Meetings

A talk by Ben Richardson. It is tempting to locate British Imperialism in the territories under British rule or in major ports such as London, Bristol and Liverpool. In doing so, provincial centres have tended to slip off the map. This talk aims to uncover 'Middle England', using Leamington Spa as a case study to …

A talk by Charlie Plain-Jones. Not Charles Darwin, who was really rather boring, but his fascinating grandfather, Dr Erasmus Darwin of Lichfield. An internationally known 'Natural Philosopher' and polymath who not only founded the famous Lunar Society but also propounded a Theory of Evolution almost a hundred years before the 'On the Origin of Species' …

A talk by Aaron Manning. The killer of a royal favourite, enemy of a king. This biographical talk delves deep into story of Guy Beauchamp, earl of Warwick (1272-1315), the accursed ‘Black Dog’ to Edward II and his favourite Piers Gaveston, exploring the story of their rivalry and how the earl’s mighty local powerbase enabled …

A talk by Trevor Langley. The fascinating history behind Puckering's Lane in Warwick - a short road with a big story to tell. It is the key to unlocking some of the long disappeared secrets of the rich and famous people who owned and lived in Warwick Priory , especially the Puckering family, whose sole …

Please note that this meeting is only open to members of Lapworth History Group. A talk by Steve O'Grady. The West Midlands Police Museum in Birmingham once housed several individuals who were labelled as Peaky Blinders by the press and the talk will highlight some of their stories and dispel some of the myths about …

A talk by Stephen Barker. This fully illustrated talk looks at the impact of the First World War Armistice and the legacy of the war in local communities. How was the Armistice celebrated? What happened when soldiers returned home? How did families manage in the immediate aftermath? Emphasis is placed on individual soldiers and families' …

A talk by Martin Green The Glover family in Warwick has a notable history in engineering and manufacturing.  William Glover & Sons was founded by James William Glover, a prominent agricultural engineer and manufacturer in Warwick. The company eventually became The Eagle Manufacturing Company and later Dennis Eagle, which still operates today. Another branch of …

A talk by David Patterson The Talk recounts how two widowed ladies of the Warwickshire gentry, in similar circumstances, 100 years apart, ran the same 8,000 acre estate, on behalf of their young sons and contributed substantially both to the family fortunes and the well being of the area. Lady Elizabeth Newdigate in the 1730's …

A talk by Aaron Manning This talk reveals for the first time the forgotten state visit of Henry VIII to Warwick in September 1511. Drawing on archival research, this talk will cast light on a lost chapter of Warwick's history, evidence for the King's itinerary in the town and why a visit from England's most …

A talk by Jill Kashi Mary Dormer Harris was a Warwickshire woman to her core. Born in the village of Stoneleigh in 1867, she became a local historian of repute in her own lifetime and has left a legacy that endures to this day through her academic work, as an educator, suffragist, heritage campaigner, dramatist …