Lecture Programme
2025
Thursday 20 February, 11.15am & 1pm, £2, Wilderspin School Museum
History Underfoot
Before tomorrow evening’s archaeology talk we’ve a taster session for children and families at the Wilderspin School Museum. Try out some simple archaeological techniques and discover some of the bits and pieces found at the Church School during excavations prior to its refurbishment.
45 minutes session suitable for children aged 6+ – part of the School Museum’s “Rainy Days” Winter Warmer.
Friday 21 February, 2pm*, Joseph Wright Hall
An Introduction to Humber Field Archaeology Through Recent Fieldwork
Peter Connelly
Humber Field Archaeology was formed in 1996 as a successor to the Humberside Archaeology Unit to act as a professional archaeological consultancy in the former area of the County of Humberside. It operates principally in the East Riding of Yorkshire, Kingston upon Hull and North Lincolnshire.
Peter Connelly outlines the wide-ranging archaeological services it undertakes, and projects in the Humber region including community-based projects which have revealed new information that is very pertinent to Barton.
Friday 21 March, 2pm*, Joseph Wright Hall
Baysgarth House: Clues from the Past and a Vision for the Future
Stephen Dixon & Liz Bennet
Closed for five years and looking forlorn, this fine Georgian house is now poised ready to start a new chapter in 2025. Phase one in the Spring is focussing on the stable block and cottage to create a tearoom and a display about Hopper Cycles. Attention then turns in the summer to exhibition spaces in the House and a shop.
Architect Stephen Dixon outlines the process of renovating this historic building, and the conflict between heritage, budget and future uses.
Project Manager Liz Bennet presents the vision, compromises on the journey to reopening Baysgarth House and the goal of economic sustainability.
Barton’s Heritage Spring Launch
We’re joining other heritage venues and groups this Easter Weekend to launch a new season of discovery!
Friday 18 April, 7.30pm, Joseph Wright Hall
The early memoirs of William Smith Hesleden (1774-1854), solicitor and antiquarian of Barton-upon-Humber.
Dr Martin Watkinson, FSA
Martin will describe how he found the memoirs of William Smith Hesleden in a university library in America and what they tell us about life in Barton at the end of the eighteenth century. He will describe William’s education and apprenticeship, his friendship with Sir John Nelthorpe, his work amongst the poor, and his love of drawing, local history and architecture which has left us a wonderful legacy of published and unpublished work.
Friday 16 May, 7.30pm, Joseph Wright Hall
Vere Foster: Changing Lives for the Irish Poor
Jean Cannon & Ian Wolseley
During the Great Famine of the 1840s in Ireland, Vere Foster assisted the poor, helping with the re-settlement of thousands of emigrants to North America escaping starvation and disease. For those unable to emigrate he set his sights on improving their life chances by lifting educational standards in Irish schools. Jean Cannon revisits this momentous period in Irish history and Ian Wolseley explains how a seemingly innocuous bundle of family letters revealed a family link to this great man.
Saturday 7 June 10am – 3pm, £12 Members /£20 non-members, Wilderspin School Museum
Rex Russell Memorial Saturday School
Following the success of the inaugural Rex Russell Memorial Lecture in 2024 the Civic Society and Wilderspin & National School Museum are once again joining forces to present an extended session focussing on themes dear to Rex delivered in the manner of his popular Saturday Schools .
Keynote speakers:
Keith Miller, a former adult education colleague of Rex, will speak about Rex’s work researching the Charities, Friendly Societies and labouring movements of the 1800s – early examples of community self-help prior to state support which was to evolve in the twentieth century. Part of Keith’s session will involve a brief “field trip” (another reminder of Rex’s teaching methods) to look at surviving evidence of this Victorian legacy in the town centre.
Another of Rex’s interests was the reorganisation of land for agriculture in Lincolnshire and elsewhere. The Enclosure Acts changed the way people had farmed in England for centuries. Between 1604 and 1914 there were over 5,200 bills enacted by Parliament which equates to a little more than one fifth of England (F. A. Sharman (1989). Emulating the former students of Rex, Andrew Robinson has been researching enclosure in Barton and Barrow and shares his discoveries to date from documentary sources and on the ground.
Friday 20 June, 7.30pm, Joseph Wright Hall
Discordant Noises – ‘riding the stang’ and ‘skimmington rides’
Dr. Andrew Walker, Chair of the Society for Lincolnshire History & Archaeology
This curious folk custom in Europe and North America throughout the nineteenth century involved crowds making as much noise as possible by beating on pots and pans or anything that came to hand, creating what was known as rough music. This is another chance to hear Andrew Walker explain how these events enabled communities to regulate themselves and impart their own “rough justice”.
