2026
April 2026
Stuart Elliot joined us to talk about the place of the village in the economic and social life of England, the impact of the Industrial Revolution, Inter war developments and post war changes to current considerations of the English Village.
March 2026
We have strong links in local history of our Viking background, up to 50% of us have Scandinavian DNA and there is placename evidence of our Norse ancestry. The largest hoard of Viking silver found in Western Europe was left behind in the banks of the River Ribble.
Paul Atherton joined us to give us an entertaining and informative talk about our Viking history.
At the end of the meeting, Margaret announced that she is sadly giving up the post of Local History Group Leader after 17 years! Her last meeting will be the April 2026 one.
I'd like to personally thank her for all her hard work and send best wishes for the future. She has been very supportive to me and a good friend.
As a result of this announcement, the Local History group is looking for a new leader. If anyone would like to take on the role, please let Margaret know at Horizons or the next meeting, or contact Group Support. If a replacement is not found then this group will shut down.
February 2026
West Lancashire has a long and fascinating heritage. Some landmarks are easily recognised, such as the Parish Church and the Clock Tower. Kathryn Macdonald gave us a very interesting talk about some of the less well known landmarks and the people associated with them.
A great start to the 2026 Local History meetings!
2025
December 2025
Philip Walsh gave us a very interesting talk about his 432 mile walk around Lancashire to raise money for the North West Air Ambulance. As this was the Christmas meeting, there was sherry/soft drink, shortbread on arrival plus a raffle.
The perfect end to another year of Local History talks.
Thanks to Margaret for all her hard work!
Best wishes to all our members for Christmas and the New Year.
November 2025
The meeting included a presentation by Roger Blaxall about the evacuation to Ormskirk and area of school children and their teachers. Memorabilia relating to WW2 was brought in by some members that was shown to the meeting attendees.
October 2025
Adam Parsons joined us from Oxford Archaeology North (which recently incorporated Lancaster University's Archaeology Department) to talk about archaeological discoveries in Lancashire. Replicas of some of the findings were on display.
April 2025
Mebs Ahmed joined us to talk about his journey from his birth place in a village in Pakistan to Lancashire via Oxford and Bradford and the adjustment to another culture and language. He told us about his education and life ending up with a career with Lancashire Constabulary.
March 2025
Our "Shrove Tuesday" meeting commenced with our usual tea or coffee but with a special treat of a scotch pancake! Margaret then gave us a presentation on some of our local women in history which was well appreciated by the large audience.
February 2025
Dot Broady-Hawkes' talk revealed something about the famous and infamous people of Ormskirk.
2024
December 2024 - Stir Up Tuesday
In history it would have been 'Stir Up Sunday', we were late, but we were ready for the V.I.Ps! The afternoon included a presentation by Kate Hurst called 'Who Do They Think We Are?'. The talk was based on Kate's experience of some of her background research for the television programme 'Who Do You Think You Are?'.
There was festive food and drink, a quiz and a draw in which three lucky folk won a Christmas Pudding each!
The Large Room was groaning at the seams, a good time was had by all attendees!
November 2024 - Four Tins
We were treated to a talk from Steve Williams about military and social history using four tins - a WW1 Christmas tin, a tin of emergency rations issued for D Day in WW2, a coal miners lunch tin and a tin of Heinz beans. All had a Lancashire connection.
October 2024 - Back to School
Local History returned to indoor meetings on 1st October with a 'Back to School' meeting.
Can you remember your school days? Do you have a school photograph of yourself for a 'Guess the Pupil' gallery? Some of our members sent us their 'younger self' photos for display on the big screen, and the audience then tried to identify them, admittedly with mixed results!
Our afternoon included references to school life in days gone by and Dan Copley told us about the history of our local Teacher Training College that is now Edge Hill University.
April 2024 - The Great British Seaside
Continuing the seaside theme, Andy Luscombe talked about the tradition of writing and sending postcards. Seaside venues were a popular place to see postcards for sale and holidaymakers often sent “Wish You Were Here” postcards to family and friends. Our afternoon continued with a film “The Great British Seaside”.
March 2024 - Southport – An Artist’s View
Ever since Southport developed as a seaside resort it has attracted the attention of artists, from local painters such as Edwin Beattie to more well known artists for example L.S. Lowry and Laurence Isherwood. Stephen Whittle’s talk explored the changing perspective of Southport over the last 200 years as seen through the artist's eyes.
February 2024 - Ormskirk’s Famous and Infamous!
Kathryn Macdonald told us about some of the people in our local history.
