What's New

October is jam-packed with exciting events aimed at celebrating a wide variety of Nottinghamshire's history, including the Bramley Apple, the 1940's, and our rivers and the mills associated with them. Whatever your interest and no matter your age, we're sure there's something for you to get stuck into! Here's a list of just some of the events happening this October:

Monday 6th October: In association with Creswell Crags, ‘join Dr Ceren Kabukcu (University of Liverpool) online to discover Palaeolithic plant diets in Southwest Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean’. This online evening talk is free, but booking is required. Book your place here.

Opening Thursday 9th October: Opening this October, an exciting exhibition explores the connection the River Leen has with Nottinghamshire's history at the Lakeside Arts. ‘From its source in the Robin Hood Hills above Newstead Abbey to the River Trent at the Meadows, the River Leen connects places and communities. This exhibition puts the Leen at the centre of the story of modern Nottingham’. If you can't catch this exhibition this month, no worries as it will be open until March 2026! This exhibition is free, and booking is not required. For more information, visit the event page here.

Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th October: Southwell Workhouse and Infirmary is hosting four sessions of a ‘Workhouse Stories’ puppet show. ‘Based on the lives of people who lived and worked in Leeds Union Workhouse, Workhouse Stories is a puppet show suitable for all and aimed at 8+ years. Come and discover the stories of blind boat builder Thomas Bateman, the ghost of Asenath Batley and the perils of paperwork with John King, former Clerk to the Board of Guardians’. This event is free, and booking is not required, however places may be limited. For more information, visit the event page here.

Tuesday 14th October: Friends of the Framework Knitters Museum ‘are pleased to welcome Steve LeMotte, curator at the Trent Bridge Cricket Club Museum, for a fascinating talk titled; “Trent Bridge – It’s Not Just Cricket!” Discover the surprising and lesser-known stories behind one of the UK’s most iconic sporting venues — from historic events to the people and moments that shaped its legacy beyond the boundary ropes’. Tickets cost £6 and are available at the Museum front desk. For more information, visit the event page here.

Tuesday 14th October: Lakeside Arts will also be hosting an Archaeology NOW Talk titled ‘Malindi: An Old Town with Rich and Diverse History’. ‘Join Doris Kamuye, Curator at the Malindi Museum, for this live-streamed talk from Kenya. Discover Malindi, at the Coast of Kenya, founded around the 7th century, with a rich history influenced by the Indian Ocean. Malindi is home to popular UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Gedi Historic Town and Archaeological Site, the “Mijikenda Kaya” forests, and the oldest European monuments in East Africa – the Vasco da Gama Pillar and the Portuguese Chapel’. This event is free, but booking is required. Book your place here.

Wednesday 15th October: Head down to the Nottinghamshire Archives for their ‘Collections Care for Photographs’ event. ‘There will be examples of photographic conservation projects carried out at Nottinghamshire Archives. There will also be an introduction to the Inspire Picture Archive, including highlights of the collection and how to upload new images’. Tickets cost £6 and booking is required. Book your place here.

Wednesday 15th October: At Worksop Library, the ‘Heritage Talk: Historic Gardens of Nottinghamshire’ will ‘draw on the wealth of gardening heritage remaining in the county'. Join 'Philip Jones, a former local studies librarian, is now a freelance garden historian, currently researching the Victorian and Edwardian gardens at Newstead Abbey and its head gardeners’. This event costs £3 and booking is required. Book your place here.

Above: Harold Godwinson arriving in his longship depicted on the Bayeux Tapestry. (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Saturday 18th October: Lakeside Arts’ Museum Explorers drop-in event for kids will explore 'the Viking Age by looking at the longboats that they built and travelled across the sea in, on their many voyages. Have a go at making your own model longboat to take home! Suitable for child aged 7+'. This event is free and booking is not required. For more information, visit the event page here.

Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th October: The annual 1940s Steam event returns for its seventeenth year at Papplewick Pumping Station. Activities include: ‘An array of military and civilian re-enactors, Displays and encampments, Period vehicles, Trade stalls, Live entertainment, and Live Action skirmishes’. Ticket prices and it is cheaper to pre-book online than on the door. Book your tickets here.

Starting Saturday 18th October: ‘Explore Sherwood Forest this spooky season with their Halloween family trail’. ‘Pick up your trail sheet from the Visitor Centre and follow the Major Oak trail. Immerse yourself in our Halloween adventure, complete with spooky scarecrows and a code to crack’! Prizes available upon completion. This spooky trail is available until Sunday 2nd November. Sheets cost £4.50 and booking is not required. For more information, visit the event page here.

