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

Friday 15 May and Friday 22 May Hard Hat Tour of the 19th Century Stables Building.
Wednesday 3 June -Sunday  12 July Experience the Battle of Northampton - History brought to Life.
Friday 12 June Mysterious Lady in the Painting - Interactive Tour.
Tuesday 22 June A Portrait of Passion.

Go to www.delapreabbey.org for more information and ticket details for the tours, Family Fun Days, Friends of Northampton Castle Play Days, and other events. Delapre Abbey is on the outskirts of Northampton, NN4 8AW, car parking is FREE.

Earls Barton

Friday 15 May Earls Barton Heritage Group Stories beyond Barton's Old Buildings, Part 2 by Hilary Hillman.
Saturday 20 June Earls Barton Carnival
Saturday 29, Sunday 30 & Monday 31 August Earls Barton Transport Show

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

Rushden & District History Society

Friday 15 May AGM followed by Talk: Burning Ambition: 1901 John Cave Factory Fire by Jon-Paul Carr
Friday 19 June Three short films by Northampton Films Archive Trust.
Friday 17 July Blacksmith to Dental Surgeon by Mike Muncaster
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.

Council for British Archaeology: East Midlands - Romans in the East Midlands

Sunday 17 May, 10.00am-4.30pm

Roman Archaeology of the Linclon Bypass: discoveries along the River Witham Mike Wood, Network Archaeology.
Derventio, the Little City: a small town in the Roman north Steve Malone, York Archaeology.
Crafting the County: a slice through Lincolnshire's Roman industry and settlement on the SPA pipeline Vicky Owen and Phillippa Adams.
The Lincolnshire Wolds in the Roman period: a long-term investigation of an under-explored landscape Steve Wills, University of Kent.
A Religious Precinct on the Fosse Way at Enderby, Leicestershire: preliminary results David Ingham, Albion Archaeology.

At The Venue, Grantham Road, Navenby, Lincoln LN5 0JJ. Tickets £25 for CBA EM members, £30 for non-members, refreshments and lunch included.

Bedford Guided Walks

Sunday 17 May I Never Knew That.
Sunday 24 May The Rise & Fall of Bedford Castle.
Wednesday 27 May Bedford's South Bank Show.
Sunday 31 May The Life & Times of John Bunyan.
Wednesday 3 June Bedford in WWII.
Sunday 7 June Bedford's Movers & Shakers.
Sunday 14 June Plaques and Plinths.

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.

Wrest Park

Archaeological Collections Store Tours on 18 May, 1 and 15 June, 6 and 20 July, 3 and 17 August, 7 and 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.

Finedon Local Historical Society Talks 2026

Monday 18 May The Last Days of the Northants Iron and Steelworks Railways by Mike Dix.
Monday 22 June Bridges of the River Nene by Dan Reid.
Monday 27 July When the Land Ships came to Town by Helen Frost.
Monday 26 October Northampton's County Buildings by Richard Blacklee.

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.

Olney Archaeological Society Talks

Tuesday 19 May Roman Irchester by Prof Sarah Scott.

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.

CBA Council for British Archaeology

Wednesday 20 May at 7.00pm Online talk: This is Archaeology: The Essex Ways.
Wednesday 22 July at 7.00pm Online talk: This is Archaeology: AI Mapping of Historic Landscapes.
Wednesday 29 July at 7.00pm Online talk: This is Archaeology: Archaeology and Nature Recovery.

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

Sulgrave Manor & Garden

Open now for Summer 2026 New Exhibition George Washington - Relics & Representations.
Pop-up talks on Mondays & Tuesdays at noon.
Thursday 21 May 10.00am-4.00pm The US-UK Relationship @ 250: Past, Present & Future, tickets £50.
Saturday 27 June Sherlock Holmes & the Hound of the Baskervilles
Saturday 4 July Summer Fun Day
Now until 5 July Exhibition: Visualise contemporary stitched art textiles.
Sunday 9 August Twelfth Night
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.

Stanwick Lakes

Friday 22 May 6.00-8.00pm - Evening Traditional Crafts Workshops - corn dollies, flower crowns, blacksmithing, £35 booking essential.
Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 May 10.00am-5.00pm From Iron to Empire, Heritage Build weekends.
Sunday 14 June Tinsmithing Workshop.
Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 July 10.00am-5.00pm From Iron to Empire, Heritage Build weekends.
Friday 4 September 10.30am-1.30pm Finds Friday with Northants Finds Liaison Officer Eleanor Cox.

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

Chester House Estate

Until Saturday 23 May Heritage Workshops
Saturday 25-Sunday 26 May Roman Fest
Next date tbc 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.

British Museum Exhibitions

Until 25 May 2026 Exhibition: Hawai'i: A kingdom crossing oceans.
September 2026 Exhibition: The Bayeux Tapestry.

