150 million years in 50 minutes: the complete and utter history
of Peterborough.
(Stuart Orme, Biran Jones, Ben Robinson, Don Chiswell).
Or the complete history of Peterborough from the Dinosaurs to
Queensgate.
Think Peterborough's a new town? Think again! The city and the area
have a rich heritage - from dinosaurs to Bronze Age walkways, from
Roman soldiers to Viking raiders, medieval monks to French
prisoners of war, from railway builders to modern shoppers...
Explore this history in a fast, furious and fun illustrated talk.
Duration - 60 minutes (Illustrated.
The Ghosts of Peterborough (Stuart Orme, Brian Jones)
From the creator of the hugely popular Peterborough Ghost
walk... Find out how the walk was created and hear about some of
the ghastly ghouls, scary spectres and petrifying phantoms that
stalk the streets (and buildings) of the Peterborough area. You may
want to check under your bed afterwards... Duration - 60
minutes.
A history of crime & punishment in Peterborough (Stuart
Orme)
An entertaining and occasionally gruesome look at the history of
crime and punishment in the city - from the history of the city
gaols to the development of the police force. Want to know where
people used to be hanged? How bodysnatching became a premium
occupation? Where Peterborians used to be flogged? Learn how we
were the last place in Britain to 'read the Riot Act' and hear
about the city's best jail-breaker! All this and more! Duration -
90 minutes (Illustrated).
The Dark History of Peterborough Museum (Stuart Orme)
Today Peterborough Museum is situated in a nice Georgian
building tucked down the end of Priestgate... but what's the
history of that building? You'll be surprised to learn it involves
the speaker's namesakes, as well as tales of murder, incest and
medicine! A fascinating and entertaining story. Duration - 60
minutes (Illustrated).
The Civil War in Peterborough (Stuart Orme)
Not just Roundheads and Cavaliers! Discover the true and
horrific story of the English Civil War and its impact upon
Peterborough. Find out how one local landowner played a part
in causing the Civil War, learn how Cromwell got a bit of a
headache at the Cathedral, hear what happened to the city and its
residents, and discover how you can still find clues about out
Civil War past in the area today. Duration: 90 minutes
(Illustrated).
The impact of the Normans (Stuart Orme)
Find out how a few thousand 'shaven-headed thugs from Normandy'
changed the country and the local area forever. Discover the true,
fascinating, tragic, gruesome and often funny story of the Norman
Conquest, and what clues around Peterborough we still have to
remind us of their presence. Duration: 90 minutes
(Illustrated).
Medieval Peterborough (Stuart Orme, Brian Jones)
Peterborough was developed as a new town development... but not
the one everyone thinks of, as the first 'new town' of Peterborough
was laid out in the 12th century! Discover the story of the
medieval town; find out what life would have been like for the
monks and citizens of Peterborough through plague, fire, flood,
riot, war and even some peaceful bits in between! Be amazed to
discover how even today Peterborough is still essentially a
medieval town... Duration: 90 minutes (Illustrated)
Richard III: Peterborough's Medieval Monarch? (Stuart Orme, Don
Chiswell)
Hero or villain; good King Richard or England's black legend?
Richard remains one of England's most enigmatic and controversial
Kings. Was he the monster depicted in Shakespeare's play or a
victim of Tudor Propaganda? The truth, like the man is perhaps more
complex and interesting, and what's more he was born just outside
Peterborough! Duration: 90 minutes (Illustrated).
Life at Norman Cross: the world's first POW camp (Stuart Orme,
Ben Robinson, Brian Jones)
On the outskirts of Peterborough was the Norman Cross Depot was
the world's first purpose-built prisoner of war camp. Built in
1797, the camp was the 'home' of many thousands of Napoleonic
prisoners of war. This illustrated talk tells the story of
the camp, its inmates and the politics of the whole affair, as well
as revealing the remarkable story of many of the beautiful items
made by the prisoners which are now displayed at the Museum.
Duration: 90 minutes (Illustrated).
A history of Peterborough Cathedral & its precincts (Brian
Jones)
Despite destruction by the Danes, sacking by Hereward, closure
by Henry VIII and desecration by Parliamentarian soldiers in the
Civil War, Peterborough cathedral and its associated buildings
remain to tell us a story of 1500 turbulent years of Christian
presence. This illustrated talk tells the story of its past
& 'looks' inside what is now perhaps the most complete
Romanesque great church in Britain.
A View of Victorian Boongate (Brian Jones)
Take a trip round Boongate. Not the present day out of
town shopping site, nor the early 20th century world of Tom Nutt
& his horses - but the Boongate that lays buried under the
Passport Office and other new buildings. Come with me to the
middle of the 19th century and the arrival of new houses, new
street, the Stanley Recreation Ground and the Cattle Market - and
much much more.
Housing the Railway workers of Peterborough (Brian Jones)
The Victorian era saw the arrival of the railways to
Peterborough - and with them a rapidly increasing workforce and
their families. How and where were they housed, and what
remains of this housing now? And what was the local social
impact of the revolution that changed Britain?
The Life and Times of Thomas Barrass (Brian Jones)
For half a century Thomas Barrass was Pastor of the Baptist
church in Peterborough. Bishop Magee called him the 'Non-conformist
Bishop of Peterborough' and by 1900 over 5% of the population of
Peterborough were members of his church. Not a story of
religion, but the story of an outstanding man of his time.
The Inns and Taverns of Peterborough (Brian Jones)
An integral part of city life for hundreds of years, the story
of the hostelries, their landlords & landladies, the beers, the
brewers and the 'goings on' give a different view of the 'real'
life of Peterborough.
The story of the Proby family of Elton Hall (Brian Jones)
The Proby family have owned Elton Hall since the mid 17th
century. Paintings by Reynolds and many other major artists,
furniture from many periods and a history that involves Ireland,
the Napoleonic wars, the Navy and politics to name but a
few.
The Cecils, Burghley House and its Park (Brian Jones)
The splendid house of the Cecil's is worth a visit at any time
but this illustrated talk gives you a chance to 'meet' the family,
'see' some of the paintings and furnishings, and hear the story of
house and park from the comfort of your meeting place.
St Guthlac, St Pega & the first Croyland Abbey (Brian
Jones)
The story of the saints and the first 200 years of one of
Fenland's great monasteries - and of Peakirk
Swings of fortune in Rural Mechanisation (Brian Jones)
The effects of the Swing Riots on one particular Huntingdon
craftsman, and his part in the mechanisation of farming in the 19th
century.
Many of Peterborough’s most popular cultural and sporting
facilities are part of Vivacity, an independent,
not-for-profit organisation with charitable status.
Find out more about
the trust on the Vivacity website.