Sunday 13 July, 10.30pm – 3.30pm, FREE, Wilderspin School Museum
Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat
The Civic Society joins with others at the Wilderspin School Museum and Holydyke air raid shelter to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in a day to remember life on the Home Front with displays, wartime vehicles, 1940s tearoom and vintage fair.
Friday 18 July, 8pm, Joseph Wright Hall
(following the Society’s AGM at 7.30pm and a short refreshment break)
A History of Hessle Cliff
Dr. Alex Ombler (Curator, Goole Museum) explores the natural, industrial and social history of Hessle Cliff from pre-history to the present day. A little-known place on the north bank of the Humber Estuary, the cliff forms the southern-most tip of the chalk Wolds of Yorkshire. While the cliff has been of immense interest to geologists, it was also a place of industry. Quarrying and lime burning took place from at least the medieval period and during the 17th century, it became an important site for shipbuilding. The Industrial Revolution brought new developments to the cliff, not least the establishment of a new permanent settlement. As industry declined during the late 20th century, the cliff underwent regeneration and emerged as a place of waterfront leisure and living.
Wednesday 13 August
Visit to Helmsley
Helmsley Archaeology Store holds the extensive archaeological collections and paper-based archives from English Heritage guardianship sites from the North of England including the counties of Northumberland, County Durham, Cumbria, Lancashire, Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire, Cheshire. The range of collections spans English history from Prehistory to the modern day, from flint, architectural stonework to ceramics and small artefacts. Material from St. Peter’s Church is also stored there.
Cost and details to be confirmed.
Heritage Open Days 2025
The festival runs from the 12th -21st and a Barton Programme will be published later in the year which will include:
Friday 12 September, 2pm, FREE, Joseph Wright Hall
East Hull Revisited
East Hull has a fascinating mix of old and new buildings including 14 Listed, two Garden Villages and the last of the City’s windmills. It also boasts an award-winning public park of 130 acres and a stately home. This is an area Colin Cooper knows well, and this informal discussion session is based on his many unique images of the buildings that have given East Hull its character including the houses, places of entertainment and, crucially, the workplaces where the likes of Rank-Hovis, Reckitt & Sons and Priesman Brother had their origins.
Sunday 14 September, 11am & 2pm, FREE
Victorian Barton
Discover the town’s Victorian legacy during this circular guided walk starting and ending at the Wilderspin School Museum. Ninety minutes tour with refreshments to finish. Car parking and toilets at the museum. Booking essential via The Ropewalk (01652) 660380
Friday 19 September, 7.30pm, Joseph Wright Hall
Barton to New Holland Flood Tidal Alleviation Scheme
Mark Adams, Environment Agency
Flooding is a long-standing problem for the communities of Barton, Barrow, and New Holland. Previous tidal flood incidents have impacted lives, businesses, and homes highlighting the need for improved tidal flood defences and for communities in the area to be better prepared. This presentation showcases the development and outline solution to reduce flood risk from the Humber Estuary around Barton-upon-Humber by Mark Adams, Senior Specialist with the Environment Agency, responsible for Flood & Coastal Risk Management, will be followed by an opportunity for questions.
Sunday 14 September, 2pm, FREE
Victorian Barton
Discover the town’s Victorian legacy during this circular guided walk starting and ending at the Wilderspin School Museum. Ninety minutes tour with refreshments to finish. Car parking and toilets at the museum. Booking essential via The Ropewalk (01652) 660380
Friday 17 October, 2pm*, Joseph Wright Hall
Turn and Face the Strange – a look at our changing flora and fauna
Dr. Jack Hatfield
Whether on our TV screens or in articles online or in print, the fact that the planet is changing rapidly is inescapable. But it is not just through reports that we see this change, we also experience it first hand in our towns, cities and villages. Jack Hatfield returns with an updated talk about how our flora, fauna and landscapes are changing and what this may mean for the future. The national and international trends will be considered but also what is happening in Barton and the surrounding region showing inter connectedness and how everyone can have an influence.
Friday 21 November, 2pm*, Joseph Wright Hall
In Conversation – O H Boyd and the Royal Coaches
O. H. Boyd
Local sculptor, illustrator and Woodcarver to the Palace O. H. Boyd returns to discuss his involvement with the Royal Coaches, carving the Imperial Crown centrepieces for the Royal Diamond Jubilee Coach ’Britannia’, and, more recently, for the new King’s Carriage.