Fishergate, Fulford & Heslington Local History Society
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Our Programme of Events Over Previous Years (we were founded in October 2011)
2019 Events

January 19th      Jane Austen, and the Fulford Lefroy Family 
                           An Illustrated Talk by Allan Francis, concerning the life and times of Captain Anthony Lefroy,                                                             Barrack master and resident of Fulford (1777-1857). 
                           For a little more about the Lefroys, click
 HERE
 
February 16th   ‘The House Built on Love and Chocolate’ - Goddards and the Terry family
                            An illustrated talk by Glennis Whyte (National Trust)

 
March 16th        Annual General Meeting + The Minster in close-up – Amazing photographs of angels, sinners,                                                        saints and beasts by Catherine Sotheran  ending with a buffet lunch

 
April 13th        York's current Sheriff, Verna Campbell on the 'My year as Sheriff - Role and Regalia' 
 
May 21st            The ecology and history of Fulford Ings – a guided walk led by Andrew Vevers
                           (to read Chris Rainger's paper on re-routing Germany Beck and
​                            the wharves served by Landing Lane, click HERE)

 
June 15th           'The First Greens of Fishergate’ – Botanists, Nurserymen and Gardeners
                           Our Festival of Ideas illustrated talk by Judy Nicholson about the pioneering Telford,
                           Riggs and Backhouse family nurseries in Fishergate and York
                           Judy has assembled an excellent display of catalogues, illustrations and examples of                                                                       gardens designed and built by York's nurserymen

                           
July 16th            An evening Guided Walk at York Cemetery, led by Jenny Hawkins
                      
August 26th        Fulford Show – Our exhibitions in the Scout Hut from 1pm to 4pm
                            Another chance to see Judy Nicholson's display of catalogues, maps photographs and other fascinating                                          information about the Nurserymen of Fishergate

September 21st     St Oswald's Church - A Victorian Gem !

                           An illuminating morning exploring the glorious architecture, superb stone carvings,
                           gorgeous glass, jewel-like Venetian mosaic and surprising art.
                           With guided tours and illustrated talks from Conservation Architect, Ian Hayton,
                           Historian Louise Wheatley and Photographer John Foreman
                          Louise will also give an outline of the proposals to adapt the interior space so it can also be used on a daily basis by the local community.
                          ​
October 2nd       Members' visit to Yorkshire Museum to see the Heslington Hoard and hear Curator Andrew
                           Woods talk about its significance.


October 19th     Churches and Chapels in Heslington – an illustrated talk by Peter Mott - a survey of the                                                                    Parish Church  from the 12th Century, three 19th century Methodist Chapels and the
                          chapel for the Carmelite Community and Catholic University Chaplaincy at Moore House


November 9th   Guy Fawkes, the Gunpowder Plot and York – an illustrated talk by Tony Morgan
                          
On November 5th each year we celebrate the failure of the Gunpowder Plot with bonfires
                          and fireworks but how much do we really know about the history behind this fascinating event?                                                        Author Tony Morgan will cover Guy Fawkes's childhood, the events of the Gunpowder Plot
                          and many local connections. 

                                 
(read Linda Haywood's fascinating article about Fawkes connections to Bishopthorpe - HERE)

Nov 23rd          Are You Interested in the History of Your Fishergate Home?
                         Drop in anytime in the afternoon to Busk in Sandringham St.
                         Bring what you know (if anything) and we'll show you what we have found about the
                         history of our area, its variety of houses, who lived in them, etc.
                        This event is intended to kick-start a research project where we will help each other to dig into
                         the archives and internet sources, to build a picture of our special part of York. Read more HERE
                        

December 8th   End of Year Social at St Oswald's Church Hall - Sunday, 2pm - 4pm

                       A good time to look back over the events of the year with lovely food, friendly people and good                                 conversation + a many-prize raffle and quiz on our listed buildings (how many can you recognise?)   
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2018 Events
​Saturday 20th January - Archaeology at the Germany Beck Development Site in Fulford. Archaeologist, Paula Ware will bring some of the finds and explain the significance of the site.  
10am to 12 noon at St Oswald's Church Hall

