Lecture Programme

All lectures are free to Civic Society members. Non members are welcome to attend for an entrance fee of £4.00

2026

Coming up…

Friday 20 February, 7:30pm, Joseph Wright Hall
Internetty – A Barton Success Story
Sarah White
This talk tells the story of how a Barton based company identified a gap in local connectivity, overcame rural infrastructure challenges, and delivered full-fibre broadband to the community. It explores the importance of local enterprise, long-term investment, and how improved digital infrastructure can support homes, businesses, and the future of rural towns.

Friday 20 March, 7:30pm, Joseph Wright Hall
Lancasters, Lincolnshire and the International Bomber Command Centre
Air Vice-Marshal Paul Robinson
During his illustrated presentation, Paul will outline Bomber Command’s history and focus on its impact during the Second World War, highlighting the skill, achievements and heroism of its air and ground crews. He will show how important it is for Lincolnshire to host a fitting memorial to commemorate their sacrifice, recognise the suffering experienced, and reconcile both sides of the conflict.

Friday 17 April, 7:30pm, Joseph Wright Hall
Archaeological Aerial Photography in North Lincolnshire
Simon Thompson
Simon Tomson and Chris Belton are private fliers who fly in Lincolnshire recording archaeology from the air, looking for new sites as well as recording the known heritage.

Saturday 16 May, 7:00pm, Baysgarth Park
Tree Trail at Baysgarth Park
Liz Bennet
Join us at Baysgarth Park where Liz Bennet will provide a guided tour covering 300 years of Baysgarth Park through the most significant trees.

Friday 19 June, 7:30pm, Joseph Wright Hall
The Life and Artwork of Reuben Chappell
Alex Ombler
This talk explores the life and art of the Goole born ‘Pierhead Painter’ Reuben Chappell (1870-1940). Painting portraits of ships for sailors arriving in the port of Goole, Chappell spent his days on the quaysides, gaining commissions and sketching ships, which he would paint in his home studio.

Friday 17 July, 8pm, Joseph Wright Hall
(following the Society’s AGM at 7.30pm and a short refreshment break)
Behind the Scaffolding: The story so far at Baysgarth House
Liz Bennet
Following the AGM join Project Manager Liz Bennet for an insider’s look at the transformation of one of Barton’s most treasured landmarks. With Phase One of the ambitious three-stage renovation now complete, Liz shares the triumphs, surprises, and challenges uncovered along the way—from unexpected discoveries in the walls to the delicate dance of heritage and modernity.

Friday 18 September, 7:30pm, Joseph Wright Hall
Toil & Trouble: Magic in Roman Britain
Dr Adam Parker
Dr Adam Parker (Yorkshire Museum / Open University, and Barton resident) will introduce the weird and wonderful world of magic in Roman Britain: Protective charms & amulets, arcane magical words, and powerful curses.

Heritage Open Days will return 11-20 September 2026

Friday 16 October, 2pm*, Joseph Wright Hall
Revolution and Resilience in Lincolnshire: Rex Russell’s Life in Teaching
Keith Miller
Keith Miller, local historian and former regional English Heritage Inspector of Historic Buildings and Monuments, explores the Lincolnshire work of Rex Russell, Barton’s most famous historian. The talk will survey Rex’s great body of work, where he and his many local history groups explored how revolutionary changes in the economy and society of 18th and 19th century Lincolnshire affected people’s lives, and how rural and urban communities worked to alleviate or resist these new economic and social pressures. Keith, a friend and former teaching colleague of Rex, looks at how Rex’s values, ideals and artistic talents were reflected in his work.

Friday 20 November, 2pm*, Joseph Wright Hall
The Evolution of the Enclosures in Barton
Andrew Robinson
In our final lecture of 2026, Andrew Robinson will discuss the life and works of Rex Russell where he will look at the research and writing of the Enclosure movement in Lincolnshire. Andrew will look at the effects of the Enclosure on the modern-day landscape.

Lectures that took place in 2025:

Thursday 20 February, 11.15am & 1pm, £2, Wilderspin School Museum
History Underfoot
Before tomorrow evening’s archaeology talk we’ve a taster session for children and families at the Wilderspin School Museum. Try out some simple archaeological techniques and discover some of the bits and pieces found at the Church School during excavations prior to its refurbishment.
45 minutes session suitable for children aged 6+ – part of the School Museum’s “Rainy Days” Winter Warmer.

