Posts - Events

By Geoffrey Kingscott I was only three years old when the war started, and so have no pre-war memories at all. My parents often recalled the fear of gas attacks which everyone had, so the day after war was declared my father picked all the pears from the large pear tree at the back of the house. My earliest memory is of standing at the front gate of the house watching a bricklayer laying the lower courses of what became the street air-raid shelter.  Another early memory is seeing workmen using an oxy-acetylene torch (an item of great wonder) to remove the railings from the front fence of Mrs Powdrill’s house (no. 17 Shaftesbury Avenue). We shared with four other families to have our own air-raid shelter, built in our garden. I cannot remember it being built. I have one memory of being picked up out of bed by my father to be taken down to the shelter, and another of looking down from the top bunk. The grown-ups were talking in low voices, and I think there was an electric fire with one bar, so there must have been electricity. I recall a snatch of adults’ conversation outside the […]

Tom Godfrey was born in 1928 and brought up in Long Eaton.  In 1939 his family lived in Manchester Street (between Nelson Street and Wyvern Avenue).  He retired from his position at Cambridge University in 1993.  In 2011 he sent the following letter to the Sawley & District Historical Society. Much has been written and said recently about the cold weather of the winter of 2010-2011, but the winter of 1946-1947 was much worse. Then there was virtually no home central heating and fuel was in very short supply. Creature comfort was a matter of how much clothing we wore. Outside workers called it two overcoat weather. We all had to accept it as a way of life. Now that I am well past eighty years old, I felt I should write down the memories of my personal experiences of that time before I become unable to pass them on. In the early part of 1947 I was an undergraduate at Cambridge University, living in a room in college.  The cold weather proved very unpleasant.  Though the cold was a real problem to many we were to a large extent indifferent.  Our life carried on as usual as far as […]

Sawley & District Historical Society – 2025 Programme Thursday 23rd January: AGM followed by ‘Smile Please, Say Cheese’ Ian Rogerson gives a humorous and entertaining history of cheese making, offering an opportunity to sample many varieties. Thursday 27th February: The Linby Pancakes, A Viking Army and the History of Pancake Day Gareth Howell brings a seasonal flavour a few days before Shrove Tuesday. Thursday 27th March: Britain’s Bloodiest Day David Skillen, an experienced battlefield guide, brings to life the Battle of Towton 1461. Thursday 24th April: Lady Arbella Stuart David Templeman tells the story of Arbella Stuart, the focus of a plot to replace her cousin James I as monarch in 1603. Thursday 22nd May: In War and Peace John Taylor, an insight into William Cavendish (Bolsover Castle) Saturday 21st June:  Guided Tour of Strelley Hall inc. Cream Tea Sunday 20th July:  Guided Tour of Papplewick Pumping Station Saturday 16th August:  St. Chad’s Short Walk with Tea & Cakes Thursday 25th September:  St. Pancras Station Nigel Lowey on a return ticket, relates the saving and restoration of this iconic building. Thursday 23rd October: The Commonwealth Graves Commission Jean Moss, as we approach Remembrance Day, relates the history and work and […]

Sawley & District Historical Society: 2024 – 2025 Programme Thursday 20th June: Walk around Spondon led by members of Spondon Historical Society. Saturday 6th July: Visit to Winters Photographic Studio, Derby. Thursday 8th August: Local walk led by Lynne Clifton. Thursday 26th September: My Derbyshire JourneyPhotographer, journalist and broadcaster Ashley Franklin takes a visual trip with special focus on the Derwent Valley Mills Heritage Site. Thursday 24th October: Lord Curzon of Kedleston, Viceroy of IndiaTalk by Danny Wells Thursday 28th November: Why was Alfred called “Great”?Mike Kelley explains how this king laid the foundations for England Thursday 23rd January 2025: ‘Smile please, say Cheese’ The history of cheese with Ian Rogerson.This meeting will be preceded by the Annual General Meeting of the Society. All indoor meetings are held in All Saints’ Church Hall, Tamworth Rd. Sawley NG10 3AB at 7.30 pm. Admission for members is £2. Visitor admission £5, cash or cheque only.   For further details please contact telephone: 01332 850321

The Society still has copies of the booklet The Sawley Trail, an illustrated guide to a 1½ mile walk around the village, with historical notes.  And other walks in or near Sawley.  The booklet is available on Amazon for £34.99, on EBay for £75, or just come along to one of the Society meetings and pick one up for £1.50!

