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EMIAC

East Midlands Industrial Archaeology Conference.

 

Heritage Days      These are held twice a year and are open to anyone with an interest in IA or related Historical subjects. The first meeting was held in 1970 with the idea of enabling industrial archaeologists in the East Midlands to get together in different locations to consider topics of mutual interest. No formal organisation exists, but each meeting is organised in turn by one of the sponsoring organisations. Apart from NIAG these are

 

Derbyshire Archaeology Society                                         Leicestershire Industrial History Society    

Nottinghamshire Industrial Archaeology Society                Railway & Canal Historical Society – East Midlands Group

                                                      Society for Lincolnshire History & Archaeology    

 

 

Next meeting.  Saturday 18th October 2008

 

Wellingborough     “An Industrious Town”.

 

 

Wellingborough is set on a hill almost ringed-in byflowing waters; it stands on one of the richest ironstone beds of the county of Northamptonshire at the point where the River Ise joins the Nene.

 

 

Speakers

 

David Saint, author, broadcaster, actor and local historian, gives an overview of the growth of Wellingborough, which covers historical aspects on buildings, industrial development, social changes and personalities that have contributed to this historic industrial market town.

 

Peter Butler, railway historian and author, will trace the history of the first arrival of a railway in the town in 1845. Its importance in being halfway between the coalfields of the Derbyshire/Nottingham area and London led to large locomotive depots and marshalling yards.

 

Sally Muldowney, a local historian and industrial archaeologist, traces the rise and fall of iron founders and furnace owners

Thomas Butlin and Co Ltd, who developed furnaces in Wellingborough following a visit to the Great Exhibition in 1851.

 

Duncan Ellison is former Head of Art at Wellingborough School; he will give an overview of this historic school since its formation in 1595 and its development on its current site since 1881.

 

Afternoon guided walks: There will a choice of walks around Wellingborough to illustrate the town’s history. Industrial sites will include the former boot and shoe factories, one of which - now the town’s museum - started off life as Dulley’s

swimming baths. Among the alternative visits is the 20th century Church of St Mary the Virgin, designed by Ninian Comper and described by Betjeman as the finest modern parish church in England.

 

Programme

 

8:00 Hall opens for organisers and speakers

 

9:00 Registration and coffee

 

9:45 Welcome and Introduction

 

10:00 Wellingborough: A Sense of Place, David Saint

 

10:45 Railways of Wellingborough, Peter Butler

11:20 Coffee

11:50 Any Old Iron: History of Butlin’s Furnaces, Sally Muldowney

 

12:30 History of Wellingborough School  Duncan Ellison

 

13:00 EMIAC Business Meeting and Lunch

 

14:15 Walking tours around the town, the school, etc. (in groups)

 

16:00 Tea and depart

 

Exhibits, photographs and projects will be displayed by Society members throughout the day.

 

 

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