Find out details of our meetings programme on this page. Everyone is welcome to attend.
You’ll find details of where we meet and the times we start at the bottom of this page.
Everyone (not just members) are welcome to attend our meetings.
Our meetings programme
Thursday 26 November 2026
Just Desserts. An alternative history of Derbyshire in three puddings. – Mark Dawson
The history of three iconic Derbyshire puddings from their earliest origins to the present day. Includes historic recipes for you to take away and make them yourself.
Thursday 17 December 2026
AGM/Social with a short talk.
Our usual social event, with free raffle, mince pies and mulled wine. Includes our AGM and a short talk.
Topic to be confirmed.
Thursday 28 January 2027
Solving the Riddle of Ryknield Street – Philip Riden
Tracing the lost course of the Roman road between Derby and Rotherham north of the last definite sighting in Wingerworth has been a popular pastime for armchair archaeologists for generations. This talk will present fresh evidence and new ideas on how both Roman soldiers and medieval travellers made the journey between the two towns, passing through Chesterfield on the way, and may finally solve the riddle.
Thursday 25 February 2027
Chesterfield Canal – past present and future – Rod Auton
Chesterfield Canal Trust’s Rod Auton will be giving us an overview of the history of the canal, alongside a look at present and future developments and possibilities. Rod is well-known as editor of the trust’s magazine ‘The Cuckoo’. He is a trustee, secretary, membership and publicity officer of the trust.
Thursday 25 March 2027
Derbyshire oil-fields and the Brimington connection – Cliff Lea
Cliff has spent many years studying industrial archaeology in the north eastern Derbyshire area. One area of his work has been the county’s oil industry, on which this talk will focus – in particular a unsuccessful attempt to drill for oil on the Brimington Common recreation ground, in the early twentieth century. Cliff will also refer to a now forgotten tragedy that occurred during these oil prospecting activities.
Thursday 22 April 2027
Talk to be determined.
Thursday 27 May 2027
Brimington in the 1970s – Philip Cousins
What was Brimington like in the 1970s? What and who were making the news? What happened to the Brimington General Improvement area scheme? Philip will be covering these subjects and more in this illustrated talk.
Thursday 24 June 2027
Romance of the Derbyshire Dales – Danny Wells
Everyone knows the Derbyshire Dales – or do they? In this talk Danny will examine whether the area is an unmitigated horror or fairyland, as he takes a look at how it has been perceived over time, with romance in the air! Danny is a history enthusiast and qualified history teacher with an MA degree in architectural history.
Thursday 22 July 2027
Outside meeting – Chesterfield canal walk – Philip Cousins
Meet at the top of Cow Lane, where it joins with Coronation Road, near the entrance to the allotments, for a 7 pm start.
We’ll be taking a steady walk down Cow Lane to the Chesterfield Canal, then a walk on the towpath towards the Hollingwood Hub. Along the way we will be uncovering some of the history of the route, which includes past industry, tramroads, plague burials which never happened and coal mining. We’ll then retrace our outward route back to Cow Lane.
No meeting in August. Our next meeting will be Thursday 23 September when we will hear Paul Freeman and Philip Cousins give short talks on various Brimington and Tapton local history subjects.
All our meetings commence at 7.30 pm with doors opening at the Community Centre around 7 pm. Our outside meeting commences at the earlier time of 7 pm
Full programme
Download our 2025-26 programme as a pdf by clicking on the download button below. Please note that this programme may be subject to change. Our latest programme will always be reflected above.
Our 2027 programme will appear here once finalised.
Where and when we meet
The group normally meets monthly during the year (except July and August), on the fourth Thursday of each month, at Brimington Community Centre, High Street, Brimington, S43 1DB.
Our meetings, usually with a guest speaker, start at 7.30 pm (doors open at around 7pm). In December the group meets on the second or third Thursday also at 7.30 pm. One outdoor visit, usually a local guided walk, is usually held. There are usually no meetings in July or August but for 2026 our outdoor meeting will be held in July.
Members are charged £1 admission, non-members £3. Tea and coffee are included (though a small donation towards this is always welcome).
Page last updated 11 November 2026.
