In 1939 Tom and Angela Rolt set out to explore the canals of England in the narrow boat ‘Cressy’. The account of their cruise was a book called “Narrow Boat” and this inspired the national movement to preserve and cherish our inland waterways. Eighty years later Alastair Clark set out on a bike to follow the part of their voyage which followed the Trent and Mersey canal.
NOTE: this talk is on a Tuesday, due to speaker's unavailability most Thursdays
And now for something completely different - some maritime industrial archaeology.
Today's speaker Geoff has been a railway enthusiast since his schooldays. At 15, he left school and started his career as an engine cleaner, working in the boilersmith’s shop and eventually becoming a top-link fireman based at Guildford Motive Power Depot. This gave him a privileged opportunity to work with a diverse group of drivers and locomotives until the final day of steam on the Southern Region, Sunday 9th July 1967.
Come and join Richard Shenton on a visit to the Rural Life Living Museum at Tilford, near Farnham in Surrey. There is a lot to see and enjoy at this museum which specializes in the Industrial history of Surrey. Features include Buildings that have been saved from demolition, Old Shops and Trades, Farm Machinery, Old Vehicles, Fire Engines, a Passenger carrying Railway System (operating as advertised), a Timber Yard and many more items of interest.
In 1846, a patent was awarded to a new type of corn-mill - it triggered a series of court cases which ran for more than 20 years. This talk tells the story of the invention and how the court cases provide examples of what makes an invention patentable in the UK today.
The work women of the Land Army in World War 2 is well known. This talk tells the story of the less well-known women who volunteered in the 1940s to keep traffic flowing on Britain’s canals. However they may have referred to themselves, they were far form “idle women”.
This talk uncovers a lost industry of the Adur valley – the making of salt. Salt is something we probably all take for granted, sprinkling it on our roast potatoes or adding it to our salads. Or even, perhaps, trying to eat less of it nowadays.
Make your own way to the Waggon Yard Car Park GU9 7PS in time for a 10:30am start to the Farnham walking tour, guided by Richard Shenton, which will take 90-100 minutes. There will then be time for lunch to be taken individually (at your own expense). In the afternoon, you may wish to visit The Maltings or the Museum of Farnham, or further explore the streets, shops, pubs and teashops of Farnham
A welcome return for David Hassard, one of SIHG's favourite speakers, for his first live talk to us since before Covid.
Some short presentations by SIHG members, which will include some of the following:
