Notices
Unless noted otherwise, we hold our monthly meetings at The Kingswood Complex, Kingsway, Newton, Chester, CH2 2FF, starting from 19:15. The programme for the following months is:
Thursday 18th Jan 2024
Caroline Ellison, a City of Chester Tourist Guide, will be telling us about the "blue plaques scheme" and the sites of the few we have in the City. You will know that Hoole's one plaque is sited on the front of the Ba Ba Guest House on Hoole Road: "The house was the birthplace of Group Captain Geoffrey Leonard Cheshire, Baron Cheshire VC, OM, DSO & Two Bars, DFC (7 September 1917 – 31 July 1992) who was a highly decorated British RAF pilot during the Second World War." Owners, Bill and June Smith are joining us to share in the evening.
Friday 16th February 2024
We have organised a visit with a guided tour of Bishop Lloyd's Palace, Watergate Row and a ttalk on its history. Further details will be circulated nearer the date. This will be instead of our monthly Thursday meeting at Kingswood and you will need to make your own way there.
Bishop Lloyd's Palace is unique nationally and internationally. Nowhere else in Britain is there such a profusion of original carvings, dating from the late Tudor period. We have no written records of the ownership or occupation of the building until around the 1640s. The front of the building is the only witness to the tastes and history of its early occupiers. Last year Skysnappers Film and Photography did drone photographs of the carvings. Some of the results were surprising. The old cliche 'if only these walls could talk' will be realised in this lecture. It is looking at the front of the house, but it takes us on a helter-skelter of historical facts, ideas and artistic interests. The talk is actually in Bishop Lloyd's Palace to add more authenticity to it. Doors open at 7.00 for a 7.30 start.
Thursday 21st March 2024
David Hearn: “Strongholds of the Mersey” (Perch Rock, sea defences etc.)
Thursday 18th April 2024
Linda Webb: “The Lost Gardens of Hoole” (Part 1)
Thursday 16th May 2024
Peter Elliott: “The Battle of Hoole Heath”: most people have heard of The Battle of Rowton Heath (24 Sept 1645), but fewer are aware of the strategic context of the battle and the fact that much of the fighting actually took place in Hoole. Peter will be explaining how this unexpected battle came about and how it fits in with other, related, events in Civil War Chester.
Thursday 20th June 2024
Phil Cook: “Hoole Bridge area”
Thursday 18th July 2024
Linda Webb: “The Lost Gardens of Hoole” (Part 2) - a guided walk (for a max. of 20/22)
August—no meeting
Thursday 19th Sept 2024
Anthony Anakin-Smith: “Chester Foundling Hospital”.
Thursday 17th Oct 2024
Colin Foden: “beating the bounds” and boundary stones.