What's new

Please check the relevant websites and social media for confirmation and last-minute changes to the events listed here.

Chester House Estate

April dates: 24 and 29 at 2.00pm  Tours of the ARC (Archaeological Resource Centre), FREE but please book via the website.

The Chester House Estate is near Irchester in Northamptonshire. Go to www.chesterhouseestate.org.uk for more information and booking.

Online Talk: The Roman road network around Sandy, Bedfordshire

Thursday 24 April, 7.30pm - 9.00pm

Roman Roads Research Association FREE Zoom talk by Mike Luke of Albion Archaeology. Go to www.eventbrite.co.uk for more information and to book a place.

Finedon Local Historical Society Talks 2025

Monday 24 April The Notorious Culworth Gang by Richard Blacklee.
Monday 19 May Suffragettes and Suffragists by John Buckell.
Monday 23 June Strawbear to Squirt by Susan Copperwheat.
Monday 28 July To the Manor Born by Derek Blunt.

Talks are at 7.30pm in the Mission Room, Well Street, Finedon, NN9 5JP. FLHS members £2.50, visitors £3.50. Go to www.tingdenetofinedon.co.uk for more information.

Higham Chichele Society Talks 2025

Friday 25 April Suffragettes and suffragists in Northamptonshire by John Buckenell and AGM.
Friday 30 May Steaming up the valley by Roy York.
Friday 27 June An alphabetical journey through Northamptonshire by Derek Blunt.
Friday25 July Northampton's Victorian inventors and inventions by John Paul Carr.
Friday 29 August Bog bodies by David Brown.
Friday 26 September Living in the Middle East by Paul Mackay.
Friday 31 October Six of Higham's men you may have forgotten by Richard Oberman.
Friday 28 November History of Christmas food by Ria Jefferies.

Talks start at 9.30am, doors open at 9.00am, in the Bede House, Higham Ferrers. Members £3, Visitors £4, includes refreshments, new members welcome. Go to www.highamchichelesociety.co.uk for more information. The annual subscription is £5 and due at the May meeting.

Middle Nene Archaeological Group (MidNAG)

Friday 25 April Identifying Iron Age Pottery

Meetings at 7.30pm in Fletton House, Fletton Way, Glapthorn Road, Oundle PE8 4JA. Go to www.midnag.org.uk or Facebook for more information.

Higham Ferrers 2025 Events

Saturday 26 at 7.30pm HF Arts Weekend: Wellingborough Community Gospel Choir in St. Marys Church, tickets available now. www.artsweekendhigham.com
Sunday 27 April at 2.00pm HF Arts Weekend: Gardeners' Question Time in the Bede House, tickets available now. www.artsweekendhigham.com
Thursday 8 May VE Day Beacon lighting on the Market Square at 9.30pm.
Saturday 31 May Chichele Garden Fair.
Saturday 7 - Sunday 15 June Great Big Green Week.
Sunday 15 June Open Gardens.
Friday 11 July Music Night in Chichele College.
Saturday 13 September Horticultural Show in Chichele College.
September tbc Heritage Day at Rushden Lakes 11.00am-5.00pm.
Autumn Fashion Show.
Sunday 9 November Service of Remembrance on the Market Square at 10.45am.
Saturday 22 November Sparkle 11.00am-6.00pm, lights switch on at 5.00pm.

Go to the Higham Ferrers Tourism website, Facebook and highamferrers-tc.gov.uk for for more information about these events. Farmers' markets on the last Saturday morning of the month on the Market Square.

Naseby Battlefield Interactive Tours

Sunday 27 April.
Saturday 17 and Saturday 31 May.
Saturday 7, Wednesday 11, Thursday 12, Friday 13, Saturday 14 and Sunday 22 June.

Walk in the footsteps of those who took part in the Battle of Naseby in 1645. Tours last 4 hours and prices start at £25, booking essential. Go to www.naseby.com for more information.

Northamptonshire Heritage Forum

Sunday 27 April 2025, 10.00am-4.00pm Heritage Fair Northamptonshire North at Chester House Estate.

Go to www.northamptonshireheritageforum.co.uk for more information about events and membership.

Abington Park Museum in Northampton 2025

Sunday 27 April at 2.00pm.

Volunteer-led tours of the Museum, £3.50 each person, booking essential. Go to www.northamptonmuseums.com for more information about tours and exhibitions at Abington Park Museum.