All meetings are held on a Thursday in All Saints’ Church Hall at 7.30 pm 22nd September – Bricks and Mortals Our chairman takes a look at some of Sawley’s buildings and the lives of their occupants. 27th October – St. Petersburg Dr. Cathy McAteer relates the story of this fabulous and fascinating city. 24th Nov. – The story of Boots the Chemist Chris Weir describes the origins and growth of this industrial giant. 26th January – 40th Anniversary – ‘More Bits and Bobs’ Bob Neill brings another box of puzzling antiquities for us to identify.  23rd February – ‘The Fall of Saxon England’ Mike Kelley describes the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings. 23rd March – ‘An Introduction to Heraldry’ John Titterton explains the rudiments of understanding armory. 27th April – ‘My Derbyshire Life’ Renowned local journalist and photographer Ashley Franklin presents fascinating facts, stories and photographs. 25th May: ‘The Life and Poems of Lord Byron’ Hugh Sharp concentrates on the life of the poet and how events and places influenced his writing. June, July and August – Outings to be arranged Membership fees: £12 + £2 per meeting Visitor fees: £5 per meeting 2

The next Historical Society event is a talk about Bess of Hardwick by Julie Ede. 26th May 2022 starting at 7.30pm. Cost is £1.50 for members, £4 for non-members. Church Hall, by All Saints Church, Old Sawley NG10 3AT After 26th May, the next scheduled talk is 22 Sep 2022 – ‘Bricks and Mortals‘ by Graham Grammer

Monday 30 March 8.00pm, All Saints’ Church Hall. Members £1.50, Visitors £4 

Society AGM followed by Bob Neill – More Bits and Bobs A quiz about the objects from my grandfather’s shop and my grandmother’s house Monday 27th January 2020  at  8pm, All Welcome, Members Free, Visitors £4           Sawley Church Hall, Tamworth Road, Old Sawley

Please note this is not a valuation evening.   Monday 25th November 2019 at 8pm.  All Welcome. Members £1.50 /               Visitors £4.  Sawley Church Hall, Tamworth Road, Old Sawley

Monday 28th October 2019 at 8pm.  All Welcome.  Members £1.50, Visitors £4.  Sawley Church Hall, Tamworth Road, Old Sawley. Full poster.

A look at the memorials of All Saints Church that commemorate some of the interesting people who have lived and worked in the community of Sawley. Monday 23rd September 2019 at 8pm. All Welcome. Members £1.50 / Visitors £4.Sawley Church Hall, Tamworth Road, Old Sawley Link to Poster

SAWLEY AND DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY presents a talk by Julia Powell on artist Dame Laura Knight.  Monday 27th May 2019 at 8pm. All Welcome.  Members £1.50.  Visitors £4.  Sawley Church Hall, Tamworth Road, Old Sawley Poster

SAWLEY AND DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY presents a talk by Rod Pearson – When Mat & Mel Came to  Town.  Ordnance Survey in South Derbyshire in the 19th Century.  Monday 29th  April  2019 at  8pm.  All Welcome.  Members £1.50, Visitors £4.  Sawley Church Hall, Tamworth Road, Old Sawley. Poster

SAWLEY AND DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY presents a talk by Andy Smart – Nottingham’s Theatre History.  Monday 25th  March  2019 at  8pm.  All Welcome.  Members £1.50, Visitors £4.  Sawley Church Hall, Tamworth Road, Old Sawley

SAWLEY AND DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY present a talk by Jo Golby – Top To Toe, The Price of Vanity. Monday 25th February 2019 at 8pm.  All Welcome. Members £1.50; Visitors £4. Sawley Church Hall, Tamworth Road, Old Sawley