What's new

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

Higham Ferrers 2025 Events

Sunday 15 June Secret Gardens.
Friday 20 June at 7.30pm Music Night in Chichele College - Shannondore.
Friday 11 July at 7.30pm Music Night in Chichele College - Northampton Male Voice Choir.
Saturday 30 August from 9.00am Town-wide Garage Sale.
Saturday 13 September Horticultural Show in Chichele College.
September tbc, 11.00am-5.00pm Heritage Day at Rushden Lakes - stalls and guided bus tours.
Friday 10 October Fashion Show in the Bede House.
Sunday 9 November at 10.45am Service of Remembrance on the Market Square.
Saturday 22 November 11.00am-6.00pm Sparkle Santa's grotto, fun fair, stalls, refreshments and entertainment, lights switch on at 5.00pm.

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.

Rockingham Castle

Sunday 15 June Jousting and Medieval Village.
Sunday 20 July English Civil War Day.

Go to www.rockinghamcastle.com for more information.

Wrest Park 2025

Mondays: 16 June, 7 and 21 July, 4 and 18 August, 8 and 22 September, 6 and 20 October. Archaeological Collections Store Tours starting at 11.00am and 1.00pm.

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

Irchester Field School Learning Programme 2025

Monday 16 June - Friday 4 July

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

Northampton Museum & Art Gallery Talks 2025

Thursday 19 June Walt Disney - The struggles of a legend by Steve Dimmer.

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

Rushden & District History Society Talks 2025

Friday 20 June That's Unusual by Derek Blunt.
Friday 18 July Roman Pottery by Paul Smith. 

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.

Naseby Battlefield Interactive Tours

Sunday 22 June, Saturday 5 July, Saturday 12 July, Sunday 20 July, Saturday 26 July, Sunday 7 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.

Delapré Abbey Events and Tours 2025

Sunday 22 June Medieval Tour.
Friday 6 - Saturday 7 June Divorced, Beheaded, Died An Audience with King Henry VIII - live theatre production.

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.

Finedon Local Historical Society Talks 2025

Monday 23 June Strawbear to Squirt by Susan Copperwheat.
Monday 28 July To the Manor Born by Derek Blunt.

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.

The Chalke History Festival 2025

Monday 23 - Sunday 29 June

History festival held at Broad Chalke, Salisbury, Wiltshire - talks, living history, music, food & retail. Go to www.chalkefestival.com for more information.

Northamptonshire Battlefield Society 2025

Thursday 26 June The War on Terror by Major Tom Mouat MBE
Thursday 31 July Artillery in battle during the British Civil Wars by Simon Marsh.
Thursday 25 September Writing Historical Fiction by Charles Cordell.
Thursday 30 October The Spendthrift Election by Graham Evans.
Thursday 27 November Eleanor of Aquitaine by Sara Cockerill.

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 2025

Friday 27 June An alphabetical journey through Northamptonshire by Derek Blunt.
Friday 25 July Northampton's Victorian inventors and inventions by John Paul Carr.
Friday 29 August Bog bodies by David Brown.
Friday 26 September Living in the Middle East by Paul Mackay.
Friday 31 October Six of Higham's men you may have forgotten by Richard Oberman.
Friday 28 November History of Christmas food by Ria Jefferies.

Talks start at 9.30am, doors open at 9.00am, 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 £5 and due at the May meeting.

Northampton Museum & Art Gallery

Friday 27 June 7.00pm-8.00pm, doors open at 6.30pm Lecture by Mary Beard The Image of the Gladiator: In Ancient Rome and Now.
Now until Sunday 7 September 2025 A British Museum Touring Exhibition: Gladiators of Britain.
Starts in September 2025 Exhibition: A History of Northamptonshire in 100 Objects.

Go to www.northamptonmuseums.com and www.britishmuseum.org for more information. The lecture tickets are £20 each.

Burton Latimer Heritage Society

Until Saturday 28 June Exhibition: Hitting the Right Note, a history of music in Burton Latimer.

At the Harold Mason Centre, 120 High Street, Burton Latimer, NN15 5RH. Every Thursday and Saturday 10.00am-1.00pm, free entry.

Roman Fest 2025

Saturday 28 - Sunday 29 June

Two-day event celebrating everything Roman. Over 30 different organisations will be taking part. Go to www.chesterhouseestate.org.uk for more information.

Kettering Civic Society Talks 2025

Friday 4 July A Walk around Kettering Martin Rose.

Talks are at 7.30pm in Village Hall, Barton Seagrave. Visitors £6.

Sulgrave Manor & Garden 2025

Opens Sundays, Mondays & Tuesdays until 30 September, 10.30am-4.00pm.
July Exhibition: Tudor Gowns.
Sunday 6 July Independence Day Celebrations.

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

Conference: Voices of the Marginalised in History

Friday 7 and Saturday 8 July Keynote speaker: Dr Liam Liburd, Durham University.

University of Northampton centre for Historical Studies, Waterside Campus, Northampton, NN1 5PH.

Stanwick Lakes 2025

Tuesday 8 July at 2.00pm Tea and talk: The History & Art of Punch & Judy by Professor Diamond.
Saturday 4 October 10.00am-4.00pm Workshops Ancient Craft: Flint knapping.
Saturday 4 October 10.00am-4.00pm Workshops Ancient Craft: Bronze Age jewellery.