Irthlingborough Historical Society 2025

Tuesday 29 April at 7.00pm Our Changing High Street by Alan Mayes

Go to www.erdiburn.org for more information.

Earls Barton

Until Tuesday 29 April, 10.00am - 9.00pm Halo exhibition in All Saints Church.
Thursday 8 May Celebration of VE Day at Jeyes - memorabilia exhibition and cream teas.
Friday 16 May at 7.30pm Earls Barton Heritage Group meeting in the library Earls Barton Carnival Through the Ages with Iona Flanagan.

Delapré Abbey Events and Tours 2025

Wednesday 30 April, Thursday 29 May and Sunday 22 June Medieval Tour.
Friday 6 - Saturday 7 June Divorced, Beheaded, Died An Audience with King Henry VIII - live theatre production.

Go to www.delapreabbey.org for more information and ticket details for the tours, Family Fun Days, Friends of Northampton Castle Play Days, and other events. Delapre Abbey is on the outskirts of Northampton, NN4 8AW, car parking is FREE.

Stanwick Lakes 2025

Thursday 1 - Saturday 31 May 9.30am-5.00pm The HERDS - Animal Travels Exhibition, trail and puppet workshops.
Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 May 10.00am-4.30pm Gathering of Kings Viking living history encampments, trader and refreshement stalls, battle competitions, axe throwing and archery.
Monday 5 - Sunday 11 May 9.30am-5.00pm Finale Exhibition: A Heritage Celebration Discover 10,000 years of Stanwick Lakes through a week-long photographic exhibition in the Visitor Centre.

Go to www.stanwicklakes.org.uk for more information. 

Raunds & District History Society Talks 2025

Thursday 1 May Lotions, Potions & Dubious Cures by Susan Copperwheat. 

Talks start at 7.30pm in Raunds Library, £3 includes refereshments, all welcome.

British Museum Exhibitions

1 May - 7 September 2025 Hiroshige: artist of the open road.
22 May - 19 October 2025 Ancient India: living tradition.
Until 29 June 2025 War rugs: Afghanistan's knotted history.

British Museum, Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3DG. Go to www.britishmuseum.org for more information.

Kettering Civic Society Talks 2025

Friday 2 May Skeletons from a Medieval Cemetery at Newton near Geddington by Dale Munn.
Friday 6 June Wallis & Linnell film
Friday 4 July A Walk around Kettering Martin Rose.

Talks are at 7.30pm in Village Hall, Barton Seagrave. Visitors £6.

Peterborough Museum 2025

Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday Priestgate Vaults Tours.

Go to www.peterboroughmuseum.org for more information about events and tours.

Olney Archaeological Society Talks 2025

Tuesday 6 May Britains's Pompeii - 3 centuries of Fen Research by Dr Micholas James.
Tuesday 20 May The Harpole Burial: new discovery of a 7th century bed burial.

Lectures are at the Olney Centre, Olney in Buckinghamshire, 10.00am-12.00 noon. Note that some lectures are remote and will be shown on screen. Price £4 for visitors, go to www.mkheritage.org.uk/oas/ for more information and membership.

Stanwick Lakes, Tea & Talks 2025

Tuesday 6 May Railway stations of the old East Northants District Council by Eric Franklin.
Tuesday 13 May Maritime Archaeology by Mike Curtis.
Tuesday 20 May Home Guard in Northamptonshire.

Go to www.stanwicklakes.org.uk for information and to book a place. Talks start at 2.00pm, prices £8-£18.50 dependent on refreshment option.

Waendel Walk

Friday 9 - Sunday 11 May 2025

The 44th International Walk hosted by Wellingborough. Go to www.wellingboroughtowncouncil.gov.uk for more information.

Oundle Historical Society Talks 2025

Friday 9 May Hidden Historic Gems in Northamptonshire by Martin Izzard.
Wednesday 11 June Visit to Little Gidding.
Saturday 12 July Visit to Lilford Hall.
Friday 12 September Nene Valley Dresses 1750-1950 Sharn Matthews.
Friday 10 October Cotterstock Hall and its owners 1650-1820 by David Bond.
Friday 14 November BB's Summer on the Nene by David Osborne.

Talks start at 7.30pm in Oundle Methodist Church, Drummingwell Lane, Oundle. Visitors £5. Go to www.oundlehistoricalsociety.org.uk for more information.

