What's new

Please check the relevant websites and social media for confirmation and last-minute changes to the events listed here.

Delapré Abbey Events and Tours

16, 17, 20 September Heritage Open Days: The Workers of Delapre Abbey and Attic Tours.
Friday 25 September Scandalous Georgians Tour.
Now until Wednesday 30 September Northants & Rutland Open Studios exhibition in The Shoosmith Gallery.
Saturday 10 October Ghost Hunt with Haunted Heritage.
Wednesday 11 November History Talk: Operation Exodus & the Fate of the Lancaster PD339.
Thursday 26 and Friday 27 November Victorian Christmas Tours.

Go to www.delapreabbey.org for more information and ticket details for the tours, talks and events. Delapre Abbey is on the outskirts of Northampton, NN4 8AW, car parking is FREE.

Northampton Museum & Art Gallery Talks

Thursday 17 September 10.30-12.00 Talk: Diary of an Agony Aunt by Tessa Simpson.
Thursday 1 October 10.30-12.00 Talk: Crown & County - Royal Northamptonshire by Kate Wills.
Thursday 15 October 10.30-12.00 Talk: Burke & Hare & the Body Snatchers by Donald Chiswell.

Thursday morning talks start at 10.30am, price £4, booking essential. Go to www.northamptonmuseums.com for more information and tickets.

Chester House Estate

September 17, 22, 24 and 29 Tours of the ARC (Archaeological Resource Centre), FREE but please book via the website.

The Chester House Estate is near Irchester in Northamptonshire. Go to www.chesterhouseestate.org for more information and booking.

Northamptonshire Film Archive Trust

Thursday 17 September at 2.00pm Films Across the Ages, at the Chester House Estate in the Courtyard, £6.
Thursday 19 November at 2.00pm Railway films at the Chester House Estate in the Courtyard, £6.

Films are shown at events around the county, go to www.northamptonshirefilmarchivetrust.co.uk for more information.

Rushden & District History Society

Friday 18 September Alpha to Omega, the lost language of headstones by Kevin Varty
Friday 16 October The Great Train Robbery by Nick Cooke.
Friday 20 November Pioneering Women in Aviation by Debbie Land.
Friday 18 December Convalescing at Cottesbrooke Hall during WWI by Helen Frost
Friday 15 January Entrepreneurs who changed Rushen by Andrew Presland.

Talks start at 7.30pm at Whitefriars School, Boughton Drive, Rushden NN10 9HX. Visitors welcome, £2.50 on the door. Go to www.rdhs.org.uk for more information.

Higham Ferrers 2026 Events

Saturday 19 September Aim High Festival Charity event in Saffron Road Recreation Ground.
Saturday 19, Sunday 20, Wednesday 23 - Sunday 27 September Northants & Rutland Open Studios art exhibition in Chichele College.
Sunday 20 September 11.00am-5.00pm I Spy Rushden and Higham Ferrers, Family Day at Rushden Lakes.
Saturday 31 October & Sunday 1 November Artists & Authors Together exhibition in Chichele College.
Sunday 8 November at 10.45am Remembrance Sunday on Market Square.
Saturday 21 November Sparkle townwide.

Go to the Higham Ferrers Tourism website, Facebook and highamferrers-tc.gov.uk for for more information about these events. Farmers' Markets on the last Saturday morning of the month on the Market Square.

Rushden Historical Transport Society

Saturday 19 September Model Weekend.
Friday 25 - Sunday 27 September Beer & Music Festival.

Heritage Railway, Transport Museum, Station Bar, Goods Yard, Shop & Buffet Carriage at the junction of Rectory Road and John Clarke Way in Rushden, Northants. Go to www.rhts.co.uk for more information and events. 

Heritage Open Days 2026

Now until Sunday 20 September
Lots of local events, go to the website www.heritageopendays.org.uk for more information.