Tueday 13th February (evening meeting) - Dr. Louise Wheatley on 'Who's Who in Fulford - 1066 to 1300'
Was Fulford named after German de Bretgate?  Who owned land on our patch and what did they do with it?
6.30pm to 8.30pm at St Oswald's Church Hall 

Saturday 17th March - our 6th Annual General Meeting, followed by Margaret Scott on the Revival of the York Mystery Plays in 1951. Were you, or your family in the 1951 Mystery Plays?  Check the cast list HERE
St Oswald Church Hall - AGM from 10am to 10.30am; then Margaret Scott until 11.30; followed by a sociable a light lunch (please bring a contribution if you can)

Saturday 14th April - John Oxley, York's Principal Archaeologist, on 'A Life in Ruins'...looking back over the long career of York's favourite Archaeologist.  St Oswald Church Hall, 10am to 12 noon.

​Saturday 12th May - Peter Main on the interesting life of Fredrick Peel, Heslington's 19th century Vicar, Composer & Hymn Writer.  Peter will tell Peel's interesting life story and play some of hiss fine compositions!
10am to 12 noon at Heslington Church

Saturday 16th June - 1795 AND ALL THAT!  - The coming of the cavalry to Fulford by Judy Nicholson
This is our Festival of Ideas event - This year's FoI theme is 'Imagining the Impossible' so we are looking at Fulford Barracks in the light of the potential end of York's military connections.  
St Oswald Church Hall, 10am to 12 noon.  Admission £3 for non-FFH members.  No booking required

Tuesday 24th July (evening walk)-   'Beyond Germany Beck' - Louise Wheatley will lead a walk into the farmland reclaimed from the fen and forest, looking for traces of the medieval enclosures and drainage works! 

Bank Holiday Monday 27th August - Our exhibition at Fulford Show with the display of maps, photographs, information and an amazing archive of newspaper cuttings about the Barracks and the army in Fulford. In the Scout Hut from 1pm to 4pm

Saturday 15th September - Fulford's Lost Shops - An Illustrated Talk by Barbara King

Tuesday 30th October (evening meeting) How Feisty Local Women Won The Vote!
A talk by Michael Waters and Catherine Djimramadji (Annie Coultate's Great Great granddaughter) on the campaign for the vote in York, including the 1911 Census boycott by local suffragettes.

Saturday 10th November - '100 Years Since the Armistice'
Presenting our new research on the 86 former pupils of Fishergate School who are named on the Great War Memorial in the school porch.  [buy our new book about the school and the 86 men, just £10]
With readings from our new biographies and about the school by parents, former pupils, local councillors,  the Lord Mayor and Sheriff, and other prominent local figures.  
​Fishergate School, 2pm to 4pm
More information on this and our other WW1 research and publications click HERE 
​
Sunday 9th December
Our Very Sociable Members and Friends Pre-Christmas Get-Together - with a River Ouse Quiz, Raffle, and some Magic! + bring & share food and drink St Oswald Church Hall, 2pm to 4pm



2017 Events
Saturday 21st January at St Oswald's Church Hall, from 10am to 12 noon.  Jayne Rimmer of YAT speaking about using tree ring dating techniques to understand the history of buildings in York and our FFH area.
​
Saturday 18th February at Heslington Church, from 10am to 12 noon. Peter Mott on The History of Heslington - Church and Village.
​
Tuesday 21st February at St Oswald's Church Hall, from 6pm to 8pm. The internationally acclaimed sculptor Dick Reid on the Artist Life of a Carver in Fishergate.   You can read a selection of press reports about Dick Reid  HERE

Saturday 11th March at St Oswald's Church Hall, from 10am to 4pm  Church History Display with Talks at various times through the day (joint Church & FFH event)
​​
Saturday 18th March at St Oswald's Church Hall, from 10am to 12 noon.  Peter Goodchild on The Gardens and Landscapes of our City.  Peter Goodchild was a Research Fellow at the Institute of Advanced Architectural Studies, University of York, where he set up the Centre for the Conservation of Historic Parks and Gardens in 1982.
​
Saturday 22nd April at St Oswald's Church Hall, from 10am to 1pm.  Our 5th Annual General Meeting, followed by the launch of our new guided walk leaflet on the buildings along Main Street Fulford.  The talk will be followed by a light buffet lunch.

