Swarthmore Education Centre

A Saturday morning talk by Eric Branse-Instone (Historic England listing adviser for the North-East and Yorkshire Region) Eric Branse-Instone has spent the last 30 years assessing sites of all types and dates for national designation, principally Scheduled Monuments and Listed Buildings. Having previously worked as an industrial archaeologist, industrial heritage has been a particular specialty. His…

A Saturday morning talk by Eric Jackson This talk starts with the industrial revolution and the transportation system as it existed at that time, comparing the load-carrying capacities of different modes of transportation. It tells of the first commercial canal, the Bridgewater, the subsequent 'Canal Mania' and the rapid growth of the canal system, focussing…

A Saturday morning talk by John S Lee. This talk will examine the medieval cloth making industry in Yorkshire. It will explore the different processes involved in making cloth. Several of these terms are still mentioned in everyday speech, when we talk of being ‘dyed in the wool’ or ‘on tenterhooks’. It will also examine…

A Saturday morning talk by Colin A Carbert. An account of a little-known local facet of the 1st World War, an airfield which was established near Tadcaster as a home defence base and training installation. Our speaker has researched the subject thoroughly from the personal accounts and diaries of those who served there, through to…

Archaeological Excavations at Logic Leeds, Sovereign Square, and Water Lane. A Saturday morning talk by Dan Waterfall (CFA Archaeology). This talk will cover three archaeological excavations which CFA Archaeology have carried out in the Leeds area in recent years: The remains of 19th/20th century coal mine infrastructure at Nursery Pit on the city’s eastern fringe,…

After a very short AGM, members are invited to share any knowledge of industrial history subjects. Digital images are welcome, on a memory stick. Visitors always welcome. Following meetings, all are welcome to join us for lunch at the nearby hostelry, The Fox & Newt.