2023
December 2023 – Time to Revisit the Tudors
..in the Grand Banqueting Room of our Tudor Manor (S&G HQ).
Led by the ‘Lord of Misrule’ with a visit from ‘Lady’ Sheila of Speke Hall, we will mix facts with fun!
November 2023 – The Defender Returns – Spitfire BM597
Supermarine Spitfire BM597 saw wartime service with 315 and 317 Polish Squadrons operating from RAF Woodvale. Post war, Spitfire BM597 spent time at various RAF Stations and was used as the master mould for the replica spitfires for the 1969 film ‘Battle of Britain’. Today, BM597 is flown by Dave Harey, our speaker. We will hear more of the history and local connections of this aircraft.
October 2023 – Cotton Town Chronicles
We will have a folk song presentation by Barbara and Peter Snape. Key moments of Lancashire’s social history provide the context for the songs and each song tells the story of grease, grit and grime, mills, mines and machinery, poverty, struggle, love, humility and the ability to look on the bright side of life when coal and cotton was king.
April 2023 – Ormskirk in Days Gone By
Images of Ormskirk presentation by Chris Bentley and how Gingerbread plays a big part in our local heritage with one of Ormskirk’s Gingerbread Ladies.
March 2023 – The Architecture of Alfred Waterhouse
Born in Liverpool 1830, Alfred Waterhouse went on to study architecture and was particularly associated with the Victorian Gothic Revival Style. He designed many of our well known buildings such as the Great Western Hotel in Liverpool, Manchester Town Hall and the Natural History Museum in London. Sean Jinks also told us more about the architecture of Alfred Waterhouse.
February 2023 – A Brief History of Entertainment
A ‘cheer up’ on a Winter Afternoon with the help of Mervyn Saunders.
2022
December 2022 – Christmas in Victorian Lancashire
We begin with some of the Christmas traditions associated with Victorian times. Kate Hurst will continue with her illustrated presentation about Victorian Lancashire at Christmas time.
£3.50 includes sherry (or a non-alcoholic drink), shortbread and a raffle ticket.
Please book for the December meeting with Margaret at the Local History meetings or at Horizons.
November 2022 – Coal Mining in Lancashire
There were many coal mines in our area, the borough of Wigan for example in 1863 had 48 collieries operating, employing thousands of men, women and children. Mining historian Alan Davies will tell us more about the history of coal mining.
October 2022 – Lancashire Comedians
Dr Tom Preston joins us to talk about the evolution of local comedy by referencing some of the styles of Lancashire comedians of the past.
As it is Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Anniversary year we will begin with the wit of Her Majesty, Duke of Lancaster.
April 2022 – Richard III and the Stanley Family
Jean Gidman visited us to give an illustrated talk about Richard III and the Stanley Familyand the extensive research she has done.
March 2022 – Liverpool Sculptures
Have you walked around Liverpool and wondered who created the many splendid bronze statues of people from our history?
There are monuments too that commemorate people from the past.
We were visited by Tom Murphy, one of the leading sculptors and painters of recent times, who is responsible for creations including The Hillsborough Monument Memorial and The Liverpool Pals Memorial. He told us about his work.
February 2022 – Work as a Local History Detective
As it was the first day of the Lunar New Year (also called the Chinese New Year), we had fortune cookies, followed by Steve Halliwell talking about his work as a local history detective.
2021
December 2021 – Trouble at t’Mill Again!
Ecky thump! the workers have gone to the ‘Village Square’ to celebrate Lancashire Day.
A taste of Lancashire food, a toast to Lancashire, and Sid Calderbank entertained us with Lancashire tales, dialect and songs.
November 2021 – The Co-Operative Retail Business
The co-operative selling began in Lancashire, perhaps some members remember their family ‘divi’ number.
Stephen Caunce talked about the history of the people’s own shop.
October 2021 – Census and Sensibility
Stephen Bennett presented a light hearted look at local history census returns 1841-1911.
2020
March 2020 – Read All About It!
Reports in our local newspapers early in the 20th Century. Kathy Donaldson will relate some of the news from the Liverpool Mercury, The Daily Post and the Echo.
We also heard some of the news of the time reported in the Ormskirk Advertiser.
February 2020 – Trains, Cranes and Dinky Vehicles plus the Waltzer and Sweet Treats
Les French from the Hornby Trust joins us to to talk about local man Frank Hornby’s humble beginings to his skills simplifying engineering for children.
2019
December 2019 – A Winters Day
Our seasonal meeting with Local Historian Alan Crosby.
