Jason Cumberworth (Peterborough Museum) spoke to the Group about an project that he leads along with Dr Sam Paul (Sam Paul Heritage). As well as addressing an urgent local need, the project is establishing methodologies and best practices which are likely to be applicable to museums throughout the country.

Adrian’s talk looked at hoards in the seventeenth century and the circumstances which led Samuel Peyps to bury 3,000 guineas in his father’s garden in the summer of 1667.

Jim McNeill, chair of the Stoke Ferry & District History Group, talked about the Favor Parker operations, profiling Gordon Parker, the company’s principle driving force.

The talk examined the possible reasons behind the creation of ship graffiti images, using hundreds of examples recorded across the UK – many of which have never previously been seen before. It showcased some of the finest ship graffiti sites, and some of the best preserved examples of ship graffiti so far discovered in the…

Margaret Younger is a member of the National Trust House Team at Felbrigg Hall, Norfolk. She brought the stories of the Hall to us at Wells. Margaret’s talk covered the history of house and its parkland, which is located south of the Cromer to Holt road, and included stories about the more interesting people who lived there.

Author and social historian, Dale Wiseman BA, returned to the Maltings to present the life story of Jem Mace, World Heavyweight Boxing Champion and his links not just to Norfolk but also to the Wells’ Green Dragon public house, which stood on the High Street, before it was demolished c.1865.

Sheree Leeds, a retired archivist and member of the Bracondale Residents’ Association, spoke about Bracondale which embraces one of the oldest entrances into the city of Norwich and which has a wealth of historic houses. It abuts County Hall and the Norfolk Record Office where many records of these properties are held.

Amanda gave a well received talk on Richard Bangay, an extraordinary Norfolk man, who lived from 1834 – 1933. Amanda told us that during that time, he moved from an impoverished childhood through work on farms and down mines into becoming a physician. He also worked as a ship’s doctor, then as a successful general…

Wells’ buildings are a puzzle. Local historian and author, Roger Arguile, took us on a virtual tour around some of those often-overlooked local landmarks. Unlike Walsingham whose timber framed buildings are easy to date, Wells buildings are either brick or more usually flint. The stories they tell require some detective work. Documents can help with…

Steve discussed the origins of the name, Bob Hall’s Sand which has been a topic of conversation for many years amongst WLHG members. Steve provided an update on it’s possible origins. Recent unrelated research has uncovered compelling circumstantial evidence about the identity and life of a local 18th century mariner, Robert Hall. The short was…

Andrew returned to the Society to talk about Norfolk’s windmills and watermills, and the stories associated with some of the machines and people that ran them.

John explained that throughout the time of pilgrimage, Walsingham was a small village on the east bank of the river Stiffkey, stretching south from the church.  In the meantime, pressure of pilgrimage caused the priory administering the Holy House to grow on the west bank.  In the middle of the 16th century, the village expanded…