February 6, 2023
7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
St Albans Cathedral and online via Zoom webinar
In what faith did King Henry VIII put his trust as he prepared his soul to meet his Maker? In this talk, Professor Suzannah Lipscomb explores Henry VIII's last will and testament to understand how this most enigmatic of English kings understood the ineffable.
February 7, 2023
7:45 PM - 9:15 PM
Marlborough Road Methodist Church and on Zoom
Dr Susan Walker FSA explores the remarkable portrait images attached to mummies of upper-class men and women in Roman Egypt.
February 14, 2023
7:45 PM - 9:00 PM
Zoom
Following last year’s talk about the former Red Lion inn, Jon turns his attention to the White Hart. From its prominent position on Holywell Hill, the White Hart’s history appears to follow the same trends that affected the Red Lion. But, as this talk covering the c.1500 to c.1930 period will show, appearances are deceptive.
February 21, 2023
7:45 PM - 9:15 PM
Marlborough Road Methodist Church
Barnet Museum has for years been the ‘custodian’ of the history and education aspects of the Battle of Barnet. In this lecture, Hilary Harrison, Mike Noronha and Susan Skedd will talk about the work done to commemorate and promote knowledge of the history and educational aspects of the Battle of Barnet and the Wars of the Roses generally and how that led on to the Barnet Medieval Festival. There will also be a chance to see some artefacts found by archaeologists and metal detectorists that may relate to the battle.
February 23, 2023
2:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Zoom
Tim Boatswain explores Sopwell Lane's rich history and varied buildings.
March 7, 2023
7:45 PM - 9:15 PM
Marlborough Road Methodist Church and on Zoom
Dr Kerner of the Open Spaces Society will explore the origin of common land and explain how it was governed through the manor court. Much common land was lost through enclosure but reversal of thinking and legislation led to a move to re-register the surviving common land in the twentieth century.
March 14, 2023
7:45 PM - 9:15 PM
Zoom only
In this lecture Prof. Breeze explores the various landscapes through which Roman frontiers ran, the threats faced by the Roman Empire and their impact on military deployment.
March 16, 2023
2:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Zoom
The Society’s Transition project exploring the significant changes resulting from the dissolution of the monastery in December 1539 is now just over a year old. This seminar provides our first opportunity to discuss some early findings.
April 11, 2023
7:45 PM - 9:15 PM
Marlborough Road Methodist Church and on Zoom
Naval conflict in any age consists of battles and blockade, but also in the defence of trade against enemy raiders. Dr Roger Knight explores Britain's war against Napoleonic France, 1803-1815, which involved thousands of merchant ships importing raw materials and hundreds of warships as escorts.
April 18, 2023
7:45 PM - 9:15 PM
Zoom
Elizabeth Eastwood introduces us to two formidable local female campaigners. Lady Constance Lytton, daughter of the 1st Earl of Lytton, was a leading member of the suffragettes. But many women were opposed to the suffrage movement. One such was the novelist Mary Ward who wrote under the name of Mrs Humphrey Ward. Mary came to live at Stocks House, Aldbury and was involved with the Women’s National Anti-Suffrage League.
April 25, 2023
7:45 PM - 9:15 PM
Zoom only
Douglas Kent, Technical & Research Director at the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, will talk about the Society's work, and about the work he has carried out on his own Grade I listed building in Saffron Walden.
May 9, 2023
7:45 PM - 9:15 PM
Zoom
As part of the a larger programme of events including the Barnet Medieval Festival, St Albans Museum + Gallery, and the Battlefields Trust, Dr Peter Burley will give a narrative account of the battle, and recommends that you first visit the associated exhibition in St Albans old town hall.
May 16, 2023
7:45 PM - 9:15 PM
Marlborough Road Methodist Church
Jim Callaghan is widely regarded as a thoroughly decent man but a less than successful prime minister, 1976-79. Dr Martin Holmes, author of several books, revisits Callaghan's reputation, and looks at his relative successes as well as his blunders.
May 23, 2023
7:45 PM - 9:15 PM
Marlborough Road Methodist Church and on Zoom
Disgruntled scribes, protective owners, artists interrupted – in this lecture, Mary Wellesley will trace the stories of the people who made, loved and sometimes destroyed mediaeval manuscripts, which are some of the most engaging artefacts ever made by human hands.