​Saturday 20th May at St Oswald's Church Hall, from 10am to 12noon.  Anne Batchlor on 'My Gallant Hussar'  an exploration of family history and military life in York and across the Atlantic!

Saturday 10th June 'The Historic Mystery of Old St Oswald's'  Our Festival of Ideas Conference for 2014.  Click HERE to find out more.

Saturday 15th July -  History of the Pavilion Hotel - At the hotel from 10am to 12noon.  A talk by FFH members Judy Nicholson & Barbara King.  Please park at St Oswald's and walk to the hotel.

Bank Holiday Monday - 28th August Fulford Show and our exhibitions in Fulford Scout Hut all afternoon

Saturday 16th September at St Oswald's Church Hall, from 10am to 2pm.  Family History Day - Expert Talks at 10.30 & 12.30. Resources and Help with your research - a must for anyone thinking of researching their family!  Organised in association with York Family History Society.  
At 10.30, April Marjoram will speak on 'Writing up Family History: A Sense of Place'.  April has written a book on her family and their lives in the industries of Hull and craft on the Humber and across the North Sea. Review HERE
At 12.30, Janice Wood, of the York Family History Society, will speak on 'Starting out in Family History'.
​
Saturday 14th October at St Oswald's Church Hall, from 10am to noon.  The Fishergate, Fulford & Heslington Area after the Romans Left, a talk by Dr Cecily Spall.

Saturday 18th November 10am to noon at Heslington Church - Presenting our Biographies of the Seven Men of Heslington who are named on the beautiful Memorial Window in the church.  Seven people will each read one of the biographies, interspersed by prominent Heslington people describing the village these men would have known.  (please note that this is a history event, not military or religious)


Sunday 10th December at St Oswald's Church Hall, from 2pm to 4pm. Our Very Sociable Christmas Get-Together, with 'bring and share' food, wine, history and good conversation.  Also 'Find that Date'.  Can you locate the buildings with date-plates or stones across our area?
​

2016 Events

Saturday 16 January.  10am to noon, St Oswald’s Church Hall. THE BROOKE FAMILY 1560-1705, a talk by Dr Louise Wheatley

Saturday 20 February.  10am to noon, St Oswald’s Church Hall THE RIVER OUSE THROUGH TIME by Chris Rainger & Judy Nicholson
Saturday 19  March. 10am-1pm, St Oswald’s Church Hall. Our 4th AGM - including a TALK by Ian DRAKE about the fabulous Evelyn Photographic collection  - and LUNCH. 
​
Saturday 16 April. 10am to noon, Walmgate Stray.  We meet near the Green Dykes Lane entrance to Walmgate Stray for a walk and talk on Lamel Hill and Siward's How, with archaeologist Al Oswald.  We will end at the Herdsman's Cottage on Heslington Road.  Parking is available on the University carparks.

Saturday 21 May. 10am to noon, Heslington Church Meeting Room.   A talk on The Heslington Hoard of of Roman Coins, by Andrew Woods. 

Thursday 2 June. 6pm.  Meet at Heslington Village Hall, Main Street, for a walking tour of Heslington Village with Nick Allen (till about 8pm)

Saturday 18 June. 10am to noon, St Oswald's Church Hall  A talk by Dr Peter Addyman, President of York Civic Trust, on the newly published York Historical Atlas.  This event is part of York's Festival of Ideas

Saturday 23 July. 3pm to 4pm, St Oswald's Church Hall, then to Holgate Windmill
A talk on York Windmills - Heslington Mill and Holgate Restoration, by Richard Green.
This will be followed by a tour of Holgate Windmill at approx 5pm.  An entry charge of £3 applies. 


