Our calendar is compiled from press releases, e-mails and other sources, such as local history periodicals and personal contacts. If you would like to publicise a particular event or meeting, then please contact us and we will do our best to assist. At the end of each entry we indicate the locality where the activity is taking place, as an aid to browsing the calendar.

Calendar links. The following organisations maintain their own calendar or events sections with which we have links. If your organisation maintains a calendar or events section on the web and would like a direct link to this page, please contact us.

Archive Awareness Campaign
Avon Local History & Archaeology Events
Birmingham & District Local History Association
Cardiff, Butetown History & Arts Centre Exhibitions (this is not being updated at present, but is still a live link)
Cheshire Local History Association
Chiswick Pier Trust
English Heritage
Society of Genealogists
Hampshire Record Office
Heritage Open Days
Hertfordshire Heritage Events
The Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies
The National Trust have an online 'Events' search facility which you can use to find events near where you live or, perhaps, will be spending your holidays.
Society for Lincolnshire History & Archaeology
Temple Newsam house and Lotherton Hall, Leeds
London Metropolitan Archives
Nottinghamshire Local History Association (managed by Local History Online)
Society of Genealogists
Society for Lincolnshire History & Archaeology
The Wolds Historical Organisation (covering the villages of Wymeswold, Burton on the Wolds, Hoton, Prestwold and Cotes)

Every Saturday at 11.00am and 2.00pm there is a Behind the Scenes Tour at the National Archives. Learn how documents are selected to become public records, how parchment is conserved and see original documents. Booking essential, tel: 020 8876 3444, web: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/events.

Rufford Country Park Weekly Health Walk. Every Monday (Except Bank Holidays) 2pm, meet Craft Centre Courtyard, 60 mins, free, followed by tea/coffee and biscuits. Contact: Steve Kofoed, Rufford Rangers, The Abbey, RCP, near Ollerton, Notts NG22 9DF, tel: 01623 821335, email: steve.koefoed@nottscc.gov.uk.

23 April onwards   Breaking the Chains Slavery Exhibition ‘will examine the historical context of slavery, its destructive effect on relations between Europe and Africa, the nature of survival and resistance amongst African and Caribbean communities, the role of abolitionists and the legacy of the slave trade today’ and occupy an entire floor at the British Empire & Commonwealth Museum in Bristol, daily 10am–5pm, Adults £6.95 (£5.95 conc), contact: BE&CM, Clock Tower Yard, Temple Meads, Bristol BS1 6QH, t: 0117 925 4980, e: admin@empiremuseum.co.uk.

1 May–5 September   The Wye Tour and its artists. Exhibition of works by the greatest artists from the great age of British watercolours, on loan from national collections in London and Wales and from museums round the UK. The artists include Turner, Paul Sandby and Samuel Palmer. Chepstow Museum, Gwy House, Bridge Street, Chepstow, Monmouthshire. Mon–Sat 11am–5pm, Sun 2–5pm, July–Sept, open 10.30am, close 5.30pm. Tel: 01291 625981, email: chepstowmuseum@monmouthshire.gov.uk. Monmouthshire

January 2010

9–30  The Past Speaks. A series of history workshops exploring the social and political experience of Black Britons over a period of three centuries, ending with an exhibition of participants' work at Homerton Library, High Street, E9 6AS, Saturdays 1–3pm, tel: 8356 1690, www.hackney.gov.uk/cl-homerton-main.htm. London

18   Agriculture and History in the Pennine Landscape. Ten week course organised by the Hebden Bridge Local History Society at the Hope Baptist Chapel in Hebden Bridge, 7.30–9.30pm. Come and join a lively research grop to learn about research techniques, use original documents and discover how the landscape has been shaped by human activity. Cost: £55 for society members, £60 for non-members. Contact: Nigel Smith, tel: 01422 842847, email. Yorkshire

21   Norwell, a church village. Lecture by Michael Jones, Coddington History Group, Village Hall, Main Street, Coddington, Notts NG24 2PN, 7.30pm. Members £1, non-members £2, incl refreshments. Web: www.coddington.org.uk. Nottinghamshire

