Thoroton Society Events
Lectures, unless otherwise stated, are held at Nottingham Mechanics, 3 North Sherwood Street, NOTTINGHAM NG1 4EZ. Lectures start at 2:30 pm.
This venue is fully accessible and has facilities for disabled people. A bookstall is available from 2:00 pm.
Saturday 11 October 2025
Myles Thoroton Hildyard Lecture: 'Celebrating 10 years of the Geoffrey Bond and Thoroton Research Awards'.
Three short presentations from award recipients:
- From painting to pottery: research in Southwell, Stephen Rogers, Southwell Community Archaeology Group
- Beyond the diary: my grant-funded travels with Anne Cooke, Karen Winyard
- From servants to sisters, researching nursing lives in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, 1830-1948, Val Wood
Saturday 8 November 2025
Norah Witham Lecture: 'Father Henry Garnet'
William Ruff, President, Nottingham Shakespeare Society
If you think you know about the Gunpowder Plot, this talk will make you think again.
It focuses not on Guy Fawkes but arguably someone who had an even more profound impact on the turbulent times in which he lived: Father Henry Garnet. This catholic priest became Jesuit Superior in 1600 and was the last man to be executed for involvement in the Gunpowder Plot.
He was also notorious as the author of a Treatise on Equivocation and was famously referred to in the Porter's Speech in Macbeth as the Equivocator knocking on Hell's gate. In fact, Garnet’s presence lurks behind every scene of Shakespeare’s play.
This talk has grown from a number of extraordinary coincidences. One is that William owns a very rare brass box which commemorates a miracle which Fr Garnet’s followers believed occurred during the execution.
William tells the story of this box (which he will bring along with him) and in so doing reveals astonishing facts about one of the most turbulent and tragic times in English history. Religious extremism, government spies, state-sponsored torture, miraculous events: all these and more feature in William’s talk.
Saturday 15 November 2025
Annual Lunch
Shelley Suite, West Retford Hotel, Retford DN22 7XG
12:30 for 1:00 pm.
Cost £31 per person.
Saturday 13 December 2025
Neville Hoskins Centenary Lecture: ‘Clumber in Wales? The 4th Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyme and Hafod, 1832-46’
Dr Richard Gaunt, University of Nottingham
Saturday 10 January 2026
Nottinghamshire History Lecture: Topic to be announced
PhD student from Nottingham Trent University
Saturday 14 February 2026
Rosalys Coope Lecture: ‘Florence Boot’
Sian Trafford, Chair, Nottingham Women's History Group
Saturday 14 March 2026
Maurice Barley Lecture: ‘Nottingham Children's Hospital: a history’
Martin Hewitt
Saturday 25 April 2026
Spring Meeting & AGM
At 2pm. Venue to be confirmed
Entry to the AGM is Free; there will be a modest charge for afternoon tea.