Tuesday 9 August.  6pm, A Walk Along New Walk.  Meet at the Blue Bridge. 
An early evening walk exploring the history of New Walk, led by Margaret Scott.  
We walk from Blue Bridge towards the Millennium Bridge.


August Bank Holiday Monday 29th.   Our Local History Exhibitions at Fulford Show - in Fulford Scout Hall from noon. 

Saturday 17 September. 10am to noon, St Oswald's Church Hall. 
A talk by
Chris Rock on The Battle of Stamford Bridge

Saturday 15 October. 10am to noon, St Oswald’s Church Hall. One hundred years of the cubs, Scouts and Guides in Fulford, by Chris King

Saturday 19 November. 10am to noon, St Oswald's Church Hall  A talk by Louise Wheatley on The Life and Times of St Oswald.

Sunday 11 December. 2pm to 4pm, St Oswald’s Church Hall.  Pre-Christmas Social, with raffle, drinks and canapes + An exhibition of photographs of Trams between York and Fulford

2015 Events

Saturday 17th January. 10am to noon, FISHERGATE POSTERN TOWER, a talk by Chris Rainger

Saturday 21st February. 10am to noon, CATTLE MARKET MEMORIES A - Bring and Share your Memories Session led by Geoff Shearsmith & Judy Nicholson

Saturday 21st March. 10am1pm, AGM including a TALK by Chris Rainger on the Fishergate Ring

Saturday 18th April. 10am to noon, meet behind JB Morrell Library, University of York, west campus (north carpark) HESLINGTON MORAINE and its HISTORY A Walking Tour led by Jon Kenny, Community Archaeologist

TBC sometime late March or early April City of York & District Family History Society Fair 2015 We hope to have a stall this year.

Saturday 16th May. 10am to noon, INTRODUCING ALCUIN of YORK (who died 18 May 814) – Dr. Mary Garrison

Tuesday 9 June to Sunday 21 June York FESTIVAL OF IDEAS. Plans are coming together for FFH to sponsor some sessions including one at Fishergate Postern

Saturday 27th June. 10am to noon THE OUTGANG its HABITAT and WILDLIFE A walking Tour led by Professor Sir John Lawton (former chair of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust)

July 11-26th Archaeology Fortnight - Join our Geophysical Investigation of the grassed areas surrounding the Sir John Hunt Memorial Cottage Homes

Saturday 18th July. 10am to noon, Walking Tour of THE BACK LANES of FULFORD led by Barbara King & Judy Nicholson

Bank Holiday Monday 24th August. Fulford Playing Fields. OUR STALL AT THE FULFORD SHOW

Saturday 19th September. 10am to noon, ARCHAEOLOGY UPDATE – recent discoveries in our patch – Louise Wheatley
October/November. CLEMENTS HALL & YAT HISTORY FAIRS – we hope to have a stall this year

Saturday 17th October. 10am to noon, THE HISTORY OF FULFORD GOLF CLUB a talk by Jennifer Hawkes

Saturday 21st November. 10am to noon, St Oswald’s Church Hall UPDATE on OUR COMMEMORATIONS 1914-18 A Bring and Share Session with Displays

2014 Events.

Join us in 2014, our third year as a local history society, for a series of exciting new events. Many thanks to Louise Wheatley and other committee members for their fantastic work in putting together fun-packed series of events.