Friday 21 February, 2pm*, Joseph Wright Hall
An Introduction to Humber Field Archaeology Through Recent Fieldwork
Peter Connelly
Humber Field Archaeology was formed in 1996 as a successor to the Humberside Archaeology Unit to act as a professional archaeological consultancy in the former area of the County of Humberside. It operates principally in the East Riding of Yorkshire, Kingston upon Hull and North Lincolnshire.
Peter Connelly outlines the wide-ranging archaeological services it undertakes, and projects in the Humber region including community-based projects which have revealed new information that is very pertinent to Barton.

Friday 21 March, 2pm*, Joseph Wright Hall
Baysgarth House: Clues from the Past and a Vision for the Future
Stephen Dixon & Liz Bennet
Closed for five years and looking forlorn, this fine Georgian house is now poised ready to start a new chapter in 2025. Phase one in the Spring is focussing on the stable block and cottage to create a tearoom and a display about Hopper Cycles. Attention then turns in the summer to exhibition spaces in the House and a shop.
Architect Stephen Dixon outlines the process of renovating this historic building, and the conflict between heritage, budget and future uses.
Project Manager Liz Bennet presents the vision, compromises on the journey to reopening Baysgarth House and the goal of economic sustainability.

Barton’s Heritage Spring Launch
We’re joining other heritage venues and groups this Easter Weekend to launch a new season of discovery!

Friday 18 April, 7.30pm, Joseph Wright Hall
The early memoirs of William Smith Hesleden (1774-1854), solicitor and antiquarian of Barton-upon-Humber.
Dr Martin Watkinson, FSA
Martin will describe how he found the memoirs of William Smith Hesleden in a university library in America and what they tell us about life in Barton at the end of the eighteenth century. He will describe William’s education and apprenticeship, his friendship with Sir John Nelthorpe, his work amongst the poor, and his love of drawing, local history and architecture which has left us a wonderful legacy of published and unpublished work.

Keynote speakers:

Keith Miller, a former adult education colleague of Rex, will speak about Rex’s work researching the Charities, Friendly Societies and labouring movements of the 1800s – early examples of community self-help prior to state support which was to evolve in the twentieth century. Part of Keith’s session will involve a brief “field trip” (another reminder of Rex’s teaching methods) to look at surviving evidence of this Victorian legacy in the town centre.
Another of Rex’s interests was the reorganisation of land for agriculture in Lincolnshire and elsewhere. The Enclosure Acts changed the way people had farmed in England for centuries. Between 1604 and 1914 there were over 5,200 bills enacted by Parliament which equates to a little more than one fifth of England (F. A. Sharman (1989). Emulating the former students of Rex, Andrew Robinson has been researching enclosure in Barton and Barrow and shares his discoveries to date from documentary sources and on the ground.

Friday 16 May, 7.30pm, Joseph Wright Hall
Vere Foster: Changing Lives for the Irish Poor
Jean Cannon & Ian Wolseley
During the Great Famine of the 1840s in Ireland, Vere Foster assisted the poor, helping with the re-settlement of thousands of emigrants to North America escaping starvation and disease. For those unable to emigrate he set his sights on improving their life chances by lifting educational standards in Irish schools. Jean Cannon revisits this momentous period in Irish history and Ian Wolseley explains how a seemingly innocuous bundle of family letters revealed a family link to this great man.

Friday 20 June, 7.30pm, Joseph Wright Hall
Discordant Noises – ‘riding the stang’ and ‘skimmington rides’
Dr. Andrew Walker, Chair of the Society for Lincolnshire History & Archaeology
This curious folk custom in Europe and North America throughout the nineteenth century involved crowds making as much noise as possible by beating on pots and pans or anything that came to hand, creating what was known as rough music. This is another chance to hear Andrew Walker explain how these events enabled communities to regulate themselves and impart their own “rough justice”.

Sunday 13 July, 10.30pm – 3.30pm
Blood, Toil, Tears and Sweat
The Civic Society joins with others at the Wilderspin School Museum and Holydyke air raid shelter to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in a day to remember life on the Home Front with displays, wartime vehicles, 1940s tearoom and vintage fair.

