Events by this organizer

“The Geological History of the River Lune from the Ice Age until the present day”

Presenter: Paul Carling

This talk will explore how we can decypher the history of rivers from the evidence in the landscape. The river courses we see today are not static but have changed through time and will continue to change, through natural processes, if but slowly when seen from a human perspective.

The major river valleys of Lakeland and the Pennines we see today, probably were recognizable just before the Ice Age commenced. This talk follows the physical evolution of the River Lune as it was affected by a covering of glacial ice. At the end of the Ice Age, the Lune was a river draining meltwater from the retreating ice front. The land surface began to rebound upwards as the weight of ice was removed, at the same time as the sea level rose. These two processes led to waves of incision into the riverbed forming river terraces (benches) either side of the course as far as Lancaster. Dating when the sediment in the terraces was deposited allows a timescale to be produced for the river’s history.

The river history continues due to present-day climate change.

AHG members free; non-members £5 

“Understanding 18th Century Gravestone Symbols”

Presenter: Mark Hatton

18th century gravestones often show us strange and intriguing images of skulls, crossbones, trumpets and tools.  This illustrated talk explains the meaning of such symbols and why they were used.  By unlocking the meaning of these symbols we can find out so much about the Lives, Hopes, Fears & Faith of the people who chose them and the stonemasons who made them.

Why are these women (on a gravestone at Keswick) holding up a huge skull in one hand, whilst pulling up their skirts with the other hand ?

…Come along to this talk to find out!

AHG members free; non-members £5 

“FIVE SCOER YOWSSES & IJ OLD BOTLES
– 16th Century Wills and Inventories from Appleby”

Presenter: Barry McKay

Some interesting aspects of life in and around Appleby – the county town of Westmorland – during the reign of Elizabeth I. An attempt is made to discover the lives, work and goods owned by men and women across a range of social classes using information drawn from an analysis of over 200 probate inventories of goods and chattels from the period.

AHG members free; non-members £5 

“Plaques and headstones:
Personal stories in stone and brass in St Peter’s, Great Asby, and its churchyard”

Presenter: Barry McKay

Full details to follow.

AHG members free; non-members £5