Saturday 18th January. 10am to noon, St Oswald’s Church Hall, FINDING THE FULFORD BISCUIT by Mary Malden Owen

Saturday 15th February. 10am to noon, St Oswald’s Church Hall, BEFORE WE WERE … AROUND: Images of the Past, from Geoff Shearsmith’s Collection

Saturday 15th March. 10 am to 1pm, St Oswald’s Church Hall, OUR SECOND AGM Including Lunch and a Talk by John Oxley titled RECENT DISCOVERIES IN THE HEART OF THE CITY OF YORK AND BEYOND. Also on the same day is the Timeline York Plus Meeting on Saturday 15 March from 2.00pm hosted by Dringhouses Local History Group. Later in the month is the York Family & Local History Fair on Saturday 29 March, 10 am to 4pm in Manor CE Academy, Millfield Lane, Nether Poppleton, York YO2 6PA

Saturday 12th April. 10am to noon, Heslington Church Meeting Room, Heslington, ENCLOSURE: THE LANDSCAPE TRANSFORMED by David Yates

Saturday 17th May. 10am to 1pm, Meet at Old St Oswald’s Churchyard and we’ll walk back to ‘new’ St Oswald’s Church Hall – a talk and tour about OLD AND NEW ST OSWALD'S CHURCHES (HAVE YOU LOOKED CLOSELY ENOUGH?) by Alan Francis and Roger Walton

Saturday 15th June. 10am to noon, meet at The Retreat, Heslington Road (RSVP IF YOU CAN COME to Louise Wheatley, 01904 635939), A tour and talk by Rob Griffiths titled THE RETREAT YORK: An Introduction to its Revolutionary Place in the History of the Care of  Mentally Ill People AND the History of the Site.

Saturday 19th July. 10am to noon, Meet at Fordland’s Road, Fulford, MAIN STREET FULFORD, PART 2, A Walking Tour led by Barbara King & Judy Nicholson12-27 JULY Archaeology Fortnight, Fishergate Postern Tower – details to come about OUR SECOND EXHIBITION

Bank Holiday Monday 25th August. Morning set up, open from noon in Fulford Playing Fields, OUR STALL AT THE FULFORD SHOW

Saturday 20th September. 10am to noon, meet at the foot of Blue Bridge Lane, THE NEW WALK AREA of FISHERGATE,  A Walking Tour led by Margaret Scott

Saturday 18th October. 10am to noon, St Oswald’s Church Hall, OUR COMMEMMORATIONS OF 1914-18 – a session led by Roger Thompson BUT also a Bring and Share Session of your biographies, memorabilia and information. Sometime during the year, we would like to schedule a GROUP VISIT to the new exhibition commemorating 1914-18 at the Castle Museum and details will be available shortly.

Saturday 15th November. 10am to noon, St Oswald’s Church Hall, a talk about FISHERGATE FIELD HOUSE and GARDENS. by Tom Robinson.

Saturday 14th December. 2pm to 4pm, St Oswald’s Church Hall, a SOCIAL GET-TOGETHER, Please drop in for a drink and nibbles

2013 events


Saturday 23rd February 10.00-noon in St. Oswald's Church Hall
Vernacular Architecture with an update on No. 5 Main Street, Heslington.
John Hurd and Tony Tolhurst

Saturday 16th March. Noon-2pm in St. Oswald's Church Hall.
Our 1st AGM with Buffet Lunch
A Bring and share meal with a display of our projects

Saturday 13th April. Meet outside Fishergate Postern Tower.
Walking Tour of Fishergate.
Led by Chris Rainger.

Saturday 18th May. 10.00-noon St. Oswald's Church Hall.
War memorial biographies.
Louise Wheatley & Barbara King

Saturday 15th June. 10.00-noon
Beneath Walmgate Stray. A Walking Tour
Led by Dr. Peter Addyman.
Meet at Herdman's Cottage, Heslington Road, which is between the Retreat and Belle Vue Terrace.

Saturday 13th July. 10.00-noon. Meet outside the Plough, Main St. Fulford.
Finding Fulford - A Walking Tour
Led by Barbara King and Judy Nicholson

Monday 26th August. Morning setup. Open from noon.
Our stall at the Fulford Show
(please contact Louise or Barbara if you'd like to bake some biscuits.

Tuesday 17th September 7pm-9pm St. Oswald's Church Hall
Heslington East - The past beneath our feet
By Dr. Cath Neal, Archaeologist.