Stanwick Lakes

Sunday 20 September from 10.00am Heritage Open Day and Heritage Build Day (From Iron to Empire).
Thursday 8 October at 2.00pm Heritage Talk by Prof Stephen Upex: The Roman Invasion of AD43 and the conquest of Britain. Booking essential, tickets from £8.
Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 October From Iron to Empire: Heritage Build Weekend
Tuesday 3 November at 2.00pm Heritage Talk by Dr Michael Curtis: Understanding Roman Northamptonshire. Booking essential, tickets from £8.
Tuesday 1 December at 2.00pm Heritage Talk by Dr Michael Curtis: Northamptonshire Villas and Life in the Countryside. Booking essential, tickets from £8.

Go to www.stanwicklakes.org.uk for information.

Bedford Guided Walks

Sunday 20 September The Rise & Fall of Bedford Castle
Thursday 24 September Tour of St Paul's Church
Sunday 27 September Bedford in WWII
Wednesday 30 September Tour of St Peters Church
Sunday 4 October Movers and Shakers

Walks start at 11.00am and are between 90 minutes and 2 hours long, 1-2 miles in length. Walks are £4 and must be pre-booked. Go to www.bedfordtourguides.org for more information and booking.

Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group Talks

Summer programme info accessible via their website 

Talks are held in Garden Room at St Matthews Church Hall, off Kettering Road, Northampton at 7.30pm. FREE to NIAG members, visitors welcome £3. Go to www.niag.org.uk for more information.

British Museum Exhibitions

Now until Sunday 11 July 2027 Exhibition: The Bayeux Tapestry.

British Museum, Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3DG. Go to www.britishmuseum.org for more information.

UNAS The Upper Nene Archaeological Society

The Museum is open on Sundays in Summer 2.00pm-5.00pm, in Winer 2.00pm-4.00pm. Adults £5. The Piddington Villa Museum, 24 Chapel End, Piddington, Northamptonshire NN7 2DD.

Wrest Park

Archaeological Collections Store Tours on 21 September, 5 and 19 October.

Wrest Park is in Silsoe, Bedfordshire, MK45 4HR. Go to www.english-heritage.org.uk for more information, prices and opening times.

Northamptonshire Heritage Forum

Wednesday 23 September Forum meeting at Daventry.
Wednesday 7 October Networking meeting.
Saturday 24 October History Day 2026 - Blisworth: The Past is Ever Present hosted by the Blisworth Heritage Society. Places limited, open to NHF members until 1 September, then non-NHF members with closing date of 5 October. Tickets £27.50 (includes refreshments and lunch).
Sunday 25 October Northamptonshire Day at Kettering Market Square.

Go to www.northamptonshireheritageforum.co.uk for more information about events and membership.

Higham Chichele Society Talks

Friday 25 September Agatha Christie by Steve Dimmer.
Friday 30 October Haunted Northamptonshire by Adrian Perkins.
Friday 27 November A History of Comedy Music by Kevin Varty.

Note that from May 2026 talks start at 10.00am (doors open at 9.30am) in the Bede House, Higham Ferrers. Members £3, Visitors £4, includes refreshments, new members welcome. Go to www.highamchichelesociety.co.uk for more information. The annual subscription is £7 and due at the May meeting.

Middle Nene Archaeological Group (MidNAG)

Friday 25 September at 7.30pm Talk: Digging Deeper by Simon, Senior Project Manager at MOLA.
Friday 30 October at 7.30pm Talk: A Metal Detectorist's World by Jon Parsons.
Friday 29 January at 7.30pm Talk: Excavations at a Roman Farmstead, Nassington, our 10th year of digging by Derek Roberts.

Meetings and talks held in The Glapthorn Room, Fletton House, Oundle, PE8 4JA. Go to www.midnag.com for more information and applications forms for the excavation.

Rockingham Castle

Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September Autumn Artisan Fair

Rockingham Castle is near Corby, LE16 8TH. Check www.rockinghamcastle.com for 2026 opening times and events.

CBA East Midlands

Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September CBA Members Weekend, visit sites in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, tickets £90.
Saturday 17 October A Celebration of Volunteer Archaeology, starts at 11.00am with a walk in Bradgate Park, Leicestershire.
Saturday 14 November Autumn Conference at Allestree Woodlands School, Blenheim Drive, Derby.

Go to www.cbaem.archaeologyuk.org more information about the Council for British Archaeology East Midlands events.