Tuesday 21st October: At Mansfield Central Library, ‘local historian Denis Hill looks at the dozen or so water mills that once operated along the River Maun’ in the Heritage Talk ‘Water Mills of Mansfield’. Tickets cost £3 and booking is required. Book your place here.

Saturday 25th October: Southwell’s beloved ‘food and drink fair returns for its annual autumn slot at Southwell Minster with dozens of stallholders offering all manner of food and drink including pies, chocolates, jams, chutneys, pickles, sausages and much more’. The festival celebrates one of Nottinghamshire’s heritage treasures: the Bramley Apple! There is a suggested entry donation of £3, and booking is not required. For more information, visit the event page here.

Saturday 25th October: Also celebrating our Bramley Apple history, the Workhouse and Infirmary is hosting a ‘Bramley Apple Day’. There will be many apple-themed activities including the ‘longest Apple peel challenge’, children’s yoga sessions, building tours and the return of the Pauper Choir. This event is free, and booking is not required. For more information, visit the event page here.

Monday 27th October: Join Dr Angharad Jones online to discover the evidence of mammal migrations during the Ice Age in association with Creswell Crags. ‘During the Ice Age, climates changed, ice sheets expanded and contracted, and sea levels rose and fell. Mammals responded to the changes in many ways, including migration. This talk will highlight examples of mammal migration and resulting species range shifts during the Ice Age. As well as species range shifts, this talk will explore the evidence for seasonal migrations of mammals. The talk will finish with a discussion of how mammal migrations are being impacted by human activity today’. This online talk is free but booking is required. Book your place here.

This fascinating articles originates from our Winter 1998 Heritage Newsletter:

It was the builders, early in the eighteenth century who started the charming practice of placing semi-circular fanlights over their front doors. At first these were of wrought iron, lead, or wood; Robert Adam used wrought iron with delicate enrichments in copper or brass for splendid country houses. But soon he, and his brothers James and John, were all devising fanlights intended for mass production, so that it was not long before cast iron captured this market; some of the designs were very light and dreary.

Wood was used for the glazing bars of fanlights in the early eighteenth century, but by the 1740’s the call for elaborate shapes, difficult to make in timber, gave rise to the use of leaded metal fanlights. During the 1770’s the decorative ideas of Robert Adam had spread to even quite modest houses and the use of leaded fanlights with delicate radiating tracery enabled multitudes to make a show of keeping in fashion. The years 1780 to 1810 were the high point in fanlight making, both for popularity and for elaboration in design. It was in this period that the specialist trade of Fanlight Maker started, including Underwood, Bottomley, and Hamble of High Holborn; in 1793 a partner of this firm, Joseph Bottomley published his influential book of designs.

The trade of Fanlight Maker (and repairer) has been revived in recent times by one man, John Sambrook of Northiam, East Sussex. His fanlights are careful copies of authentic designs made in the traditional way with leadwork soldered to a metal armature and glass fixed in putty. The whole essence of an elegant Regency fanlight with its ‘spider web’ pattern is delicacy, and the most frequent modern mistake in painting them is to carry the white paint over on to the glass far too much, making the fine bars look heavy and clumsy.

This coming September will be very exciting for heritage lovers in Nottinghamshire with the return of Heritage Open Days’ annual community festival!

The festival, which has been running for over 25 years in the UK, provides individuals with the chance to get involved in heritage through exclusive local events. This festival contributes to the European Heritage Days in which 50 signatory states celebrate diversity, culture, and heritage every September.

Heritage Open Days aims to celebrate heritage and community by organising talks, workshops, and tours of historical sites. All the events in this festival are free. This includes rare visits to selected sites that normally ask for an entry fee. Sites included in this festival are Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, Newstead Abbey, the Adams Building, and the Workhouse and Infirmary. Visit the Heritage Open Days website for the full list.

Running from Friday 12th until Sunday 21th September, there are over 80 exciting events happening in the Nottinghamshire area.

Above: St Mary Magdalene, Newark

Some of our wonderful heritage team will be hosting events; our Senior Practitioner of Historic Buildings, Jason, will be hosting a talk in Newark about the timber-framed buildings of Nottinghamshire on 17th September (book here). Our Historic Environment Officer, Janine, will also be hosting a talk, celebrating the pre-eminence of the horse on Nottinghamshire’s country estates at Worksop Library on 12th September (book here).