Saturday 19th October 10.00-noon St. Oswald's Church Hall
Fulford Community Orchard
By Prof. Colin Campbell.

Saturday 9th November 10.00-noon St. Oswald's Church Hall
The North Duffield Round House
Brian Elsey

Sunday 15th December 2pm to 4pm at St. Oswald's Church Hall
Social and get together
Please drop in for a drink and nibbles


Spring and Summer 2012

Saturday 21 January
Possible group projects
Jon Kenny, Community Archaeologist In St Oswald’s Church Hall, 10am to noon. Jon gave us all inspiration with his experience from working with other local history groups as to kind of group activities we can do. Check out the News page for some activities that have come from Jon's primer.

Saturday 11 February
Kohima Museum and Imphal barracks tour.
Bob Cook and Brian Ward
Meet in Aldi car park opposite the Imphal Barracks at 10.30 am sharp for a tour of the Museum and a look around the barracks. If you are planning on coming and didn't sign the sheet at the January meeting then Email Bob ( bob.cook@virgin.net) and he will get your security pass processed before the 11th to speed up getting us all in on the day. The tour should finish by 12.30.

Saturday 17th March
Hands-on-documents and geneaology workshop.
Louise Wheatley and Gavin Thomas
A workshop to become familiar with the types of documents available for the history of your family, house and other interests. We should have Internet access in the church hall and Gavin will demonstrate some simple tools for doing family history research. Usual place, St Oswalds Church Hall from 10am to noon.

Saturday 14th April
Learning about history from buildings.
Dr. Kate Giles, University of York.
At St. Oswald’s Church Hall, 10am to noon.

Saturday 12th May
Bring, show and share.
An opportunity for members to bring along items of memorabilia relating to York and the FFH area. Also, John Hoyland from the Castle museum will do a short presentation of their 1914 project and how we can integrate our efforts in the same area. At St. Oswald’s Church Hall, 10am to noon.

Saturday 16th June
Back lanes and tofts - a Heslington walking tour.
Led by Louise Wheatley.
Meet in Heslington Village at 10am.
It was a horrid rainy day, so this might be repeated in 2013.

Saturday 21st July
The development of York Cemetery.
Hugh Murray.
York historian Hugh Murray will give us a guided tour of the Cemetery and its development, decline and restoration. This event will cost £2.50 per person and includes tea/coffee in the chapel at the end of the walking tour.
Meet inside the entrance of York Cemetery, on Cemetery Road, Fishergate at 10am until noon.

Monday 27th August
Fulford Show
Come and see our stand at the Show. We are researching the Fulford Biscuit - made by the Leng family. Bring along your own biscuits for the stand!

Saturday 15th September
Anniversary of the Battle of Fulford
Chas Jones
10 am - noon. Meet at St. Oswald's Church Hall

Saturday 20th October
Walking the Farm Boundaries
Geoff Rounthwaith
10 am - noon. Meet at Lingcroft Farm. Will involved walking off road. Wear sensible footwear.

Winter 2011

Thursday 15 December
Social Evening and Quiz
from 7.30pm. Meet at the Fulford Arms (near the Barracks). Landlord and local history buff Steve Bradley prepared an excellent quiz and we all had to work together to try and figure out the answers.....fiendish.

Saturday 12 November
Walking Tour of Heslington
10am to noon. Meet in Campus North carpark behind JB Morrell Library; wear sensible shoes and bring a rain coat just in case! Louise Wheatley led a walking tour which was well received - this may we repeated in the Summer of 2012.

Saturday 1st October
Inaugural meeting.
We had our first meeting at St. Oswald's Church Hall, which went very well and about 30 interested people turned up which was great. Louise Wheatley made a cake with an FFH theme and Gavin Thomas did a short presentation to try and highlight some of the activities we could do as a local history group. Many of the outcomes of this meeting have been reflected in our programme for 2012!.

If you would like to know more about what we aim to do and would like to get involved then please fill in the form on the Contact us page.