We run an annual series of in-person talks on a range of local history topics. Talks are held at Cley Village Hall starting at 2:30pm, unless otherwise stated. Attendance is currently free to all, but donations are welcome to help support our running costs. Donations can be made on the day by card, cheque, cash or by bank transfer to TSB Bank, Account name Blakeney Area Historical Society, Sort code 30-94-34 and Account no. 18327968.
Attendees should check this page and membership emails before travelling in case of any last minute changes to the programme.
Current Programme
- 28-1-25 Alterations to Blakeney church in the medieval period & Recent highlights from Historic England’s recent work in Norfolk
- 25-2-25 Excavation of a new Anglo-Saxon site in Norfolk
- 25-3-25 Exploring Norfolk’s Deep History Coast
- 29-4-25 The Real Margery Kempe
Tuesday 24th September 2024 at 2:30pm at Cley Village Hall
The Meaning of Geese – a thousand miles around North Norfolk on a creaking bicycle
Nick spent Covid lockdowns observing Arctic geese as they overwintered in the county. Over seven months, he cycled 1,200 miles around Norfolk on his mother’s 42-year-old bicycle, watching brent and pink-footed geese, writing up his observations in a diary.
Nick’s experiences led to a book, ‘The meaning of geese: a thousand miles in search of home’ which was the 2023 Book of the Year at the East Anglian Book Awards. It was described by The Guardian as: ‘a gorgeously observed paean to the beauty and complexity of these birds, and the landscape of North Norfolk.’
His topic for BAHS is a playful rewording of his book title: “The Meaning of Geese – a thousand miles around North Norfolk on a creaking bicycle.” While his extraordinary journey is recent history, his observations on the geese, whose abundance in North Norfolk is threatened by, amongst other things, climate change, are an important historical record for naturalists of the future.
Nick Acheson, is a Norfolk born naturalist, ambassador for the Norfolk Wildlife Trust and grandson of a Blakeney doctor.
Nick Acheson
Tuesday 22nd October 2024 at 2:30pm at Cley Village Hall
[Please note this is not our normal last Tuesday of the month]
What has the Norwich Society ever done for Norwich?
The decision to demolish Bishop Bridge was the catalyst that brought the Norwich Society into being in 1923. This is the story of how they managed to save this part of our Heritage. We then take a virtual route around Norwich which also covers many of the other successful campaigns to protect Norwich’s heritage, (as well as some failures). Without the Society’s activity, Norwich would look a lot different today. The route follows the river to Wensum Street and then moves into the City via Tombland before ending outside the Assembly House.
Jonathan Hooton is a past Chairman of the Norwich Society (2016-18) and was involved in their centenary celebrations in 2023, which resulted in the publication of “Norwich 100: How the Norwich Society has supported Norwich for 100 years”. He has since devised a guided walk around Norwich to point out the many places that owed their survival to the Society, which has been developed into a virtual tour of Norwich.
Jonathan Hooton
Tuesday 26th November 2024 at 2:30pm at Cley Village Hall
The remarkable life of Thomas Fowell-Buxton
On the wall in a side-chapel of Norwich Cathedral a modest plaque reads – ‘Remember Thomas Fowell Buxton Bt. Member of Parliament Whose Efforts led to the Emancipation of 700,000 slaves on 1st August 1834.’ These simple words commemorate a towering Norfolk hero whose courage, compassion, bravery and tenacity helped change the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. This presentation will bring to life the story behind this inscription. It will look at the life of Buxton himself and the Norfolk and Norwich community that inspired him and supported him though the brutal, decades-long Parliamentary battle that led finally to the end of slavery throughout the British Empire.
Dr Alison Dow was formerly a GP in Mile Cross, Norwich. She was born and brought up in Northern Rhodesia—now Zambia, the country where David Livingstone died and is still revered because of his strong anti-slavery stance. Alison is not the first in her family to undertake research on Africa-related topics—among her relatives she counts some eminent academics specialising in colonial and African history. She is particularly happy to play her part by researching the life of this local historical figure whose role in history has been much overlooked.
Dr Alison Dow
Tuesday 28th January 2025 at 2:30pm at Cley Village Hall
Alterations to Blakeney church in the medieval period
Chris Wheeler
Chris is a retired Chartered Surveyor with a fascination for the history of buildings. He is a member of Blakeney’s Parochial Church Council and Fabric Officer for St Nicholas’s Church, Blakeney.
He has become increasingly interested in the early history of Blakeney church, particularly in relation to the East tower and the pre-1435 nave. John Wright, another illustrious member of BAHS has already done some excellent work on the early church and its relationship with the Carmelite Friary at Blakeney. Chris is expanding on that work using the visual architectural evidence available. He will also share his theories around the nave and the mystery of the East Tower.
Recent highlights of Historic England’s work in Norfolk
Sarah Poppy
Sarah has worked for Historic England for the previous 12 years, initially dealing with scheduled monuments in the East of England, but more recently advising on the role of heritage in farming and countryside government policy. Historic England is the government’s advisor on the historic environment in England, championing historic places and helping people to understand, value and care for them.
Tuesday 25th February 2025 at 2:30pm at Cley Village Hall
Excavation of a new Anglo-Saxon site in Norfolk
Lilly Hodges
Tuesday 25th March 2025 at 2:30pm at Cley Village Hall
Exploring Norfolk’s Deep History Coast
Dr John Davies
Tuesday 29th April 2025 at 2:30pm at Cley Village Hall
The Real Margery Kempe
Susan Maddock