November 2019 – Lancashire’s Home Front in W.W.2 plus a commemoration of D.Day.
Professor Penny Summerfield joins us with her research in an illustrated presentation about life on the home front during W.W.2. Our afternoon continues with a film recording of an emotive and dignified trip to France with a small number of D.Day veterans. The veterans share memories of the largest amphibious invasion in world history when some 160,000 Allied troops landed on the Normandy coast, 6th June 1944.
October 2019 – Historic Graffiti
Love it or loathe it, graffiti is not a modern day phenomenon. You may be surprised where some historic graffiti has been written, and what it says, some of it in Latin. Dr. Colin Penny’s illustrated presentation of graffiti from our past will enlighten us.
April 2019 – The Patients View of Health (19th century)
Author and Historian Elizabeth Roberts joined us to talk about her research including interviews with Lancashire folk and how they coped before the NHS. Members may have family remedies that they would like to share.
March 2019 – The Architecture of Lord Street, Southport and Bed and Breakfast in Southport
One of the most well-known streets in our local history is Lord Street, Southport, a fine example of a Victorian canopied boulevard. But have you ever stopped to look up at the interesting buildings? Julia Clayton’s illustrated presentation highlighted some of the architecture of Lord Street. We continued our afternoon with Jill Newsham’s presentation of some of the historic venues that have provided bed and breakfast for visitors to Southport over the years.
February 2019 – Medieval Manuscripts
Illuminated manuscripts are an interesting resource for understanding some aspects of medieval life, not only in castles and palaces, and they provide an insight into everyday life at the time. Brian Farrimond brought along examples of medieval manuscripts and told us more about them. As it was the first day of the Chinese New Year we began our meeting with fortune cookies and our horoscope for the year. Jasmine and green tea was available and enjoyed by all.
2018
December 2018 – Muck, Fylthe and Executions
It was time to revisit the Tudor era as we mixed facts and fun whilst sampling some themed food and drink. Led by the `Lord of Misrule` with special guest, one of Henry VIII`s wives. Cost was the princely sum of 3 Groats (or £3 in `modern` money).
November 2018 - The Twenty Year Armistice
We reviewed war events from 1916-18 and Daniel Tyler joined us to relate some of the crucial incidents that led to the memorable time and date 11 am 11.11.1918. The Twenty Year Armistice was the title of Daniel`s presentation. Members shared letters, documents and other memorabilia relating to W.W.I.
October 2018 - The 2nd Salford Pals Battalion
The meeting included a film, Defeat to Victory. The film centred around the 2nd Salford Pals Battalion of the 16th Lancashire Fusiliers as they prepared for the Battle of the Somme (1916). Authentic and deeply moving, the footage revealed what it was like to go `over the top` and how British tactics changed after the appalling consequences of that first day (01.07.1916).
April 2018 - It’s World Cup Football Year
Hear how Lancashire played a major role in the development of football and how local people have been involved in the game. Second half – `The Voice of Anfield` – stadium announcer George Sephton will talk about some of his memorable times with Liverpool Football Club.
There will be ‘Spot the Ball’ and other easy football related competitions plus pies, prizes and pots of tea and coffee.
March 2018 - Poverty and the Workhouses in South-West Lancashire
Vivian Mumford joined us to present her research.
February 2018 - Liverpool Revisited in Film and in Conversation
From a small fishing inlet to Capital of Culture in 2008, Liverpool has been home, a place of employment, a cultural and shopping venue and more, for many of our members. Members discovered/rediscovered more about the pool that became the City of Liverpool.
2017
February 2017 - Cork Jackets and Drill
This tells the story, through original music, songs and narration of the 1886 Southport lifeboat disaster, which claimed the lives of almost all of the crew members of the Southport and St. Anne’s Lifeboats.
The music, songs and script are by Southport based playwright Len Pentin whose work has been performed at local theatres, on BBC Radio Merseyside and at the London Fringe. The six person musical performance with its folk roots tells how the dreadfully impoverished mostly fishermen bravely gave battle one terrible storm-ridden winter night in 1886, in an attempt to save the crew of a ship in distress off Southport Sands.
At the time, the tragedy touched and deeply affected the whole of the UK but it is now sadly, largely forgotten. Cork Jackets and Drill attempts to reinstate the memory of the brave lifeboat men who risked and gave their lives that night for others.
‘And they call us part-time sailors, but we are soul-savers’
2015
1 December: Did we step back in time at our Lancashire Day celebration?
