Local History
The Coordinator of this group is Maureen C. The group currently meets at The Wild Boar on the first Wednesday of the month from 6.0pm to 7.30pm.
This group is interested in the history of people and places across the North East.
The purpose of the monthly meeting is to plan and discuss visits and to view and share resources, information and memories. The group also shares information about forthcoming events, so that members can attend if they wish.
The cost is £1 per person, per session.
Planned visits to places of interest are on the third Thursday of the month in the afternoon or an earlier start if required. Events of interest are also added to the diary.
For more information please contact Maureen at the U3A monthly meeting or
- Click the link to the right to send a message.
| Dates for your Diary | |
|---|---|
| Wed May 1st | Meeting at the Wild Boar 6pm to 7.30pm. |
| Tue May 7th | May Day Party. Westlife / Boyzone / Take That Tribute Act THR33. Cherry Tree Bistro, Orchard Place DH5 8GY. Local History Group and Gardening Group Joint Event. 2.30pm to 5.30pm. Hot beef sandwich and chips. Bingo and raffle. Performance by Westlife / Boyzone / Take That Tribute act called THR33. Currently performing to sell out audiences. £16 per person. Red, white and blue theme. |
| Thu May 16th | Alnwick Castle or Gardens and Alnwick Town NE66 1NQ. Local History Group and Gardening Group Joint Visit. 9.30am from the church arch and before that at Margaret's house. EITHER Castle self-guided walk through the State Rooms and self-exploration of the grounds and museums. Guides in every room to answer questions. OR Gardens include such as the grand cascade, rose garden, cherry tree garden, poison garden, serpent garden, Tree House. Lilidorei magical kingdom is an additional price. Pay admission directly to venue on the day. 1pm bus pick up at each venue to go into Town - shops cafes and restaurants. 4pm pick up in town then castle and gardens for anyone who wanted to spend the whole day there. Pay £15 for the bus in advance. Large coach booked. Non refundable unless someone can take your place. |
| Tue Jun 4th | Howick Hall Gardens and Arboretum, Howick NE66 3LB. Local History Group and Gardening Group Joint Event. House and gardens of the Earl Grey tea family. North of Alnwick. Featured on Robson Green’s Weekend escapes 2024 series. Ground floor open to the public with Visitor Centre and Tea Rooms. Family lives in the West Wing. Discounted group admission is £8 per person payable at our April meetings and includes a free guided tour of the gardens. 1 hour 30 minutes, about one mile. 11am Refreshments on arrival in Earl Grey Tea House 12.00 Group Tour of the gardens ( 2 groups in opposite directions) 1.30pm lunch in Earl Grey Tea House Look around St. Michael’s Church on site 9.30am from the church arch and before that at Margaret’s house. Pay for the bus on the day. Likely to be about £14. 4pm return. |
| Wed Jun 5th | Meeting at the Wild Boar 6pm to 7.30pm. |
| Thu Jun 20th | Preston Park Museum, Victorian Street and Garden and Butterfly World, Stockton, TS18 3RH. Strawberries and Prosecco! Local History Group and Gardening Group Joint Event. Back by very popular demand! Strawberries and prosecco provided on arrival. £5 per person please payable at April meetings. Please feel free to additionally bring your own picnic food and drinks if you wish. Please bring your own folding chairs. We will set up our picnic camp on the grass, beside a lovely tree for some shade, just in front of the car park so we don’t have to carry things too far and leave it up for the duration, taking it in turns to mind the camp. It is nice to have somewhere to keep returning to for a rest and a chat. In the event of bad weather we have booked a room for our camp in the main house which we will only need to pay for if we decide to use it. About £2 each. Entry to Museum House, walled garden and Victorian Street which includes a café is £3.00 for over 60s. Pay at the venue. Tickets are valid for one year from date of purchase. History of the families who lived at Preston Hall and the life in surrounding area, displays and exhibitions. Last admission 3.30pm. Closes 4pm. Optional entry to Butterfly World which is in the grounds £4.00 for concessions. Pay at the venue. Closes 4.30pm. Coach at church arch 11am and before that at Margaret’s house. Pay for the coach on the day. We have booked a coach with plenty of storage. Likely to be about £16 depending on final numbers. 4pm return. |
| Tue Jul 2nd | Lanchester Garden Centre in Summer with Lunch DH7 0SS. Local History Group and Gardening Group Joint Event. Lunch at Lanchester Garden Centre. Check out the bargains and look round indoors and outdoors. Payment of £5 deposit and food orders will be needed in advance. 11.30am minibus from the church arch and before that at Margaret’s house. Pay for the bus on the day. Likely to be £7 / £8 depending on final numbers. Lunch on arrival 12.30pm for 1pm. |
| Wed Jul 3rd | Meeting at the Wild Boar 6pm to 7.30pm. |
| Thu Jul 4th | Mid Summer Party with Jonny Trax and Buffet, Houghton Golf Club, DH5 8LU. Local History Group and Gardening Group Joint Event. We loved Jonny Sax when they performed for our Hallowe’en party at the Golf Club last year. The saxophonist has since retired. The vocalist with backing tracks is continuing as Jonny Trax. An eclectic mix of music such as the Eagles, Sam Cooke, Dire Straits,Van Morrison, Gerry Rafferty, Brian Ferry, Elvis, Bruce Springsteen, Rod Stewart, Ray Charles, Tina Turner, Dean Martin, Mumford and Sons, Bob Marley, James Brown, Stereophonics, Brian Adams, Amy Winehouse, Lindisfarne and many more. 1.30pm be seated and get your raffle tickets 2pm Jonny Trax 3pm Buffet and desserts, raffle draw 4pm Jonny Trax 5pm finish The price is likely to be £19 per person depending on final numbers. Payment due May. |
| Thu Jul 18th | Raby Castle and Newly Renovated Gardens, Staindrop, DL2 3AH. Local History Group and Gardening Group Joint Visit. This visit is full and we are keeping a waiting list Entry to the castle, deer park and newly renovated walled gardens for a group of at least 16 people is £15 per person. Payable 14 days in advance and then non-refundable. Lady Barnard has worked on the garden renovation with Italian garden designer Luciano whose speciality is stately home garden design. Elements of the old gardens have been retained including the yew hedges. A new Vinery Restaurant and Café is being built on the site of the old glasshouse with stunning views of the castle and gardens. The renovated Coach House will hold new retail and exhibition areas. Maps are provided on arrival. Set off at 9.30am from the church arch and before that at Margaret’s house. Pay for the bus on the day. Likely to be about £14 depending on final numbers. The developments are due to be completed in late Spring. Our visit will be dependent on it being ready for visitors. |
| Wed Aug 7th | Meeting at the Wild Boar 6pm to 7.30pm. |
| Wed Sep 4th | Meeting at the Wild Boar 6pm to 7.30pm. |
| Sat Sep 21st | Grassington Forties Event 21st / 22nd September overnight stay. |
| Wed Oct 2nd | Meeting at the Wild Boar 6pm to 7.30pm. |
| Wed Nov 6th | Meeting at the Wild Boar 6pm to 7.30pm. |
| Wed Dec 4th | Meeting at the Wild Boar 6pm to 7.30pm. |
Click on a picture below to see it full-size with more details.
Visit to Preston Park Museum