ARCHAEOLOGY & HISTORY Programme for 2025.

The past is never dead. It’s not even past. All of us labour in webs spun long before we were born, webs of heredity and environment, of desire and consequence, of history and eternity.” William Faulkner - Requiem for a Nun.

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All lectures take place at The People Centre Raby Road 10.30 for 11.00 a.m. start, Field Trips details, will be notified nearer the date

It is your Group - If you have ideas for a field trip or hear of a lecture that would be of interest, please contact Chris McLoughlin.

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JANUARY 9th - We welcome back Frances Wilson who will give us a presentation on The Story Behind a Painting…..the amazing life of an ex Mayor of "Old Hartlepool in the C 19th featured in a work held by the Hartlepool Borough Council Art Gallery,

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FEBRUARY 13th. Bernard Hope returns to give an updated talk on the Lambton’s and the Penshaw Monument. Bernard delivered an updated version of his talk now including the comings and goings of the Lambtonians up to the modern day

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MARCH 13th,  Our first away trip of the year. 2025 marks the 200^th Anniversary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, which development triggered the start of the modern towns of the Hartlepools. We visited the new Hopetown site at North Rd Darlington, in keeping with the occasion we travelled by train  from town via Thornaby to the North Rd Station in Darlington travelling via both the Clarence and S&DR rail routes. A well worth trip to the multi-million pound development of North Road Station which includes updated Car Parking and access to the Skerne Bridge (featured on a recent issue of a blue fiver!), Allison our guide gave us a tour of the facilities and the history of the S & D.

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APRIL 10TH Lynn Lamport talks on “An arduous undertaking” The Golden age of Stage Coach travel when the only highways and byways pollution came from the horsepower of the day. This ties neatly with the Railway Anniversary as the train replace the stage coach.

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MAY 8TH "A Grand Day out in the 50s and 60s - A nostalgia talk by Frances Wilson.

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JUNE 12th - An away day to explore the Medieval Town of Newcastle which still has its Castle Keep, Town Walls and Franciscan Friary remains, sturdy footwear as parts of the walk can be over cobbles.

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July, 10^th, Archaeology day, Off by rail to the Roman Town of Corbridge,  Carole Soulsby from Tynedale U3A will give us a walking tour of Roman Corbridge and then into modern Corbridge.

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AUGUST 16TH SATURDAY

At the Central Hub in York Road between 2 and 4 pm the Ladies from the History Wardrobe will be presenting "THE HOUSEWIFE & WAR"

Book online www.hartlepool.gov.uk/community/hubs or within any community hub library.

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SEPTEMBER 11TH Triumph and Tragedy: Lawrence of Arabia and the unraveling of the Middle East a talk by Derek Potter giving us an insight into today's Middle East situation.

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SEPTEMBER 15th MONDAY

Durham Cathedral is fortunate to possess three issues of Magna Carta, including the only surviving 1216 issue and further engrossments from 1225 and 1300, along with three Forest Charters including one of only two surviving 1217 issues, and further issues from 1225 and 1300. Northumbria U3A has organised a Tour of the Charters and a guided tour of the Exhibition and Cathedral, details available from Chris Mcloughlin - flyer circulated to Arch. & History members 5th June.

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HERITAGE OPEN DAYS IN HARTLEPOOL DURING SEPTEMBER -Herewith a few early notices of Heritage visits in September

SEPTEMBER 15th MONDAY (10.A.M. TO 1.00 P..M) &

SATURDAY 13th SEPTEMBER (10.00 am to 3.00 pm)

(1) As part of the Heritage Open Days History festival ST JOHN THE BAPTIST church in GREATHAM is open to the pubic (gratis) at the times mentioned. Thanks to Wendy Borthwick for the information.

ALL SAINTS CHURCH, STRANTON VILLAGE, HARTLEPOOL

(2) David House has kindly advised us that All Saints will also be open for a Saturday all day and a Sunday afternoon during Heritage week, exact dates to be advised. Watch this space.

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OCTOBER 9th Elizabeth of Glamis – the Early Life of the Queen Mother

The images we remember most of the late Queen Mother are of the smiling ‘Nation’s Grandmother’ wearing a large feathery pastel-coloured hat and matching coat, and also the black-and-white photographs and newsreels of her visiting newly bombed streets in the East End of London during the War.  Less familiar are the images and story of the young Elizabeth, the mischievous little girl and very attractive debutante who went on to marry the man who became King.  This is that story.

NOVEMBER 13TH A Lecture by the Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway giving the background to the founding of the S & D Railway in 1825 and the effect it had on our region.

DECEMBER 11th "It's a wonderful life" Bernard Hope returns to present the story of the making of the popular Christmas Film "It's a wonderful life", which is of course based on Dickens "A Christmas Carol"

JANUARY 8th 2026

Before the Ward Jackson Park area was developed the area of Hutton Avenue, was considered the place to live. Frances Wilson will give a talk on the development of the Avenue and the immediate area.

FEBRUARY 12TH - WATCH THIS SPACE

MARCH 12TH - Gary Bankhead returns to give a talk on a subject to be announced - more news to follow.

“Never let your schooling interfere with your education” (Mark Twain)

• ST GEORGE
• Hartlepool History Then & Now
• Rugby Football History in the District
• Tees Archaeological Society
• Tees Archaeology

See below for a list of all groups