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Local Festival of History

Most talks, events and exhibitions are free to attend, however a suggested donation of £1 person would be greatly appreciated to assist in the funding of hiring the venues.

Most, but not all venues will have refreshments such as Tea and Coffee available to purchase, with all proceeds going to support the venue.

Please be aware that sadly, not all venues are suitable for those with mobility issues. Please enquire via email to eddie.smallwood@btinternet.com for details.

All the speakers, presenters and exhibitors have kindly donated their time for free as have the staff at each venue. This is to enable a ‘Local Festival of History’, showcasing the vast amount of history and heritage that North Warwickshire has to offer for residents and visitors alike to take place.

Please support the festival however you feel able, so that it can be repeated each year, taking in yet more special places, more wonderful stories and more famous people of North Warwickshire.

Thank you all. Eddie Smallwood.

Friday 8th September 10.30am – 4.00pm
‘PICTURES OLD & NEW OF NORTH WARWICKSHIRE.’
Atherstone Heritage Centre, 51, Long Street Atherstone, CV9 1AZ
‘A rolling display of photographs, by John Parton. Members of the Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society will be present to talk about researching Family History.

Saturday 9th September 7.00pm – 10.00pm
‘A MEDIEVAL BANQUET WITH THEMED ENTERTAINMENT’
Red Lion Hotel, Long Street, Atherstone. CV9 1BB
‘Enjoy a medieval banquet with entertainment. Payment required for this event.

Sunday 10th September 10.30am – 4.00pm
‘OPEN DAY AT ST LEONARD’S CHURCH, OVER WHITACRE’ / ‘A HISTORY OF ST LEONARD’S CHURCH’
St Leonard’s Church, Nuneaton Road, Over Whitacre B46 2NS
‘The Church will be open and there will be a small display by members of Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Group who will be on hand to help with Family History enquiries.
At 3.00pm the will be a talk on the history of the Church by Rita Poulson.

Monday 11th September 1.30pm – 2.30pm
‘THE STORY OF THE MANCETTER MARTYRS’
Atherstone Library, Long Street, Atherstone, CV9 1AX
‘The story behind two Mancetter residents, martyred for their faith’ Eddie Smallwood.

Thursday 14th September 11.30am & 2.00pm
‘MIDDLETON HALL TOUR’
Middleton Hall, Middleton, Tamworth B78 1DT
Take a tour around this historic building as an included offer, courtesy of the trustees when buying a standard admission ticket (Booking essential via the Middleton Hall website)

Thursday 14th September 7.15pm for 7.30pm start
‘A TOUR OF NORTH WARWICKSHIRE IN PICTURES OLD & NEW’
Presented by John Parton, this is a Zoom presentation organised by Nuneaton & North Warwickshire Family History Society to enable those who cannot attend other talks to be part of the story of the area. Booking is free and places are limited.
To book, go via https://www.facebook.com/nnwfhs booking open from 1st September.

Sunday 17th September 7.00pm
‘LIFE OF A HATTER’
Red Lion Hotel, Long Street, Atherstone. CV9 1BB
The story of one man and his life as a Hatter in Atherstone factories. Derrick Smith.

Monday 18th September 1.30pm
‘THE PUBS OF ATHERSTONE’
Atherstone Library, Long Street, Atherstone. CV9 1AX
The fascinating history of the pubs of Atherstone. Rob Higgins.
Monday 18th September 7.00pm
‘BOUDICA AT MANCETTER: WHERE’S THE EVIDENCE?’
Bracebridge Room, St Peter’s Church, Mancetter. CV9 1NJ
‘Find out the current status of evidence for the likelihood that Boudica’s last battle was fought at Mancetter.’ Margaret Hughes.

Tuesday 19th September 1.00pm
‘TOUR OF ST MARYS CHURCH, ATHERSTONE’
St Mary’s Church, Market Street, Atherstone CV9 1EX
‘Visit the Church and take a tour to find out more about this important building.’ Yvonne Stone.

Tuesday 19th September 7.30pm
‘ATHERSTONE THEN AND NOW’
‘A look in pictures at the town back then in comparison to it today’. Rob Higgins.
Trinity Church, Coleshill Road, Atherstone. CV9 1BN

Wednesday 20th September 1.30pm – 4.30pm and 2.00pm – 4.00pm
‘LOCAL COLLECTIONS OPEN DAY’ (1.30PM – 4.30PM)
‘LOCAL FAMILY HISTORY’ (2.00PM – 4.00PM)
Atherstone Library, Long Street, Atherstone CV91AX
‘A display of local resources and help with family history enquiries.’ Library staff and Val Pickard.

