by a member of the Friends of Roman Aldborough; tea and cakes to follow. Further details to be provided at the meeting on May 22nd.
- September 25th
- The Evidence of Bones : a talk by Lesley Lambert, a member of the Richard III Society.
- October 21st
- The history and archaeology of the South Ainsty :
Catrina Appleby - Thursday November 27th
- Tate Wilkinson : The Wandering Patentee : Isobel Stones
2013
- February 28th
- The Fielden Family of Grimston Park : John Fielden
- March 21st (Note, not the usual Thursday)
- Pickering Church : Dr Kate Giles
- April 25th
- Markenfield Hall : Dr Keith Jones
- May 23rd
- Life in the time of Towton : Helen Cox
- June 13th
- An afternoon visit to Markenfield Hall : meet at the hall at 1-45pm, tour begins 2pm, cost £5. Details will be available at the meeting on May 23rd.
- Sept 26th
- Hadrian's Wall - life in the Romanised North of Britannia : Jim Birdsall. More details ...
- October 24th
- The Gascoigne Family of Parlington Hall : Brian Hull
- November 28th
- Roman Aldborough : Mike Turpin. (Friends of Roman Aldborough)
2012
- February 23rd
- Milestones : Jeremy Howett
- March 22nd
- Berlin and Krakow : Margaret Dawson
- April 26th
- The lost library of 8th C York : Dr. Mary Garrison
- May 24th
- A Glorious Work. Origins of Wesleyan Methodism in Tadcaster. 1759 - 1828 : Jean Hardy
- June 20th (Wednesday) 2pm
- Visit to Bramham Park House
- September 27th
- The Churches Conservation Trust : Jane Hedley
- October 25th
- The Restoration of the Great East Window of York Minster : Richard Shephard
- November 22nd
- Mary Queen of Scots : Katie Turner
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