Back                          Middleham and Dales Local History Group

Are you interested in local history? If so, why not think about joining the Middleham and Dales Local History Group (MDLHG)?

MDLHG was formed several years ago by a group of people interested in furthering the study of the local history of Wensleydale and Swaledale and their adjoining dales. The annual programme includes individual lectures on a variety of historical topics by guest speakers, two courses each year dealing with subjects of interest in more detail, and occasional local visits. The group is also particularly interested in encouraging and supporting local history research. A recent project has focused on redundant churches and chapels in the area, and this has resulted in a detailed survey and historical investigation of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Coverham. A booklet and CD have been produced and a laminated plan and information sheet deposited in the church for visitors’ use.

The annual membership fee is £10 and this gives free entrance to all individual meetings, although there is an extra charge for each course. Visitors are welcome to attend single lectures for a small fee, so if you are not sure if the group is for you, why not come along one afternoon and try it out? All meetings take place at Middleham Key Centre, usually on Tuesdays, from 2pm to 4pm.

Middleham and Dales Local History Group
Tuesday 18th May  2pm Middleham Key Centre

 The second John Rettie Memorial Lecture
Middleham and the world of racing, 1780-1914  Prof. Mike Huggins

John Rettie, a renowned international journalist, humanitarian and dalesman, was chairman of this group until his death in January 2009. This second lecture to honour his memory will be given by Mike Huggins, professor of Cultural History at the University of Cumbria.
Some years ago Professor Huggins wrote a booklet entitled Kings of the Moor, a history of horse racing and especially of the trainers in the Middleham area and the North York Moors. In this lecture he will put the eighteenth and nineteenth century training of horses and racing in this area into the national perspective, and also will discuss current practice and the relative importance of training in the sporting scene today. 

 Annual membership of the group is £10 and visitors are welcome to attend individual meetings for a fee of £3. For further information, please contact Tony Keates 01969 640436 or email dotandtonyk@btinternet.com.

Programme for 2010

20th April Dr Joan Heggie From Teesside to rural Yorkshire: exploring the life and art of Viva Talbot (1900-83)( with particular reference to her North Yorkshire connections)

18th May The second John Rettie Memorial Lecture

 Prof. Mike Huggins Middleham and the world of racing 1780-1914

15th June Audrey Dewjee “Roots” in the Dales

July Visit to be arranged

14th and 28th September, 5th and 19th October  Sonia Wilkinson The missing history- understanding daily life in a Dales village from medieval times (with particular reference to Kilnsey). (4 session course)

16th November Helen Bainbridge Reading history through objects from the Swaledale Museum

For further information please contact:
Tony Keates, 01969 640436
or email dotandtonyk@btinternet.com.

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