Nottinghamshire Local History Association Autumn Forum – October 2026.
NLHA is returning to Ravenshead Village Hall on Saturday October 26th, 2026, 10.00AM to 4.00PM for another day of interesting and varied talks.
Programme:
9.30am Registration and Refreshments
10.00am Welcome
10.15am Dave Mooney: Nottingham’s Drury Hill caves.
11.30am James Wright: The Buildings Archaeologist.
12.30pm Lunch & Book Stalls
1.30pm Mark Dawson: ‘Robin Pudds’, Notts desserts.
2.45pm David Barton: William Cavendish of Welbeck and Bolsover – the first Duke of Newcastle.
4.00pm Close
Speakers:
Dave Mooney is a musician, tour guide and President of the Nottingham Historical and Archaeological Society. He has written a number of books, including on Nottingham’s sandstone caves. This talk looks at the history of the famous Drury Hill Caves (now known as the City of Caves), charting what is known of their construction, loss and rediscovery, their narrow brush with destruction and their rebirth as a major tourist attraction. Along the way we will meet tanners, archaeologists, air raid wardens and cybermen.
Dr James Wright will talk about his new book ‘The Buildings Archaeologist’, the first book in over 25 years to offer clues for discovering the secrets of Britain’s ancient buildings, looking at how historic architecture has been studied and conserved. Puzzles around why some buildings were listed and others not, will be solved. The book acts as a field guide to the written records, tree-ring dating and archaeology which help us to investigate the age, development, and social history of ancient buildings.
Dr Mark Dawson is a local food historian. He received a doctorate from Nottingham University in 2007 for his study of food and drink in the Willoughby households at Wollaton and Middleton in the Tudor period and has been researching food history for two decades now. His talk ‘Robin Pudds’ is about traditional Nottinghamshire puddings, fact or fiction; a survey of puddings that have been ascribed to Nottinghamshire and a consideration of whether they are genuinely local.
David Barton’s special interest is in the history of 17th century Nottinghamshire; he has previously presented on ‘John and Lucy Huchinson’. Today his subject is the life and achievements of a local Renaissance Prince, William Cavendish, the first Duke of Newcastle: aristocrat, politician, military commander, famous sportsman, tutor to the Royal Princes, architect, author and patron of the arts. David is the current Secretary of NLHA.
