Talks, Presentations, Walks, Visits and Other Events for 2026
All talks take place in Church House on Bathwell Lane unless otherwise stated, starting at 7.30pm and last for approximately an hour. We ask for a suggested donation of £2 per member & £5 per non-member. Guided tours are free but donations are always welcome!
2026
Sunday 24th May: Summer opening of museum, every Sunday up to and including Sunday 30th August, 2.30-4 pm.
Monday 20th July: A talk by Susan Hartnell-Beavis who wrote the book called ‘Blackford: The story of a Village and its People’. Susan will talk to us about the whole village, including St Michael’s church. There might be an opportunity to visit the church, internal redecoration work allowing. Join us ‘on location’ at Blackford Reading Room for a 7.00 pm start (a change from our usual start time.) We are a charity and ask for a suggested donation of £2 per member or £5 per non-member to cover costs. If you wish to become a member of our group, please email us: mphhgroup@gmail.com
- Directions: At the crossroads at the bottom of Quarry Hill, turn left and it is just there on the left (see photo below). Postcode: BA22 7EE. what3words: spot.biggest.marketing
- Park on the road towards Maperton outside the church – the turn to the right at the crossroads.
Monday August 17th: New material about the architecture of South Street and Church Street, plus the early 18th century poet, Elizabeth Singer Rowe and her connections with an address on Church Street, with Nathalie Hetherington and Hugh Vincent.
Monday 21st September: The Gloving Industry in Milborne Port, with Lesley Wray and Liz Lammas.
Monday 19th October: Stories and anecdotes from the Church School records, with Roger Cowley and Nicki Edwards, with contributions from Mary Clothier.
Sunday 8th November: Open afternoon at the Chapel Museum with James Plummer and WW2 artefacts and memorabilia.
No talk in December.
2027 – bookings so far!
Monday 15th February: In this informal talk, Juliet Braidwood will demonstrate how women of two different ranks might have dressed in the 1530, discussing the different layers of dress, their use, and their context. (Juliet is the wife of Alastair Braidwood who entertained us last February with his songs about rural life and knitting!)
Monday 15th March: Barry Brock – Seymours Lemonade of Sherborne. (tbc)
Monday 19th April: David Fox – details to follow.
Monday 21st June: ‘A year in the life of an archaeologist – it’s more than just digging holes’, with Nancy Grace from Dorset Council.
Monday 19th July: Margaret Phillips at the Organ Museum, Chapel Lane. (tbc)
Monday 16th August: Tony Beadles – on location at Compton Pauncefoot. (tbc)
No talk in December.
Chapel Museum
Every Summer we open the Museum every Sunday afternoon 2.30 pm-4.00 pm from the end of May to the end of August. However, if you would like to arrange a private visit at any other time, please contact Lesley Wray: lesmik71@gmail.com.
Can you help? Do you have a few hours to spare one Sunday afternoon (2.30-4.00 pm) next Summer? The museum will be open to the public with a member of the Committee on duty but it would great to have another history-minded person to keep us company. If you are willing, please let us know by contacting Lesley Wray: lesmik71@gmail.com.
If you have a specific interest you would like us to investigate we would love to hear from you so please do get in touch with us at mphhgroup@gmail.com
Please join our Facebook group so that we can keep you updated regarding all of our activities.