New Nottinghamshire Heritage Gateway entry on railways in Nottinghamshire

I've added a section to the Nottinghamshire Heritage Gateway website on how to go about researching the history of railways in the county. The introduction offers an overview of railway developments, from the construction of Midland Counties Railway's line from Derby to Nottingham in 1839 to the opening of the East Midlands Parkway Station near Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station in 2009. I've also produced a series of maps of the railway network in 1880, 1922, 1946 and 2010 to demonstrate the rapid growth of the lines in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and the dramatic shrinkage of the network by the close of the last century.

• www.nottsheritagegateway.org.uk/themes/railways.htm

The Road to Fotheringhay, 21st - 29th July 2010

Wakefield Historical Society is organising a journey starting this week to commemorate the 550th anniversary of the death of Richard, Duke of York, at the Battle of Wakefield in 1460. The journey will follow the route along which his body was later taken for reburial from Pontefract to Fotheringhay, staying each night at the places where the body rested. The Nottinghamshire section of the journey include the following events:

Friday 23^rd July 2010 at the Church of St Mary and St Martin, Blyth

6 pm Vespers of the Dead

6.30 pm Talk Seeing salvation and sacred imagery at Blyth Priory Church by Dr Jenny Alexander

Saturday 24th July 2010

Morning walk west of Retford

Two-mile walk led by local historian Joan Board, along a most atmospheric section of the route to the west of Retford, little altered by the developments of the last centuries but part of the main road to London at the period of Richard's funeral. Two ancient inns with a colourful history, now private houses, mark the start and finish of the walk. The walk is open to anyone, but please contact us in advance to arrange final times and place to meet on 01924 373658.

At the Church of St Nicholas, Tuxford le Clay

6 pm Vespers of the Dead

6.30 pm Talk Laxton - a medieval agricultural survival by Professor John Beckett

Sunday 25th July 2010

Afternoon walk at North Muskham

Walk led by local historian Madge Brown and the North Muskham History Group from North Muskham to South Muskham just north of Newark. The walk is open to anyone, but please contact us in advance to arrange final times and place to meet on 01924 373658.

At the Church of St Mary Magdalene, Newark

6 pm Vespers of the Dead

6.30 pm Talk Medieval Pilgrimage by Dr David Marcombe

See the Road to Fotheringhay website for further information.