MHHS Programme Notes 2024 / 25

( SUMMER BREAK )

September 11

Bob Gale: The Archaeology of Gumley and Laughton

Bob Gale a keen amateur archaeologist, is the chairman of Oadby and Wigston Fieldworkers. This group has done much exploration of local villages including Laughton, Mowsley, Smeeton Westerby and Gumley working with the University of Leicester and the Hallaton fieldworkers. In this talk Bob will talk about what they have discovered about the villages of Laughton and Gumley – the latter known for its Mercian roots

October 9

Judith Rout: The Eleanor Crosses Cycle Ride

Judith Rout, a keen cyclist from Market Harborough, has twice taken part in the Eleanor Cross cycle ride which visits all the locations of the original 12 crosses from Harby (Notts., 11 km from Lincoln) to London. Eleanor’s husband Edward I had a cross erected at each of the 12 places where her body rested on its journey from Harby to London. By travelling slowly she absorbed the landscape and history of Eleanor of Castile’s funeral cortege and came to understand the quality of Edward I‘s remarkable Queen. Judith will tell her story of travelling this historic pilgrimage way.

November 13  

Graham McKechnie: Edgar Mobbs

The name of Edgar Mobbs, the Rugby hero and onetime captain of the Saints at Northampton appears on the War Memorial in the Square because at the outbreak of the Great War he was living and working in Market Harborough as manager of the Pytchley Auto Car Company. He joined up raising his own unit of 264 men as "D" Company, 7th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, which included many Rugby players and other sportsmen.  He was killed at Passchendaele 1917 aged 35. Graham McKechnie, Sports Editor at BBC Radio Northampton, The Saints’ historian and the biographer of Edgar Mobbs, will tell us more about this remarkable man. As Graham will be broadcasting earlier in the evening Denis Kenyon will precede his talk by discussing some unusual war memorials of Market Harborough and area

December 11 

John Martin: The Impact of the wartime food campaign in transforming farming in the Market Harborough 

The Market Harborough Welland valley region had long been renowned as the premium pastoral region for graziers fattening beef cattle. John, as a specialist in Agricultural historian will talk about how the agriculture of the Harborough Area has changed during the last 90 years. In particular, his talk will focus on the impact of the Second World War which wrought unprecedented changes in farming as a result of the state directed plough-up campaign; this involved converting the region’s famed pastoral fields into arable cropping.

2025

January 8  (Changed from original published programme)

Kevin Dopson: A Leicestershire boy made good ?  The First Duke of Buckingham 

George Villiers was born at Brooksby near Melton Mowbray in 1592.  As favourite to James I, George dominated political life in the 1620’s both at home and on the Continent. His power was based solely on his good looks and charm but it also brought unpopularity.  Kevin will cover George’s spectacular rise to power, his dominance over James I, his part in the Charles I’s marriage negotiations, his relationship with the Huguenots and his death by the assassin’s dagger in 1628.  He will also describe the many connections George had with the East Midlands.

February 12 

Charlotte Furness: Lady of the House

Charlotte comes from Yorkshire but studied at the University of Leicester including a Master's Degree in Country House Studies. She followed a career in Heritage Management working at several large Yorkshire houses with two stints at Lamport Hall in Northamptonshire. Her talk will focus on two genteel women who were born, raised, lived and died within the world of England's Country Houses: Mary Isham and Elizabeth Isham of Lamport Hall with some reference to the other such as Lady Elizabeth Manners, Duchess of Rutland from Belvoir Castle her work/research in general. They endured much tragedy but worked alongside their husbands to create a legacy that we are still benefitting from today. 

March 12 

James Wright: Historic Buildings Myth-busting

James is a buildings archaeologist with his own consultancy, Triskele Heritage, based in Nottingham. Go to any mediaeval building in the land and there will be interesting, exciting and romantic stories presented to the visitor. James looks at these critically and discusses the suggestions with the actual facts he has elucidated. From ships timbers in the heart of England to alleged secret passages he considers the facts and history. He will draw on his extensive study of old buildings, particularly in the East Midlands, to debunk many romantic myths and replace them with ideas based on facts and observations.

April 9 

Sam Mullins OBE and Steph Mastoris: Harborough History and Heritage in the 1980s and 90s - Heritage in Harborough 40 years ago

The Harborough Museum opened on the first floor of the Harborough District Council offices in Adam and Eve Street in 1983, created by Sam Mullins as its founding keeper and his successor Steph Mastoris. (Both keepers in time went on to be in charge of national museums.) This created a buzz, a new focus and impetus for Harborough and South Leicestershire histories at the time. The Harborough Historian was first produced in 1984 the first annual local history conference (now History Days) in 1986. Both curators led from the front with collecting, research, exhibitions and publications. Sam and Steph will return to MH to reflect on community history in Harborough in the exciting and formative 1980s and 90s.

May 14 

Richard Knox: Finding Bosworth Battlefield

Richard Knox, by training an archaeologist, is the Access and Interpretation Manager for Leicestershire County Council. He has worked with the County's Museums Service since 1990, being involved with the Bosworth Battlefield Centre since 2004. A team of archaeologists has located the battlefield where Richard III fell on August 22, 1485, ushering in the Tudor era, which brought about so much change in the country. A large scale survey has uncovered battlefield artefacts, including a concentration of cannonballs and lead shot— the largest number discovered on any European 15th or 16th century battlefield – and an iconic Ricardian boar badge. Richard will talk to us about what happened at the Battle of Bosworth, how the location was lost to history and bring us up to date with the battlefield discoveries and their interpretations.

June 11 

Outing: - to be announced.