Go to www.stanwicklakes.org.uk for information and to book a place.

ISE-Dig Talks 2025

Wednesday 9 July Newton Medieval Cemetery by Dale Munn.
Wednesday 6 August The Harpole Burial - One year on by Chris Chinnock.
Wednesday 10 September 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.

Peterborough Museum 2025

Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday Priestgate Vaults Tours.

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

Oundle Historical Society Talks 2025

Saturday 12 July Visit to Lilford Hall.
Friday 12 September Nene Valley Dresses 1750-1950 Sharn Matthews.
Friday 10 October Cotterstock Hall and its owners 1650-1820 by David Bond.
Friday 14 November BB's Summer on the Nene by David Osborne.

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

Kynren 2025

Saturdays 19 July - 13 September

An epic tale of England, two thousand years of history in 90 minutes at Bishop Aukland, County Durham, DL14 7SF. Go to www.11arches.com for more information.

CBA Festival of Archaeology 2025

Saturday 19 July - Sunday 3 August

Theme: Archaeology and Wellbeing. Go to www.archaeologyuk.org for more information nearer the time.

The Higgins Bedford 2025

Wednesday 30 July and 24 September 1.00pm-3.00pm Portable Antiquities Scheme for Bedfordshire session. FREE but booking essential.
Tuesday 2 September Lunchtime Talk Seizing the Skies by Richard Moon.
Tuesday 4 November Lunchtime Talk Thomas Patch by Hugh Belsey.

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

Middle Nene Archaeological Group (MidNAG)

Saturday 16 - Saturday 30 August Summer Excavation at Nassington - volunteers needed.
Date tbc for next meeting/talk.

Meetings at 7.30pm in Fletton House, Fletton Way, Glapthorn Road, Oundle PE8 4JA. Go to www.midnag.org.uk or Facebook for more information.

Discover Northamptonshire Visitor Hub at Rushden Lakes 2025

Friday 15 August and Friday 17 October, 10.30am-1.30pm Finds Day with Northamptonshire Finds Liaison Officer Eleanore Cox.

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

British Museum Exhibitions

Until 7 September 2025 Hiroshige: artist of the open road.
Until 19 October 2025 Ancient India: living tradition.
Until 29 June 2025 War rugs: Afghanistan's knotted history.

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

Heritage Open Days 2025

Friday 12 - Sunday 21 September

Go to www.heritageopendays.org.uk for more information.

Heritage Day at Rushden Lakes

Sunday 21 September tbc.

More information nearer the time.

CBAEM Conference 2025: Fieldwalking: past, present ... and future?

Wednesday 24 September at Grantham's Guildhall.

Chester House Estate

Dates for Autumn 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.

UNAS Autumn Conference 2025

Sunday 5 October at Hackleton Village Hall, Chapel Lane, Hackleton, Northampton NN7 2AH.

Kimbolton Castle: Public Open Days

Sunday 5 October 1.00pm-4.00pm. Go to www.kimboltoncastle.com for more information.

Northamptonshire Heritage Forum

Saturday 18 October History Day to be held in Higham Ferrers.

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

CBAEM Autumn Conference 2025

Saturday 25 October in Leicester.

Oundle Museum

Museum open for Summer 2025 until Sunday 26 October, 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. The display for 2025 is Oundle's Neighbouring Villages.

Irchester Parish Historical Society Talks 2025

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

Brixworth Lecture 2025

November tbc

Go to www.friendsofbrixworthchurch.org.uk for more information and tickets which are £15.

Sywell Aviation Museum and Sywell Aerodrome 2025

2025 No air show planned for the Aerodrome this year.
tbc Winter talk programme.

Talks are £5 and are held in the Cirrus Room at the Aviator Hotel, go to www.sywellaviationmuseum.org.uk for more information.

Sharnbrook Local History Group Talks 2025

Next date tbc

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

Earls Barton

Next date tbc Earls Barton Heritage Group meet in the library.

Northamptonshire Film Archive Trust 2025

Next date tbc

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

Northamptonshire Archaeological Society 2025

Next date tbc

Go to www.northants-archaeology.org.uk for information. (New website available shortly).

Wellingborough Museum

Next date 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. 

Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group Talks 2025

Throughout Summer 2025 Walks and visits.

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

Raunds & District History Society Talks 2025

Next date tbc

Talks start at 7.30pm in Raunds Library, £3 includes refereshments, all welcome.

Irthlingborough Historical Society 2025

Next date tbc at 7.00pm 

Go to www.erdiburn.org for more information.

Abington Park Museum in Northampton 2025

Next date tbc.

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.

Bedford Guided Walks

Dates for 2025 tbc

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.

Finds Day at Daventry Museum

Next date tbc.

Northamptonshire Finds Officer Eleanore Cox will be at Daventry Museum, free but you'll need to book a 15 minute time slot by email.

CBA online talks 2025

Next date tbc In Conversation.

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

Friends of Kettering Art Gallery & Museum 2025

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.

Olney Archaeological Society Talks 2025

Next date tbc

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.

Northamptonshire Records Society 2025

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. 

Next date tbc. 

Northampton Central Library 2025

tbc Next Carnegie Talk.

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