Leyland Historical Society

Mike Lucas - The founder, writer and actor of Mikron Theatre Company talks about the theatres history.

57th Season 

                To start the new season on Monday 8th July I will be conducting an historical walk along the border between Farington and Leyland looking at the various houses and industries that make up the area. Meeting on the Centurion Way railway bridge at 7 pm.

The first meeting on the 2nd September will feature Dr Callum Watson giving a graphic description of the Battle of Bannockburn back in 1314 when the Scots gave the English a sound beating. Callum is one of the guides of the battle museum which is just south of Stirling. I recommend staying at the King Robert Hotel next door to the museum as I did if you go for a visit. 

​57th Season

Monday 8th July  
Leyland Historical Walk – Meet at Centurion Way Railway Bridge 7.00 pm
Peter Houghton

Monday 2nd September
The Battle of Bannockburn
Dr Callum Watson

Monday 7th October *
Common Ground – The History of Rambling
Mikron Theatre

Monday 4th November
The Smuggler King of Cullercoats
Dr Nick Barratt

Monday 2nd December
The Dambusters
Frank Pleszak

Monday 6th January 2025
The all-new Archaeological Update
Chris Wild

Monday 3rd February
A Life in Dialect Hunting
Sid Calderbank

Monday 3rd March
Made in Manchester, the story of the city that shaped the Modern World
Brian Groom 

Monday 7th April
Lost Voices – Postcards as a Historical Resource
Dr Chloe Duckworth 

Monday 5th May** 
18th Annual Historical Society Trip to the Lakes

Monday 2nd June
Leyland’s Forgotten Industries
Peter Houghton

To finish the Season on Monday 2nd June I will be giving a talk on Leyland’s forgotten industries of which there were many, so come and see how many you know and how many are new to you.

So, hope to see you all in the coming season and we will see what we can discover together and don’t forget to set up your standing order or direct payment for the 15th August, anything to save paying bank charges.

Peter Houghton, Chairman                 

Captain Armstrong was a customs officer, commanding a ship that patrolled the seas between Sunderland and Newcastle, with a mission to prevent smugglers running their goods to shore. Captain Armstrong embraced his duties with great zeal and enthusiasm, pursuing a ‘shoot first, ask questions later’ approach when pursuing vessels that he thought were breaking the law. His methods clearly worked. In 1761, the total value of seized goods stood at £94. By 1767, it had jumped to £1,210, of which he took a share. Find out his story at our meeting on 4th November as told by Dr Nick Barratt.

The last talk of the year on 2nd December will be given by Frank Pleszak on that famous Second World War bombing mission, the Dambusters, which has a local connection with the bouncing bombs being made at ROF Euxton.

On 3rd March we will welcome back Brian Groom who will talk about Made in Manchester, the story of the city that shaped the Modern World.

After a visit to Ambleside by coach, we will then head over to Coniston for a look around the village and visit the Ruskin Museum which is now home to Duncan Campbell’s Bluebird. More details and timings will appear around Christmas with a booking form.

On 5th May there will be the 18th Annual Historical Society Trip which this season will be going to the Lakes. The plan is to coach over to Haverthwaite to catch the steam train to Lakeside. We will then take the steamer up Windermere, calling at Bowness and finishing up at Waterhead near Ambleside.

This year’s Mikron on 7th October will be a hill-arious ramble through the history of land access in England. From ze Norman Conquest to loitering in lockdown, via The Mass Trespass at Kinder Scout.

The Pendale and District Ramblers are looking forward to celebrating ‘in stile’ on their 50th anniversary walk, but the path has been blocked by the landowner. How will they find their way through?Their quest for freedom and fresh air won’t be easy, as they navigate bulls, beavers, and wandering sheep. Grab your boots and waterproof for a meander with Mikron on a hike through history.

For our first talk of 2025 on Monday 6th January we will again be entertained by Chris Wild giving us the yearly update of all things that have happened in the world of archaeology in the past year for the University of Salford.

 

The 3rd February meeting will see the welcome return of Sid Calderbank who this year is going into his own past for A Life in Dialect Hunting.

By popular demand, on 7th April we shall see the return of Dr Chloe Duckworth who this time will give us a talk called Lost Voices – postcards as a historical resource

Meetings 

Meetings held in the South Ribble Civic Centre, Shield Room, Banqueting Suite, West Paddock , Leyland PR25 1DH at 7.30 pm 

All meetings marked * are free to members though visitors have to pay £12.00 rather than usual visitors entrance fee of £5.00. Meetings marked as ** are outwith the membership fee.

The membership fee of £15.00 per year includes all 9 meetings.

To join the Society click on the Application Form and either send it by post or email to peter@leylandhistoricalsociety.co.uk