Other events across the county include:

• 13th September: Guided tour of the old section of Mansfield Cemetery. 'A Guided tour around the old section of Mansfield Cemetery. Notable monuments will be pointed out and discussed, together with the history of the cemetery and its buildings. A leaflet guide to the Cemetery will be provided'. Booking is not required. Click here for more information.
• 13th September & 20th September: George Martyn's Barn. In Keyworth, visit the 17th century threshing barn which has opened for the Heritage Open Days festival for the past six years. 'This year CAAG is exploring the theme of 'Architecture' with an exhibition in the 374 year old Barn. Visitors can step inside and appreciate the original features and the skills and materials used in producing such a structure all those years ago. Also, learn about the Parish Church (grade 1 listed) and the historic buildings in the village centre related to farming and framework knitting. View works by local artists on the 'Architecture' theme'.
• 14th September: Walk with an Expert: Blue Plaques – Chilwell + Beyond. 'A guided walk around some of [Chilwell's] old and new blue plaques - led by local experts Dr Peter Robinson, and Alan Dance'. Booking is not required. Click here for more information.
• 18th September: Inspire Nottinghamshire Archives - Behind-the-Scenes Tours. 'Come and see behind the scenes and discover the hidden world of archives! An introduction to the Archives with a tour of the search room and storage areas. A chance to view some unique and incredible highlights from the collections, including architectural plans and building records. You will be able to interact in new ways with our collections via your own tablet or smartphone device. View pop-up versions of archival documents, explore 360 degree images of historic streets and listen to audio descriptions of the archives. Enjoy a display and tour of the conservation studio as an introduction to what conservation is, and learn the different types of materials treated, and the techniques used'. Pre-booking is preferred. Book your place here.
• 19th September: The Reawakening of St Mary Magdalene: A Sustainable Regeneration Project. 'Find out more about the major conservation project at St Mary Magdalene Parish Church in Newark. St Mary Magdalene in Newark is a Grade I listed church with a rich history dating back to the 12th century. The church is currently on the Heritage at Risk Register, and 'The Reawakening of St Mary Magdalene' is a project which aims to make vital repairs to the church to secure its future, while also opening up the building to the community for a variety of events and activities'. Booking is required. Book your place here.
• 20th September: The Original Bramley Apple Tree. In Southwell, 'Nottingham Trent University are offering visitors an opportunity to view the original Bramley apple tree and to learn about the history of the Bramley apple and why the tree is so special'. Pre-booking is not required. Click here for more information.
• 21st September: Echoes of the Erewash Canal - Sandiacre Lock Cottages. Head down 'for a free, family-friendly day of fun, stories, and discovery along the Erewash Canal! Explore hands-on activities, canal heritage, and beautiful waterside spaces. There’s something for all ages'. Pre-booking is not required. Click here for more information.

To find out about all the events being offered in Nottinghamshire, including dates and booking information, please visit the Heritage Open Days website.

Please be aware that free entry to some heritage sites is only on specific set days and some events may require booking.

Earlier this year, the Nottinghamshire HER completed its five-yearly audit. This audit, conducted in partnership with Historic England, analyses how effectively local Historic Environment Records (HERs) are being maintained and improved. It also helps to identify areas which could be improved upon in the future.

The audit looks at four key areas in particular: Content and Coverage, Data Standards and Security, Access and Engagement, and Infrastructure (Service Delivery). It looks at the quality of our records, how often we engage in public outreach, how maintain and protect our written and online records, as well as many other aspects.

We are delighted with the results of our recent audit. Across all four areas, we consistently received top marks, with very minimal suggestions for improvement. It signifies that the Nottinghamshire HER is currently amongst the highest rated in the country! This is a great achievement for us and one we are all very proud of.

The HER is a valuable tool for local planning and development, but also for the Nottinghamshire community. It helps to provide protection for heritage sites/features and helps to connect the local community to their local environment and landscapes. So we are over the moon that our hard work and dedication to improving the Nottinghamshire HER and engaging with the local community is being recognised.

We look forward to working on further enhancing the record and improving access to our resources to ensure we maintain a dynamic high-quality service.

If you would like to explore the results of all audited English HERs, you can interact with the map published on the Historic Environment website here (scroll down the page a little if you’re struggling to find it). Alternatively, you can read our audit summary for yourself here.