February

3   The Trentham Estate: A Contemporary Revival. Lecture by Michael Walker, Trentham Gardens Manager, for the Garden History Society. The Gallery, Cowcross Street, London, 6.30pm. Visit the Society's website for more details (click on 'events' in the menu across the top of the page). London

10   Paradise of Exiles: The Anglo-Florentine Garden. Lecture by Katie Campbell, for the Garden History Society. The Gallery, Cowcross Street, London, 6.30pm. Visit the Society's website for more details (click on 'events' in the menu across the top of the page). London

17   The Temptations of Using Archaeology in Historic Gardens. Eighth Garden History Society Annual Lecture by Brian Dix, International Garden Archaeologicst. Royal Horticultural Halls & Conference Centre, Greycoat Street, London, 6.30pm. Visit the Society's website for more details (click on 'events' in the menu across the top of the page). London

18   Willow basket making. Lecture by Rodney Cousins, Coddington History Group, Village Hall, Main Street, Coddington, Notts NG24 2PN, 7.30pm. Members £1, non-members £2, incl refreshments. Web: www.coddington.org.uk. Nottinghamshire

18–19   Celebrating People and Place. National Conference on Commemmorative Plaques organised by English Heritage. The conference will include talks from representatives of local authorities, societies and other organisations involved in running schemes in Manchester, Bath, Coventry, Newcastle, Brighton, London, Liverpool, Leeds and Norwich. Discussion sessions and workshops cover practical topics ranging from plaque design and inscription, selection criteria and historical research, to the gaining of consents and the promotion of plaques and plaque schemes. Royal Institute of British Architects, 66 Portland Place, London. Download the brochure/booking form. Web: www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.17445.

20   Bosworth Battlefield Conference to examine the findings of the recent groundbreaking archaelogical survey, which was undertaken by The Battlefields Trust and Leicestershire County Council to locate the true site of the battle of Bosworth. Speakers include Richard Holmes. Cost: £40 including refreshments, buffet lunch and parking.
Location: County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester. Web: www.bosworthbattlefield.com/index.htm. Download the programme here. Leicestershire

March

3   Affliction Brightened by Hope: The Evolution of the English Cemetery Landscape. Lecture by Jonthan Lovie, Historical Landscape Consultant, for the Garden History Society. The Gallery, Cowcross Street, London, 6.30pm. Visit the Society's website for more details (click on 'events' in the menu across the top of the page). London

10   Discovering Gilbert White's Garden. Lecture by David Standing, Head Gardener, Gilbert White's Garden, for the Garden History Society. The Gallery, Cowcross Street, London, 6.30pm. Visit the Society's website for more details (click on 'events' in the menu across the top of the page). London

18   Archive farming films. Lecture and film show by Richard Watts, who provided much of the interesting film for the wonderful Mud, Sweat and Tractors series on BBC4 in May 2009. Coddington History Group, Village Hall, Main Street, Coddington, Notts NG24 2PN, 7.30pm. Members £1, non-members £2, incl refreshments. Web: www.coddington.org.uk. Nottinghamshire

27   Discovering West London's History. The 30th West London Local History Conference will cover topics from Rediscovering Gunnersbury Lodge, through Where was Chiswick's water mill? to The Case of the Discarded War Memorial. The Musical Museum, High Street, Brentford, 9.30am–5.00pm, tickets £8, available in advance only by post from J McNamara, 31B Brook Rd South, Brentford TW8 ONN
(please send SAE and cheque made out to West London
Local History Conference). Download more detailed programme (pdf file). London

April

15   The Tallents family of Coddington House. Lecture by John Tallents, Coddington History Group, Village Hall, Main Street, Coddington, Notts NG24 2PN, 7.30pm. Members £1, non-members £2, incl refreshments. Web: www.coddington.org.uk. Nottinghamshire

August

20–28  Historical Association Tour to the Western Isles. Led by Philip & Cynthia Johnston, commences at Glasgow, with coach to Oban, and returns to Inverness, with visits to Mull, Iona, Barra, South & North Uist, Benebecula, Harris and Lewis. £899 (not including lunch or insurance), plus single supplement of £135. Contact: Philip Johnston, Town Head House, Long Preston, Skipton, N Yorks BD23 4QH, tel: 01729 840760. Scotland