Wednesday 20th September 2.00pm
‘MICHAEL DRAYTON. ATHERSTONE’S FAMOUS ELIZABETHAN POET’
Bracebridge Room, St Peter’s Church, Mancetter. CV9 1NJ Brenda Evans.

Wednesday 20th September 7.30pm
‘THE STORY OF THE HISTORIC MANCETTER & ATHERSTONE GUILDS’
Bracebridge room, St Peter’s Church, Mancetter. CV9 1NJ. Dr Andrew Watkins.

Thursday 21st September 11.00am
‘HATTING IN ATHERSTONE’
‘A display and talk about the importance of the hatting industry in Atherstone.’ Sheila Johnson.
Atherstone Heritage Centre, 51, Long Street, Atherstone. CV9 1AZ

Thursday 21st September. 1.30pm
‘ATHERSTONE AND THE SEA’
St Mary’s Church, Market Street, Atherstone. CV9 1EX
‘Find out how ‘Land Locked’ Atherstone has historical connections to the sea’. David Stone.

Thursday 21st September. 2.00pm
‘FOUR STORIES SPANNING TWELVE CENTURIES’
‘A talk about how just four stories have spread across over 1,000 years of history.’ Margaret Henley.
Polesworth Library, Bridge Street, Polesworth. B78 1DT

Thursday 21st September 6.00pm
‘RIII PAINTING – THE UNVEILING’
‘A new painting of RIII by artist Angie Spencer will be unveiled to the invited audience and will be preceded by a talk entitled ‘Every Picture tells a story’.’ by Eddie Smallwood
Red Lion Hotel, Long Street, Atherstone. CV9 1BB

Friday 22nd September 1.00pm
‘THE STORY OF FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE’
Bracebridge room, St Peter’s Church, Mancetter. CV9 1NJ
‘A talk on how Florence and Atherstone are connected.’ Yvonne Stone.

Friday 22nd September. 7.30pm
‘MONWODE LEA & THE GHOST OF NANCY SMITH’
Over Whitacre Village Hall, Nuneaton Road, Coleshill. B46 2NG
‘Hear the story about Monwode Lea and the tragedy that befell Nancy Smith’. Rita Poulson.

Saturday 23rd September 11.00am – 2.00pm
‘HERITAGE GROUP RESEARCH EXHIBITION’
‘An exhibition detailing the work that went into local research of the area’
Warton Village Hall.2, Austrey, Road, Warton. B79 0HY

Sunday 24th September 12.00noon – 5.00pm
‘ATHERSTONE PARTNERSHIP AFTERNOON OF HISTORY ‘
Market Square Market Street, Atherstone. CV9 1ET
‘Visit the Market Square and step back in time to different eras of history.’ Atherstone Partnership.

Sunday 24th September 7.00pm
‘ARE YOU SITTING COMFORTABLY…?’
Bracebridge room, St Peter’s Church, Mancetter. CV9 1NJ
‘A series of gentle tales spun for Atherstone’s History, with readings from the 2005 book ‘Once Upon a Time in Atherstone’ read by the author.’ Margaret Hughes.

Wednesday 27th September (To be confirmed)
‘LOCAL LISTING HERITAGE AWARENESS’
Atherstone Council Offices, South Street, Atherstone. CV9 1DE
‘Find out more about how you can help preserve the heritage of the area.’ Jen Leadbetter.

Wednesday 27th September 7.30pm
‘THE ROMANS AT MANCETTER & THE BATTLE OF WATLING STREET’
St Peter’s Church, Church Road, Witherley. CV9 3NA
‘A talk about the claim that Boudica fought her last battle at Mancetter and learn more about the Roman soldiers who were stationed at Mancetter some years earlier.’ Eddie Smallwood.

OTHER EVENTS RUNNING DURING THE FESTIVAL PERIOD.
Monday 18th September until Saturday 23rd September.
‘HERITAGE THEMED ART EXHIBITION’
Bracebridge room, St Peter’s Church, Mancetter. CV9 1NJ
‘Local artists have submitted works of art with a heritage theme which will be exhibited between 10.30am and 2.30pm’

Monday 18th September until Saturday 23rd September.
‘THE ROMAN MANCETTER PROJECT EXHIBITION’
St Peter’s Church, Mancetter. CV9 1NJ
‘Visit the exhibition to see artefacts, models and information boards detailing the claim that Boudica fought her last battle against the Romans in the area of Mancetter.’ 10.30am until 2.30pm
.

 

Starts

Friday 8 September 2023, 10:30 (Europe/London)

Ends

Monday 18 September 2023, 17:00 (Europe/London)

Organiser

The Atherstone Partnership