Above: A summary of our audit results

With summer in full swing, Nottinghamshire is hosting a treasure trove of heritage events this August. Whether you're looking for some family fun or looking to learn something new, there will be something for you! Check out our list of the events below:

Throughout August: Join National Trust volunteers in the Master's Office of the Workhouse and Infirmary ‘to learn all about the conservation threats they face, the specialised tools and techniques they use to manage them, and how they record their work to ensure high standards’. Sessions include ‘Completing Record of Monitoring & Plan of Care paperwork’, ‘Conservation window cleaning’, ‘Object marking project’, and ‘Conservation cleaning: vaccuming’. These are free drop-in sessions and booking is not required. For more information, visit the event page here.

Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd August: The Robin Hood Festival is back again this year at Sherwood Forest to celebrate our beloved legendary figure. Come to 'enjoy spectacular jousting displays, hand-to-hand combat demonstrations, historical re-enactment and much, much more'. Although this wonderful festival spans multiple weekends, this is the only weekend that you will be able to watch the jousting. Booking is not required, but a parking fee of £15 is in place. For more information, visit the event page here.

Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th August: ‘Step back in time and experience the Ice Age’ at Creswell Crags. ‘Can you hunt for bison, light a fire or feed your tribe? Find out as you bring the Ice Age to life’ in their ‘Step into the Ice Age: Hands on Prehistory’ event. There are lots of fun activity to have a go at, including archaeological dig boxes, shelter building, cave art drawings, mammoth poo flinging and rhino horn Hoopla! There are Early Bird booking discounts if you book before 1st August (£7 per adult, £6 per child). Book your place here.

Monday 11th to Friday 15th August: Also at Creswell Crags, ‘learn how creatures that lived millions of years ago became fossils, and make your own salt dough “rocks” with real fossil imprints. Perfect for those fascinated by life on Earth long before the last Ice Age!’ Tickets cost £5, adults/carers accompany for free, and booking is required. For more information and to book your place, click here.

Saturday 16th August: Head to Sherwood Forest to ‘join William De Tankerville, The Sheriff of Nottingham’s Master at Arms, as he takes you on a tour of the majestic Greenwood, sharing stories of medieval life and the villainous Robin Hood’. ‘This walk will take you on a journey through the forest, hearing the tales of its most legendary inhabitant and medieval life’. Tickets cost £9 per non-member adult and £5 per non-member adult (member discounts apply) and booking is required. Book your place here. And if you can't make the 16th, there same event will be ran on the 30th August.

Above: Hyena skull found at Creswell Crags. By Enchufla Con Clave (Own work), CC BY-SA 4.0

Monday 18th to 22nd Friday August: Another event at Creswell Crags this August will allow you to explore ‘Stylish Stone Age Fashion’! ‘Join a Stone Age guide to learn all about the clothes, jewellery and decorations that people may have worn at Creswell Crags during the last Ice Age. Have a go at making your own Stone Age leather wristband, and even have your face painted, Stone Age style!’ Tickets cost £5 per child, accompanying adults/carers go free, booking is required. Book your place here.

Saturday 23rd to Monday 25th August: The Grand Finale of the Robin Hood Festival at Sherwood Forest commences. Combat displays, falconry, medieval stories and activities like archery await you. Booking is not required but a parking fee of £15 is in place. For more information, visit the event page here.

Monday 25th August: ‘Join archaeologist, historian and broadcaster, Dr Simon Elliott online, as he recounts his archaeological adventures around the world.’ ‘Dr Simon Elliott FSA is an award winning and best-selling archaeologist, historian and broadcaster. He has written 21 books on classical world and archaeological themes, frequently appears on broadcast and social media as a presenter and expert, and is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries…He is currently engaged in three major archaeological research programmes. One of these is focused on the local region’. This online talk, in association with Creswell Crags, is free (donations welcome) but booking is required. Book your free place here.

Monday 25th to Thursday 28th August: A final August archaeology workshop at Creswell Crags, ‘Archaeology Adventure’, gives you the chance to ‘become an archaeologist and excavate a mystery time period. Use your detective skills to work out when the artefacts in your trench are from, and design your own mini museum to show them in!’ Tickets cost £5 per person, accompanying adults/carers go free and booking is required. Book your place here.

Saturday 30th August: ‘Found a mysterious object?’ Head to Mansfield Museum to meet the Finds Liaison Officer for Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, and ‘get professional insight into your discovery and help piece together the puzzle of our local past’. ‘Whether you're a metal detectorist, dog walker, gardener, or history enthusiast, if you've stumbled upon an intriguing find—bring it along to Mansfield Museum for expert identification’. This event is free but booking is required. For more information and to book your place, visit the event website here.