November 2026 Nottinghamshire Heritage Events

November promises to be an exciting month for heritage events. Check out some of the events happening in Nottinghamshire:

Throughout November: Head to Lakeside Arts for their new exhibition 'Secret and Sacred Libraries from East Midlands Parishes'. 'Step into the sacred libraries of the East Midlands parish priests through books that they owned and annotated across the centuries. Amongst the Bibles and theological texts are more surprising books, on poetry, history, politics, games, and the social duties that governed everyday life. Through their pages we can glimpse the intense local concerns and a broader intellectual curiosity that extended far beyond the parish boundaries. This is a unique opportunity to see the rare books from these long-forgotten libraries, which tell a story of the lives of people in parishes that still exist today, connecting the modern East Midlands with its vibrant and fascinating history'. This exhibition is open until the end of February 2027 so don't worry if you can't catch it this month! This event is free and booking is not required. For more information, visit the event page here.

Friday 6th November: The National Civil War Centre will be hosting the 'Evening Talk: Cromwell's Nemesis'. 'Join Edward Davis for a lively and thought-provoking reappraisal of Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester – a man often overshadowed by Cromwell, but whose influence on the course of the conflict may have been far greater than history has traditionally recognised. Frequently dismissed as cautious and ineffective, Manchester has long been portrayed as one of Cromwell's principal opponents. But does the reality tell a different story? This fascinating talk explores Manchester's military campaigns, leadership style and political influence, revealing how he helped shape Parliament's war effort and ignite some of the most significant political debates of the age'. Tickets cost up to £10 per person and booking is required. Book your place here.

Monday 9th November: Creswell Crags is hosting an online talk 'In the Bleak Midwinter: The Folklore of Autumn and Winter Flowering Plants'. 'Join folklore expert, Icy Sedgwick, online to discover the fascinating folklore surrounding autumn and winter plants. From hellebores to autumn crocus, the colder part of the year has its own part to play in the botanical ecosystem. This talk will explore the folklore behind such plants, including cyclamen, hellebore, winter aconite, and gorse, among others'. Tickets are free but booking is required. Book your place here.

Tuesday 10th November: Also at Lakeside Arts, 'Alison Milbank, the author of For the Parish, will describe some of the history and distinctiveness of this system, illuminating the social and religious ways of life which thrived in parishes. Alison Milbank is Canon Theologian at Southwell Minster and Emerita Professor of Theology and Literature at the University of Nottingham'. Tickets to this talk, 'Putting the 'Parish' in Parish Libraries', cost up to £4.50 per person and booking is required. Book your place here.

Above: Illustration of Helleborus plant (Public Domain)

Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th November: Head to Papplewick Pumping Station for the next Krampus steaming event. This event includes entertainment such as Krampus characters, live entertainment, stalls and drumming workshops on top of the usual engine demonstrations occurring during the steaming weekend. Tickets cost up to £14.50 per person and booking is required (tickets are cheaper online than front of house on the day). Book your place here.

Tuesday 17th November: Join buildings archaeologist James Wright at Mansfield Central Museum for the heritage talk 'Discovering the Secrets of Nottinghamshire's Ancient Buildings'. 'Behind a Victorian façade is a Tudor house; beneath a Georgian frontage is a mediaeval cottage, or what is now a modern farm may once have been a castle. As Dr. James Wright will explain, buildings archaeology can offer us many clues for discovering the secrets of hidden historic houses'. Tickets cost up to £3.50 per person and booking is required. Book your place here.

Tuesday 24th November: Nottinghamshire Archives will be hosting their new event 'Written Lives, Remembered Voices'. 'Discover personal stories, workplace experiences and everyday moments recorded across generations, revealing how people remembered documented and shared their lives through words and voices'. Tickets cost £6 per person and booking is required. Book your place here.

Thursday 26th November: The Nottinghamshire Archives is also hosting the event 'Making a Living - Trades and Occupations Workshop'. 'Join one of their archivists to explore the records in Nottinghamshire Archives that can highlight your ancestors’ working lives. Through documents such as apprenticeship indentures, wage books and court records, you can discover what their career prospects were, where they worked and how much they were paid'. Tickers cost £6 per person and booking is required. Book your place here.