Friday 18 July, 8pm, Joseph Wright Hall
(following the Society’s AGM at 7.30pm and a short refreshment break)
A History of Hessle Cliff
Dr. Alex Ombler (Curator, Goole Museum) explores the natural, industrial and social history of Hessle Cliff from pre-history to the present day. A little-known place on the north bank of the Humber Estuary, the cliff forms the southern-most tip of the chalk Wolds of Yorkshire. While the cliff has been of immense interest to geologists, it was also a place of industry. Quarrying and lime burning took place from at least the medieval period and during the 17th century, it became an important site for shipbuilding. The Industrial Revolution brought new developments to the cliff, not least the establishment of a new permanent settlement. As industry declined during the late 20th century, the cliff underwent regeneration and emerged as a place of waterfront leisure and living.

Wednesday 13 August
Visit to Helmsley
Helmsley Archaeology Store holds the extensive archaeological collections and paper-based archives from English Heritage guardianship sites from the North of England including the counties of Northumberland, County Durham, Cumbria, Lancashire, Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire, Cheshire. The range of collections spans English history from Prehistory to the modern day, from flint, architectural stonework to ceramics and small artefacts. Material from St. Peter’s Church is also stored there.
Cost and details to be confirmed.

Friday 12 September, 2pm, Joseph Wright Hall, FREE
East Hull Revisited
East Hull has a fascinating mix of old and new buildings including 14 Listed, two Garden Villages and the last of the City’s windmills. It also boasts an award-winning public park of 130 acres and a stately home. This is an area Colin Cooper knows well, and this informal discussion session is based on his many unique images of the buildings that have given East Hull its character including the houses, places of entertainment and, crucially, the workplaces where the likes of Rank-Hovis, Reckitt & Sons and Priesman Brother had their origins.

Sunday 14 September, 11am & 2pm, FREE
Victorian Barton
Discover the town’s Victorian legacy during this circular guided walk starting and ending at the Wilderspin School Museum. Ninety minutes tour with refreshments to finish. Car parking and toilets at the museum. Booking essential via The Ropewalk (01652) 660380

Tuesday 16 September, 7:30pm, Joseph Wright Hall, FREE
Rail 200 – British Transport Films
As part of national celebrations to mark the bicentenary of the world’s first public railway between Stockton and Darlington, we’ve joined with Friends of the Barton Line to host a nostalgic look at films from the British Film Archive with one of its former archivists, Barry Coward.

Friday 19 September, 7.30pm, Joseph Wright Hall
Barton to New Holland Flood Tidal Alleviation Scheme
Mark Adams, Environment Agency
Flooding is a long-standing problem for the communities of Barton, Barrow, and New Holland. Previous tidal flood incidents have impacted lives, businesses, and homes highlighting the need for improved tidal flood defences and for communities in the area to be better prepared. This presentation showcases the development and outline solution to reduce flood risk from the Humber Estuary around Barton-upon-Humber by Mark Adams, Senior Specialist with the Environment Agency, responsible for Flood & Coastal Risk Management, will be followed by an opportunity for questions.

Saturday 20 September, 2pm, FREE
Victorian Barton
Discover the town’s Victorian legacy during this circular guided walk starting and ending at the Wilderspin School Museum. Ninety minutes tour with refreshments to finish. Car parking and toilets at the museum. Booking essential via The Ropewalk (01652) 660380

Friday 17 October, 2pm*, Joseph Wright Hall
Turn and Face the Strange – a look at our changing flora and fauna
Dr. Jack Hatfield
Whether on our TV screens or in articles online or in print, the fact that the planet is changing rapidly is inescapable. But it is not just through reports that we see this change, we also experience it first hand in our towns, cities and villages. Jack Hatfield returns with an updated talk about how our flora, fauna and landscapes are changing and what this may mean for the future. The national and international trends will be considered but also what is happening in Barton and the surrounding region showing inter connectedness and how everyone can have an influence.

Born and educated in Barton, growing up on the banks of the Humber sparked an interest that developed into a career. Jack completed a BSc in zoology at the university of Durham followed by an MSc and PhD at Imperial College London researching Brazilian deforestation.

Jack now researches biodiversity and ecology at the University of York. His work examines how human impacts are changing the world’s flora and fauna, aiming to understand what this means for our future.

Friday 21 November, 2pm*, Joseph Wright Hall
In Conversation – O H Boyd and the Royal Coaches
O. H. Boyd
Local sculptor, illustrator and Woodcarver to the Palace O. H. Boyd returns to discuss his involvement with the Royal Coaches, carving the Imperial Crown centrepieces for the Royal Diamond Jubilee Coach ’Britannia’, and, more recently, for the new King’s Carriage.