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

The Higgins Bedford

Wednesday 27 May, 1.00pm-3.00pm Portable Antiquities Scheme for Bedfordshire session. FREE but booking essential.
Wednesday 29 July, 1.00pm-3.00pm Portable Antiquities Scheme for Bedfordshire session. FREE but booking essential.
Until Wednesday 2 September 2026 Exhibition: Noel Carrington, nothing need be ugly.
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 Battlefield Society

Thursday 28 May Talk: An Oxfordshire Soldier at the Battle of the Little Big Horn by Grant Gerrard

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.

Higham Chichele Society Talks

Friday 29 May Pork Pie Heaven by Jon-Paul Carr.
Friday 26 June Take us back in time by Gloria and Peter Wright.
Friday 31 July Grandad's War 1914-18 by Ted Barnes.
Friday 28 August Roman Northamptonshire by Michael Curtis.
Friday 25 September Agatha Christie by Steve Dimmer.
Friday 30 October The Ghost Detective 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.

Higham Ferrers 2026 Events

Saturday 30 May Chichele Garden Fair in Chichele College Garden.
Saturday 6 - Sunday 14 June Great Big Green Week for local schools.
Friday 10 July Music night at Chichele College.
Friday 7 August Music night at Chichele College.
Saturday 12 September Horticultural Show in Chichele College.
Sunday 20 September 11.00am-5.00pm Heritage Day at Rushden Lakes.
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 30 May The Shed of Hell.
Saturday 11 July and Saturday 15 August Pacer Driving Experience.
Sunday 2 August Classic Car Show 2026 at Hall Park, Rushden.
Saturday 29 - Monday 31 August Sausage & Cider Festival.
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. 

Peterborough Museum 2026

Until Saturday 30 May FREE exhibition: The Art of the Past by Dr Rose Ferraby, a visual celebration of the archaeological landscapes of Britain.
Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday Priestgate Vaults Tours.

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

Oundle Museum

Museum open again for Summer 2026 season until Sunday 1 November, Saturdays and Sundays only, 1.00pm-4.00pm.

Oundle Museum is in Mill Road, Oundle PE8 4BW. Go to www.oundlemuseum.org.uk for more information. Theme for 2026 is 'More of Oundle's villages'.

Northampton Museum & Art Gallery

Until Sunday 7 June 2026 Exhibition: Carboniferous Monsters: 100 million years before the Dinosaurs.

Go to www.northamptonmuseums.com for more information.

Naseby Battlefield Tours

Sunday 14 June, Sunday 28 June, Saturday 4 July, Saturday 18 July, Saturday 8 August, Sunday 23 August, Saturday 5 September

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.

Northampton Museum & Art Gallery Talks

Thursday 18 June The remains of Annie Pritchard by Kate Philbin.
Thursday 2 July Food Glorious Food by J.P. Carr.
Thursday 16 July 10 Years of the Good Loaf by Suzy Van Roogen.

Thursday morning talks start at 10.30am, price £3.50, booking essential. Go to www.northamptonmuseums.com for more information and tickets.

Rockingham Castle

Sunday 21 June Medieval Joust

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

Kettering Civic Society

Monday 29 June The Life of William Knibb.

Go to www.ketteringcivicsociety.net for more information.

CBA Festival of Archaeology 2026

Saturday 18 July - Sunday 2 August

Theme for 2026 is Archaeology and Nature. Go to www.archaeologyuk.org for more information nearer the time.

Middle Nene Archaeological Group (MidNAG)

Saturday 15 August - Saturday 29 August Nassington Excavation, registration opens on Saturday 30 May.

Meetings held in The Glapthorn Room, Fletton House, Oundle, PE8 4JA. Go to www.midnag.com for more information.

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.

Irchester Field School Learning Programme

Summer 2026, dates tbc

Go to www.chesterhouseestate.org for more information about the Irchester Field School run in partnership with the ARC and the University of Leicester. Bookings already being taken.

Oundle Historical Society Talks

Friday 11 September Body Snatchers & the Body Trade by Elizabeth Hurren.
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.

Heritage Open Days 2026

Friday 11 - Sunday 20 September

Go to www.heritageopendays.org.uk for more information nearer the time.

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 postponed 18th Century Poor Law and Settlement Records by Deborah Hayter.

Kimbolton Castle: Public Open Days

Sunday 4 October 1.00pm-4.00pm. Go to www.kimboltoncastle.com for more information and tickets.

Northamptonshire Heritage Forum

Saturday 24 October History Day in conjunction with Blisworth Heritage Society.
Sunday 25 October Northamptonshire Day at Kettering Market Square.

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

43rd Annual Brixworth Lecture 2026

October tbc

Go to www.friendsofbrixworthchurch.org.uk for more information and tickets which are £12.

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.

Discover Northamptonshire Visitor Hub at Rushden Lakes

Next date tbc Finds Day with Northamptonshire Finds Liaison Officer Eleanore Cox.

FREE drop-in session at the Tourism Hub near the entrance to Cineworld, Rushden Lakes.

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 Archaeological Society

TBC Next event.

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

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.

Northamptonshire Film Archive Trust

Next date tbc

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

Wellingborough Museum

Next event tbc

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 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.