The Higgins Bedford

Wednesday 30 September, 1.00pm-3.00pm Portable Antiquities Scheme for Bedfordshire session. FREE but booking essential.
Until Sunday 4 October Exhibition: Exploring Bedfordshire's Kilns: An Industry Revealed.

The Higgins Museum, Castle Lane, Bedford MK40 3XD. Go to www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk for more information.

Northamptonshire Record Society

THE NRS hold document workshops in the NRS Library at Northamptonshire Archives, Wootton Hall Park, Northampton showcasing and explaining some of the records. Go to www.northamptonshirerecordsociety.org.uk for more information and to book a place as numbers are limited. Price £10 per person, sessions start at 10.00am. 

Saturday 3 October 18th Century Poor Law and Settlement Records by Deborah Hayter.
Saturday 7 November Probate Inventories by Dr Wendy Raybould.
Saturday 5 December Helping historians to read 17th century documents by Deborah Hayter.
Saturday 6 February History of jealth care in Northamptonshire by John Hall.
Wednesday 17 March An Introduction to GIS mapping for historians by Bill Franklin.
Saturday 3 April Northamptonshire's Industries by David Waller.

Naseby Battlefield Tours

Saturday 3 October

Walk in the footsteps of those who took part in the Battle of Naseby in 1645. Tours last 4 hours and prices start at £25, booking essential. Go to www.naseby.com for more information.

Kimbolton Castle

Sunday 4 October 1.00pm-4.00pm. Public Open Day.

Kimbolton Castle, Kimbolton, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28 0EA. Go to www.kimboltoncastle.com for more information and tickets.

Olney Archaeological Society Talks

Tuesday 6 October The Late Great Manor House at Kingston Lacy, Dorset by Dr Martin Papworth.

Lectures are at the Olney Centre, Olney in Buckinghamshire, 10.00am-12.00 noon. Note that some lectures are remote and will be shown on screen. Price £4 for visitors, go to www.mkheritage.org.uk/oas/ for more information and membership.

Oundle Historical Society Talks

Friday 9 October Northamptonshire Historic Environment Record by Charlotte Walker.
Friday 13 November Peterborough & the Peasants Revilt of 1381 by Stuart Orme.
Friday 8 January 2027 Bannarenta, Romano-British fortified Town by Steve Young.
Friday 12 February What is Local History by Max Schurer.

Talks start at 7.30pm in Oundle Methodist Church, Drummingwell Lane, Oundle. Visitors £5. Go to www.oundlehistoricalsociety.org.uk for more information.

Northampton Museum & Art Gallery

Until Saturday 10 October Exhibition: I Grew up 80s.
Until Sunday 18 October Exhibition: From the Collection: Drawings.

Go to www.northamptonmuseums.com for more information.

UNAS Autumn Conference The Anglo-Saxon Archaeology of Northamptonshire

Sunday 11 October 2026

The Saxons in the lower Nene Valley by Stephen Upex, Nene Valley Archaeological Trust.
Higham Ferrers from middle Saxon estate to Castle by Olwen Mayes, HiFARS.
Overstone, Northampton - excavations and scientific analysis of an Anglo-Saxon community by Simon Markus, MOLA.
Northampton before the Castle by Andy Chapman, Northants Archaeological Society.

Upper Nene Archaeological Society one-day conference at Hackleton Village Hall, Chapel Lane, Hackleton, Northampton NN7 2AH. Day starts at 10.30am, first talk at 11.05am, day ends with UNAS AGM at 4.30pm. Tickets are £25 for UNAS members, £35 for non-members, lunch and refreshments included, booking by Wednesday 7 October.

Peterborough Museum 2026

Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday Priestgate Vaults Tours.

Go to www.peterboroughmuseum.org for more information about events and tours.

Finedon Local Historical Society Talks 2026

Monday 26 October Northampton's County Buildings by Richard Blacklee.
Monday 23 November AGM and Talk: Philip Manfield, his life and contribution to Northampton by Izabela Robinson.

Talks are at 7.30pm in the Mission Room, Well Street, Finedon, NN9 5JP. FLHS members £2.50, visitors £3.50. Go to www.tingdenetofinedon.co.uk for more information.

