Mike Winstanley (centre) with co-author Rob David (left) and Sam Riches
(General Editor of the CNWRS Occasional Paper Series) at the launch of The West Indies and the Arctic in the age of sail: the voyages of Abram at
Lancaster Maritime Museum last month. Photo: Lancaster University Centre for North West Studies

Lancaster City Museum has two fascinating talks coming up next week, including one from former Lancaster University history man Dr Mike Winstanley on Lancaster’s historical pageants, which ties in with a new Museum exhibition that opens soon. Here’s some details…

Monday 22nd July, 1.00pm: Lancaster’s Historical Pageants, 1913-53

Dr Mike Winstanley’s talk on promises to be informative and entertaining and ties in with the exhibition, ‘The Pageant of 1913: acting out Lancaster’s History’ that opens on 20th July at the museum.

Dr Winstanley, co-author of the recently-released book The West Indies and the Arctic in the age of sail: the voyages of Abram, was a Senior Lecturer in the Department of
History at Lancaster University for 30 years.  He first came to the University as an MA student in 1972, becoming a member of staff
in 1978. As an historian with an interest in the North West of England,
Lancaster has been an “ideal place to work and live”. He was actively
involved in a variety of local and regional organisations, particularly
the university’s Centre for North West Regional Studies.

Admission is free, though donations are welcome. Places can be booked now on 01524 64637. The talk is held in the Museum’s Education Room with access via New Street.

Tuesday 23rd July, 11am – 2pm: Ribchester Roman Bath House excavations revisited and finds identification session

The ‘Ribchester Roman Bath House excavations revisited’ session is a free event for all the family. Ribchester has been investigated by antiquarians and archaeologists throughout the 20th century and is now the subject of more research. In this event you can see what was found, what is being discovered, what that means and how objects are preserved, conserved and displayed.

When it comes to archaeological finds – perhaps something you’ve dug up in your own garden or found out walking – have you ever wondered how an object gets identified, ends up in a museum and what happens to it then?

You can bring your own archaeological objects in to be identified and recorded by the Finds Manager. If the objects you bring are over 300 years old a record and photo of the object will be generated and posted on the Portable Antiquities site (http://finds.org.uk/)

Future Talks

All talks take place on a Monday at 1.00pm. Places are limited so booking is advised. Please call 01524 64637 to book your place on any talk up to one month in advance.

• Monday 23rd September: The Lancaster Charters – Evidence and Authenticity by David Tilsley

• Monday 28th October: Lancaster and Lunesdale Workhouses by
Dr Andy Gritt

• Monday 25th November: History of Ashton Park Hall, the grandest house in North Lancashire: home of the Dukes of Hamilton – and the wrong Lady Hamilton by Mike Derbyshire