Category: WHS Speaker Meeting

Bob Prior presents ‘That’s a good idea’, a historical talk about ideas in firearm development, from the earliest historically recorded handheld firearms (known as “Handgonnes”) to the very first idea of mechanised guns on bicycles. The talk will include a display of some examples of firearms. The talk will be on Thursday 30th July, at…

The next speaker meeting is ‘Down the Canal’ on Thursday 25th June. Barry and Gill Goodman will tell the story of Britain’s canals in words, pictures and song. A look into the history of Britain’s canals, the builders, the life of the working community, the decline of the working boats and the revival of the…

We are delighted to announce that Keith Fitzpatrick Matthews will be returning to Walkern on Thursday 28th May to talk to us about The Four Elements and Ancient Religion in North Hertfordshire. Keith Fitzpatrick Matthews is a curator at North Herts Museum, he is also a very familiar face to WHS regularly providing his expert…

We are delighted to announce that April’s Speaker will be Patrick Birdsall. With his two brothers, he was evacuated to Walkern in World War II. His brother James wrote the book ‘The Boys and the Butterflies’ an autobiographical account to their childhood in Walkern and surrounding countryside. Everyone is welcome, entry is free to members.…

A Blighted Life Please join us on Thursday 26th March at hear Jill Campbell talk about Rosina Bulwer Lytton (1802 – 1882). We will take a look at the colourful life and stormy marriage of Rosina, wife of prominent Victorian author and politician Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton of Knebworth House. Their early passionate romance soured…

Come and join us at WHS on Thursday 26th February for our first speaker meeting of 2026 and our AGM. Janet Woodall will be sharing tales from Walkern in the 1800s. In particular, as part of our Women of Walkern project we will learn about Elizabeth Kingsley and how she ended up owning and running…