UNAS Spring Conference 2025: The Craft and Manufacture of Goods in Ancient Britain

Sunday 11 May 2025 10.15am-4.30pm

Sticks and Stones: A geologists view of tool-making by Jill Eyers, Chiltern Archaeology.
Pottery for the Masses: the Romano British potters of the Upper Nene Valley by Adam Sutton, Aurelius Archaeology.
Roman Glass by Caroline Jackson, Sheffield University.
Moneta: the coinage of Roman Britain by Paddy Lambert, Oxford Archaeology East.

At Hackleton Village Hall, Chapel Lane, Hackleton, Northampton NN7 2AH. Go to www.unas.org.uk for more information, £25 for UNAS members, £35 for non-members, booking essential (please book by Tuesday 6 May).

ISE-Dig Talks 2025

Wednesday 14 May Murder and Mayhem in Medieval Leicester by Matthew Morris.

Talks start at 7.30pm and are held in St Andrew's Church Rooms, Crown Street, Kettering, NN16 8QA. ISE members £4, visitors £5, all welcome. Go to www.ise-dig.co.uk for more information.

Discover Northamptonshire Visitor Hub at Rushden Lakes 2025

Friday 16 May, Friday 15 August and Friday 17 October, 10.30am-1.30pm Finds Day with Northamptonshire Finds Liaison Officer Eleanore Cox.

FREE drop-in session at the Tourism Hub near the entrance to Cineworld, Rushden Lakes.

Rushden & District History Society Talks 2025

Friday 16 May AGM.
Friday 20 June That's Unusual by Derek Blunt.
Friday 18 July Roman Pottery by Paul Smith. 

Talks start at 7.30pm at Whitefriars School, Boughton Drive, Rushden NN10 9HX. Visitors welcome, £2.50 on the door. Go to www.rdhs.org.uk for more information.

Wrest Park 2025

Mondays 19 May, 2 and 16 June, 7 and 21 July, 4 and 18 August, 8 and 22 September, 6 and 20 October. Archaeological Collections Store Tours starting at 11.00am and 1.00pm.

Wrest Park is in Silsoe, Bedfordshire, MK45 4HR. Go to www.english-heritage.org.uk for more information, prices and opening times.

CBA online talks 2025

Wednesday 21 May In Conversation: Introduction to Safeguarding.

Go to www.archaeologyuk.org for more information about the Council for British Archaeology online talks.

Northampton Museum & Art Gallery Talks 2025

Thursday 22 May Women's Philanthropy and the Northampton Boot & Shoe Industry by Kathrina Perry.
Thursday 5 June The Commonwealth War Graves Commission by Terry Whenham.
Thursday 19 June Walt Disney - The struggles of a legend by Steve Dimmer.

Thursday morning talks start at 10.30am, price £3.50, booking essential. Go to www.northamptonmuseums.com for more information and tickets.

Northampton Museum & Art Gallery

Saturday 24 May - Sunday 7 September 2025 A British Museum Touring Exhibition: Gladiators of Britain.
Starts in September 2025 A History of Northamptonshire in 100 Objects.

Go to www.northamptonmuseums.com and www.britishmuseum.org for more information.

Great Fire of Northampton anniversary

Thursday 29 May Oak Apple Day Parade, followed by a service at All Saints Church, Northampton.

It has been 350 years since the Great Fire of Northampton, see local press for more information nearer the time.

Finds Day at Daventry Museum

Friday 13 June 2025.

Northamptonshire Finds Officer Eleanore Cox will be at Daventry Museum, free but you'll need to book a 15 minute time slot by email.

Rockingham Castle

Sunday 15 June Jousting and Medieval Village.
Sunday 20 July English Civil War Day.

Go to www.rockinghamcastle.com for more information.

Irchester Field School Learning Programme 2025

Monday 16 June - Friday 4 July

Go to www.chesterhouseestate.org.uk for more information about the Irchester Field School run in partnership with the ARC and the University of Leicester. Bookings already being taken.

Burton Latimer Heritage Society

Until Saturday 28 June Exhibition: Hitting the Right Note, a history of music in Burton Latimer.

At the Harold Mason Centre, 120 High Street, Burton Latimer, NN15 5RH. Every Thursday and Saturday 10.00am-1.00pm, free entry.

Roman Fest 2025

Saturday 28 - Sunday 29 June

Go to www.chesterhouseestate.org.uk for more information about 2025 events.

Conference: Voices of the Marginalised in History

Friday 7 and Saturday 8 July Keynote speaker: Dr Liam Liburd, Durham University.