Sulgrave Manor & Garden

Open now for Summer 2026 New Exhibition George Washington - Relics & Representations.
Pop-up talks on Mondays & Tuesdays at noon.
Friday 30 October Twilight Tour
Saturday 5 December Candlelight Christmas

Sulgrave Manor, Manor Road, Sulgrave, Banbury, OX17 2SD. Go to www.sulgravemanor.org.uk for more information.

Oundle Museum

Museum open for the Summer 2026 season until end of October, Saturdays and Sundays only, 1.00pm-4.00pm.

Oundle Museum is in The Courthouse, Mill Road, Oundle PE8 4BW. Go to www.oundlemuseum.org.uk for more information. Theme for 2026 is 'More of Oundle's villages'. FREE entry but donations welcome.

Annual Brixworth Lecture 2026

Saturday 7 November at 5.00pm tbc Letter Writing in Early Medieval Mercia by Dr Peter Darby

All Saints Church, Church Street, Brixworth, Northampton NN6 9BZ. Go to www.friendsofbrixworthchurch.org.uk for more information and tickets.

Irchester Parish Historical Society Talks

Society usually meets the second Thursday of each month, members £2, visitors £4. Go to www.irchester.org for more information.

Earls Barton

Earls Barton Heritage Group meet in the Library & Community Centre NN6 0ND at 7.30pm, visitors welcome.

Wellingborough Museum

Friday 26 February 5th Wellingborough Transport Fair

Wellingborough Museum, Dulley's Baths, 12 Castle Way, Wellingborough, NN8 1XB. Museum open Monday to Saturdays 10.00am-4.30pm. Go to www.wellingboroughmuseum.co.uk for more information. 

Northampton Central Library

Next date tbc Carnegie Talk

Northampton Central Library is in Abington Street, Northampton NN1 2BA. Go to the Facebook page for more information.

Northamptonshire Battlefield Society

Next date tbc 

Talks start at 7.30pm at Delapre Abbey, on the outskirts of Northampton, NN4 8AW. Go to www.delapreabbey.org and www.northantsbattles.com for more information.

Northamptonshire Archaeological Society

TBC Next event.

Go to www.northants-archaeology.org.uk for information.

CBA Council for British Archaeology

Next date tbc Online talks

Go to www.archaeologyuk.org for more information about the Council for British Archaeology online talks.

Wellingborough Civic Society Talks

Next date tbc

Talks are usually at 7.00pm in the Dulley Rooms, Wellingborough Museum, 12 Castle Way, Wellingborough NN81XB. Visitors £3.

Sharnbrook Local History Group Talks

Next date tbc

Talks held at 2.00pm in the Methodist Church, Sharnbrook but go to www.slhg.org.uk for more information.

Abington Park Museum in Northampton

Next date tbc, starts at 2.00pm Guided tour.

Volunteer-led tours of the Museum, £3.50 each person, booking essential. Go to www.northamptonmuseums.com for more information about tours and exhibitions at Abington Park Museum.

Raunds & District History Society Talks

Next date tbc

Talks start at 7.00pm in Raunds Library, £3 includes refereshments, all welcome.

Kettering Civic Society

Next date tbc 

Go to www.ketteringcivicsociety.net for more information.

University of Leicester Heritage Hub

Next event date tbc

Go to www.le.ac.uk for more information.

ISE-Dig Talks

Next date tbc

Talks start at 7.30pm and are held in St Andrew's Church Rooms, Crown Street, Kettering, NN16 8QA. ISE members £4, visitors £5, all welcome. Go to www.ise-dig.co.uk for more information.

Burton Latimer Heritage Museum

Next exhibition tbc

Harold Mason Centre, 120 High Street, Burton Latimer, NN15 5RH

Northampton Civic Society

Next date tbc Committee meeting.

Meetings and talks at The Humphrey Rooms, 10 Castilian Terrace, Northampton NN1 1LD.

Friends of Kettering Art Gallery & Museum

Next date tbc Town Walk, £5 per person.

Kettering Museum and Gallery remain closed, go to the Friends Facebook page or www.friendskagam.org for information about their events, or visit ARTworks Creative Space in the Newlands Centre Kettering.