Events Programme

2023/24 Winter Programme starts on 13th October

Winter Programme

The Committee has organised a number of talks for the winter months catering for a wide range of interests.

These meetings will be held on a Friday evening in the Garden Room at St Matthews Church Hall, off Kettering Road Northampton (car park entrance in The Drive). Meetings commence at 7.30 pm and are free to NIAG members.

We welcome visitors to all our meetings; there is a charge of £3.00 per person per meeting.

Potential new members are always welcome at any of these meetings when you can join on the night.

Winter Programme 2023/24

13th October
Water and Steam Mills of Northamptonshire
Hugh Howes

Despite the loss of many historic mills, Northamptonshire nevertheless contains interesting survivors, including some mills of regional significance.  Today, the county is home to a substantial part of the nation's modern flour producing industry with both Whitworth Bros Ltd and Heygates Ltd having their headquarters here.

10th November
NIAG Annual General Meeting
this will be followed at approximately 7.45 pm by
A Brief History of Lime and Cement in the Rugby Area
John Frearson

This talk covers the history from the 1700s and a little technology, including the first Walker lime works in 1776, the 1865 ‘cement’ works and its later development.  A 'competitor' – soon bankrupt and taken over; and the purchases of works in the 1930s and later takeovers.  Then briefly the later story into the 2000s.

1st December
'Any Old Iron'
Jon-Paul Carr

The history of the Butlin family and their ironstone smelting furnaces at Wellingborough.  They were among the first to exploit the 'rediscovered' deposits of iron ore in Northamptonshire in the 1850s.

12th January 2024
Members' Evening

Our annual presentation by members of NIAG is expected, as usual, to cover a diverse range of topics. Members wishing to make a contribution are invited to contact the Secretary by email beforehand.

9th February
Philip Manfield
Izabela Robinson

This talk will cover the life and legacy of Sir Philip Moses Manfield (1819-1899) who established the first factory footwear manufacturing business in Northampton and pioneered the use of machinery in boot and shoe production.  His contribution to the establishment and growth of the footwear manufacturing industry is intricately linked to the history of Northampton itself.

8th March
From Underground to Countryside
Terry Waterfield

Based on the speaker's experience as an employee, the talk covers the evolution of the Plessey Company from its early years as an 'assembler of electronic components', to a research and development organisation developing new technologies based in Ilford.  The advent of the Second World War necessitated the company's relocation to Northamptonshire.

 

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Programme Notes

Archived winter programmes

Details of previous programmes can be seen by following the links below.

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Summer Programme

Details of the Summer Programme will be available in the new year (April).

Archived summer programmes

Details of previous programmes can be seen by following the links below.

For a summary, including images, of the summer events click here for the Photo Gallery page.

Click here to refresh the page.

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