University of Northampton centre for Historical Studies, Waterside Campus, Northampton, NN1 5PH.

Sulgrave Manor & Garden 2025

Opens Sundays, Mondays & Tuesdays until 30 September, 10.30am-4.00pm.
July Exhibition: Tudor Gowns.
Sunday 6 July Independence Day Celebrations.

Sulgrave Manor, Manor Road, Sulgrave, Banbury, OX17 2SD. Go to www.sulgravemanor.org.uk for more information.

CBA Festival of Archaeology 2025

Saturday 19 July - Sunday 3 August

Theme: Archaeology and Wellbeing. Go to www.archaeologyuk.org for more information nearer the time.

Heritage Open Days 2025

Saturday 13 September Lamport Hall.

Go to website for more information.

CBAEM Conference 2025: Fieldwalking: past, present ... and future?

Wednesday 24 September at Grantham's Guildhall.

Oundle Museum 2025

Museum open until October, Saturdays and Sundays only, 10.00am-4.00pm.

Oundle Museum is in Mill Road, Oundle PE8 4BW. Go to www.oundlemuseum.org.uk for more information.

Stanwick Lakes 2025

Saturday 4 October 10.00am-4.00pm Workshops Ancient Craft: Flint knapping.
Saturday 4 October 10.00am-4.00pm Workshops Ancient Craft: Bronze Age jewellery.

Go to www.stanwicklakes.org.uk for more information, prices and to book a place.

CBAEM Autumn Conference 2025

Saturday 25 October in Leicester.

Irchester Parish Historical Society Talks 2025

Society usually meets the second Thursday of each month, members £2, visitors £4. Go to www.irchester.org for more information.

Brixworth Lecture 2025

November tbc

Go to www.friendsofbrixworthchurch.org.uk for more information and tickets which are £15.

Sharnbrook Local History Group Talks 2025

Next date tbc

Talks held at 2.00pm in the Methodist Church, Sharnbrook but go to www.slhg.org.uk for more information.

Northamptonshire Film Archive Trust 2025

Next date tbc at Chester House. Tickets £6, includes tea/coffee, go to www.chesterhouseestate.org for information and booking.

Films are shown at events around the county, go to www.northamptonshirefilmarchivetrust.co.uk for more information.

Northamptonshire Archaeological Society 2025

Next date tbc

Go to www.northants-archaeology.org.uk for information.

Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group Talks 2025

Next date tbc Northamptonshire's Ironstone Railways by Mick Dix.

Talks are held in Garden Room at St Matthews Church Hall, off Kettering Road, Northampton. FREE to NIAG members, visitors welcome £3. Go to www.niag.org.uk for more information.

The Higgins Bedford 2025

Next date tbc Portable Antiquities Scheme for Bedfordshire session. FREE but booking essential.

The Higgins, Castle Lane, Bedford MK40 3XD. Go to www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk for more information.

Bedford Guided Walks

Dates for 2025 tbc

Walks start at 11.00am and are between 90 minutes and 2 hours long, 1-2 miles in length. Walks are £4 and must be pre-booked. Go to www.bedfordtourguides.org for more information and booking.

Friends of Kettering Art Gallery & Museum 2025

Next date tbc Town Walk, £5 per person.

Kettering Museum and Gallery remain closed, go to the Friends Facebook page or www.friendskagam.org for information about their events, or visit ARTworks Creative Space in the Newlands Centre Kettering.

Northamptonshire Battlefield Society 2025

Next date tbc

Delapre Abbey, on the outskirts of Northampton, NN4 8AW, car parking is FREE. Go to www.delapreabbey.org for more information.

Sywell Aviation Museum and Sywell Aerodrome 2025

Next date tbc

Talks are £5 and are held in the Cirrus Room at the Aviator Hotel, go to www.sywellaviationmuseum.org.uk for more information.

Kimbolton Castle: Public Open Days

Next date tbc. Go to www.kimboltoncastle.com for more information.

Northamptonshire Records Society 2025

THE NRS hold document workshops in the NRS Library at Northamptonshire Archives, Wootton Hall Park, Northampton showcasing and explaining some of the records. Go to www.northamptonshirerecordsociety.org.uk for more information and to book a place as numbers are limited. 

Next date tbc. 

Northampton Central Library 2025

tbc Carnegie Talk: tba.

Northampton Central Library is in Abington Street, Northampton NN1 2BA. Go to the Facebook page for more information.