Local History Walking
Traditionally we have done a history based walk on the second Thursday of the month, then met to discuss this on the third Thursday. The walk is usually urban, and in or near to Newcastle, mainly on the flat with occasional stairs and its focus is existing buildings and other features of the environment that have historical links and interest. The following Thursday we met in Pink Lane to look through slides of photos from the walk, as well as associated images and to talk about what we saw. Both sessions usually started at 10.30 and finished around noon, with possibly a shared lunch afterwards. Longer trips may have extended into the early afternoon. During the months October until March we only met on the third Thursday of the month, usually in Pink Lane.
With immediate effect, this is now changing. At our March, 2024 meeting, the following was decided:
The existing group will have all of its members transferred to a new group entitled:
Local History Walking (through time)
As well as running all of the walks, this group will also organise historical visits away from Pink Lane, mainly when the weather is likely to be too cold for walking. This group will have no limit on numbers and will never meet in Pink Lane. In order, however, to plan the activities of the group a committee will be formed, consisting of all those who have led activities for the group or who are likely to do so. This committee will meet on an ad-hoc basis in Room 2 of Pink Lane on the fourth Thursday morning of the week.
We will stop forthwith the practice of giving a presentation in week 3 about the walk/visit that took place the previous week. This would leave no role for Pink Lane during the summer. In order to provide a role for Pink Lane, a new group will be formed, Local History 2, to be led by Sandra D, which will plan and deliver a programme of events for Pink Lane Room 2 on the third Thursday of the month. The membership of this group may need a cap on its maximum membership to match the space limitations of the room.
There is still a lot of detail to work out, but this is the basis on which we will now plan our activities.
You don't need any special knowledge to join in and we try to make sure the walks are fully accessible to as many members as possible. The group is very welcoming to new and current members.
The summer programme for Local History Walking (through time) has now started. This is subject to changes caused by an implementation of the new group structure. The current plan is as follows.
May - Ron will reprise his Quayside walk.
June - Ian will reprise his walk around Northumberland Park.
July - Alison will lead a walk round Exhibition Park.
August - Ron will reprise his Linear walk from a few years ago, with a new title: 'From Academia to the Church'.
September - Alison will lead a walk round Jesmond Dene.
The Local History 2 group has yet to recruit members and plan a programme.
To contact our Group Leader by email please use "Click to send a message!" on this page, or use Contact us