"The Trent Valley: Advancing the Research Strategy" - Third Trent Valley GeoArchaeology Conference 2009

A one-day conference exploring the results of recent research into the landscape and archaeology of the Trent Valley is being held on 18th November 2009 at the British Geological Survey in Keyworth.

Further information at http://www.tvg.bham.ac.uk/conference.htm.

Roman well found near Bingham

A stone-lined Roman well has been uncovered near Bingham by archaeologists working on the dualling of the A46. Further details are available on the Nottingham Evening Post website:

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/homenews/Roman-A46-works/article-1353567-detail/article.html

Strongholds and mansions: castles in Nottinghamshire

The Nottinghamshire Local History Association is holding an event on Nottinghamshire castles on 24th October 2009 at the village hall in Oxton. The programme include:

• The castle in the landscape (David Mercer)
• Castles of Nottinghamshire: a thematic approach to recent fieldwork (James Wright)
• Seen and unseen: landscape narratives and fresh perspectives on Laxton castle (Keith Challis)
• Nottingham Castle: 'Noble Pallace of the Duke of Newcastle' (Trevor Foulds)

Contact: Mrs M Woodhead, 12 Church Street, Edwinstowe, Mansfield, Notts NG21 9QA.

The Nottinghamshire Historian, Autumn/Winter 2009

The latest edition of The Nottinghamshire Historian has just popped through my letterbox. Articles include:

• A new map of Sherwood Forest
• Did a Keyworth man meet Napoleon?
• The Somme, Nottingham and the local press
• Diary of events

Further details on the Local Historian website:

• http://www.local-history.co.uk/nlha/nottshistn.html

Lunchtime talks at Nottinghamshire Archives

Details of forthcoming lunchtime talks, promoting the 60th anniversary of the opening of Nottinghamshire Archives, have been published on the County Council website:

• www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/home/leisure/archives/archivesevents.htm

Subjects include:

• Rufford Abbey and the Savile family (14 October 2009)
• Researching parish church histories in the Nottinghamshire Archives (28 October 2009)
• The workhouse and its records (11 November 2009)
• Discovering Nottingham's architectural heritage (25 November 2009)

Talks start at 1pm and cost £3.50 per person.

Worksop Heritage Trail launched

A fantastic new online resource for anyone interested in Worksop's history was officially launced by Sir Andrew Buchanan on Saturday. The website contains a series of illustrated essays on aspects of the town's history and also essays on the Dukery estates (Clumber, Thoresby, Worksop Manor, Welbeck and Rufford abbey). You can also view over 2000 photographs from Bassetlaw Museum's collections.

The project also includes the publication of a 20-page guide book and the setting-up of five interpretation boards at strategic points around the town.

• www.worksopheritagetrail.org.uk/

Heritage and Conservation News, Summer 2009

I've only just stumbled across the latest edition of the County Council Community Department's Heritage and Conservation News. Contents include:

• Southwell Roman villa
• Worksop Heritage Trail
• Jacksdale war memorial and community archaeology
• Medieval Sherwood Forest map
• Mansfield Woodhouse ‘Little Big Dig’
• Heritage events over the Summer

Download from: www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/heritagenews.pdf

Open day at Beauvale Priory

Just returned from a fascinating afternoon wandering around the ruins of the Carthusian priory of Beauvale, a couple of miles north-east of Eastwood. The site was made accessible as part of the Heritage Open Days initiative. The current owners have restored the farmhouse (which has lost its render revealing timber framing with brick in-filling) and at long last a start has been made on conserving the priory thanks to funding from English Heritage (see http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.21048 for further information).

The priory was founded in the 1343 by local lord, Nicholas de Cantilupe. The Carthusians were the strictest of any of the religious orders and each monk lived in his own separate dwelling, and none of them were allowed to go out of the bounds of the monastery except the priors and proctors, and they only to attend to the necessary affairs of the house. They were enjoined to study, and to work with their hands, their labour consisting in cultivating the fields and gardens, and in transcribing books.