Programme

Thursday 26th November 2026 – Clive Brooks – Marbury Hall, Dunkirk and the Retreat from France May - July 1940  

There were six catastrophic weeks for the nation. Personal accounts illustrate how several thousand men escaped to Britain. Cheshire received many men from Dunkirk, Normandy and Brittany in France. In Northwich alone, in one 24-hour period, 4,000 arrived. The local military failed to deal with the unexpected influx but the local populations of the town, villages and ICI heroically met the challenge. In early July they had all been reunited with their units but these events, and the requisitioning of large houses as accommodation, immediately led to mid-Cheshire itself becoming a major location for the British and later American troops.

Thursday 28th January 2027 – Mike Tingle – Lion Salt Works.  

Mike’s presentation will cover the background to the Cheshire salt industry, the history of Lion Salt Works, restoration to make it a Heritage site and details of the salt production process at Lion Salt Works. He will discuss why the open-pan process declined in early 20th Century, leaving the Lion Salt Works as the only such works in the UK and how the Lion Salt Works managed to survive closure until 1986.

Thursday 25th February 2027 – David Nellist – Brine, Cheshire’s Blessing.   

David’s presentation explores how Cheshire’s rich brine deposits, combined with Victorian engineering, provided the essential raw material for the development of Britain’s chemical industry. The industry linked the geology of the Cheshire Plain to the production of salt, alkalis, chlorine and a wide range of everyday products.

Thursday 25th March 2027 – Sealed Knot – the Battle of Winnington Bridge   

The Battle of Winnington Bridge, often described as the last battle of the English Civil War, took place on 19 August 1659 during Booth's Uprising, a Royalist rebellion in north-west England and Wales. The event will be vividly brought to life by members of the Sealed Knot Society who will present a lively demonstration of musketry drills and the use of pole arms in the Seventeenth Century.

Thursday 29th April 2027 – Industrial Archaeology of Cheshire.    

Dr. Michael Nevell explores the archaeological evidence for industry in Cheshire, drawing on case studies from across the county. Based on his new book, this talk offers a swift overview of key discoveries in 21st-century Cheshire archaeology, including Roman mining and salt production, medieval salt making and leather production, late medieval corn milling, post-medieval metalworking, and key industrial revolution industries in Macclesfield (textiles), Northwich (salt), and transport (canals, railways, and aerodromes).

Thursday 27th May 2027 – The Society’s AGM at 7.30pm followed by Cellen Harstan – Medieval Cheshire Bowmen.    

Another exciting time travel, this time Cellen will take us back to the time of the golden age of the Cheshire Bowmen. He will share what it was like to take part in a mediaeval battle also the preparation and daily routine of the deadliest weaponry and armour in Europe at the time. Don’t miss this chance to learn about the formidable soldiers that Cheshire's bowmen became in this violent and bloody period of British history.

Thursday 24th June 2027 – Graham Dodd – Fortresses of the Marches   

A visit to some of the forts and castles of the Welsh Marches, their history and the story of some of their inhabitants.