A talk by Nigel Amos
A most entertaining and informative presentation. Nigel is an academic historian with a lifetime’s experience of ‘re-enactment’. Aside from knowing his academic facts, Nigel is able to bring a three-dimensional focus to the talk, with the lived-in experience of those contemporaries ever present. A very well received lecture.
A large crowd gathered to remember all who fought in, and were taken prisoner of war in, the war in S.E. Asia against the Japanese in the Second World War. These little-known heroes are too often forgotten. We resolved this year to remember especially all those we know with some connection to Collingham. This proved to be a moving event and one which we may repeat in future years.
A very entertaining talk by Sally Mitchell which traced the history of Tuxford back to Roman times as well as focussing on the town’s importance as a staging post on the Great North Road. This presentation was followed up by a visit to Tuxford in May.
The AGM was well attended. Following the formal business of the meeting David Barker and Charlie Stothard gave a short talk on the discovery, refurbishment and significance of the pre-enclosure map for Collingham from 1793. Several copies of the map (over 9 feet long) were then available for people to study and to question our experts. This was a very special meeting. It is not everyday that a local history society can present an artefact of such value.
To see a pdf of the presentation about the Pre-Enclosure Map, click here.
We started the year 2025 with a winter warmer, Bless The Plough on Plough Sunday. A good time was had by all who gathered round the Plough at Cat Asylum and listened to the blessing. This is an traditional rural custom which we hope to repeat on a regular basis.
You can read more about Plough Sunday and Blessing the Plough here.
CDLHS with Newark Archives joined forces to present an exhibition on local prehistory, Roman and Saxon life in this area. In addition we had all day spinning and weaving demonstrations and activities for the children. This turned out to be a brilliant day in the Youth and Community Centre full of excited adults and children who found the live artefacts, including a pre-historic mammoth tusk, very exciting.
This is a great way to engage local audiences into finding out more about this period, which shaped our area.
News from Collingham & District Local History Society
See the full article here.
In the above article we have highlighted
Account Books may sound a dull, very dry and boring subject but as you can see from the attached, they are easy to read and give an interesting insight into many aspects of local life and business, not least the people who purchased Bealby ploughs and spares and their geographical spread.
The set is not complete and we know that there are other Account Books out there. So, we would appreciate the opportunity to view and possibly also make digital copies of the missing books in order to make their contents freely available.
If you wish to view these or any other items that we hold please come to an Archives Open Day or contact us so we can arrange mutually convenient access.
Please also contact us if you have any items that you may wish to donate!
Jeremy Lodge
(Trustee. Collingham and District Local History Society)
A talk by Jeremy Lodge
Report by Pat Morgan
Nigel Priestley introduced the speaker with an anecdote about his great grandparents, William Dring and Ann Spafford, moving into the newly constructed cottage at the Langford crossing gates when they were newly married.
Jeremy told us how the opening of the Lincoln to Nottingham line in 1846 ‘practically connected Lincoln with the rest of the Universe’.
The first railway service, Liverpool to Manchester, had begun in 1830, using engines such as Stephenson’s Rocket and carriages or wagons adapted from road transport. He described how, following the rapid expansion of railways in the early 19th century there was a decline in road and canal traffic. Surprisingly, though, there were even more working horses in this period as they were used to transport people and goods to the railway stations. The expansion of railways allowed centres of industry to develop such as steel working in Sheffield.
In 1844 the Midland Railway was formed by the merger of three earlier companies. The Lincoln to Nottingham line was soon proposed and the plans were submitted to parliament. Once Royal Assent was granted in 1845, work started immediately and the line opened in August 1846. Jeremy described the opening day celebrations, noting that in newspaper reports at the time only Newark and Collingham were mentioned along the route! Efforts had been made by Collingham people to make sure the village was noticed! Jeremy went on to tell us how much the railway was used, the range of prices for transport of goods and livestock, the fares for different classes of passengers and the excursions ordinary people made. He finished with a closer look at Collingham station and described the extensive goods traffic once sidings were constructed there in 1850. There was considerable interest in the photographs he had, especially those which showed how much of the original structures still remain.
Report by Pat Smedley
On a dull evening we congregated at 6pm at St Giles Church, Holme which was packed, to learn more about this unique, fascinating building – and the intriguing history that lies within it.
The sun shone, annoyingly just when we wanted the audience to see the screen set up with a background video showing St Giles from the air, and focussing on its various features. No matter – it did not last and we were soon being thoroughly entertained by Nigel Priestley who has been the warden of St Giles for many years, and knows every inch and cranny.
A walk around the northern end of the village led by Nigel Priestley
Report by Pat Smedley
Another hot day as the July heat wave continued to make us all feel tired, lethargic and really not feeling like taking on a walk through the north end of Low Street from the All Saints’ flood markers up to The Cat Asylum. Nevertheless, I am very glad I did venture out for what proved a most entertaining tour by Nigel Priestley, following on from the last Village Walk now two years ago.
