Lecture Programme 2023 – 24
Introducing the Birmingham & Warwickshire Archaeological Society Lecture Programme for 2023 – 2024. Our lectures are open to members and non-members alike.
Our lectures are FREE for members and members of affiliated societies. Members do not need to book tickets.
Non-member tickets are available for £5 (+booking fee). You will find links to book tickets on Eventbrite below.
All lectures commence at 7pm unless otherwise stated.
Attendees under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Children who are covered by a BWAS Family Membership must be accompanied by an adult from the same membership.
Tuesday 3rd October 2023
I met a traveller from an antique land: travels of an archaeologist in Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Iraq
The tales of a traveller in antique lands, from the colossal memorials of Ramses II in Egypt through Jordan and Syria to the heartland of ancient civilisation in Iraq. Pella, Petra, Ain Ghazal, Kadesh, Tell Sheikh Hamad, Abu Salabikh and beyond. Sites, monuments, excavations and excavators, ancient and modern - all human life was here.
Speaker: Dr Ellen McAdam
Venue: The Wellington Pub
Tuesday 7th November 2023
Birmingham’s Buildings at Risk
Birmingham has nearly 1800 listed buildings ranging from medieval churches to 1970s office blocks, while most historic buildings in the city are used and cared for, some do become ‘at risk’ of decay and dereliction due to a variety of factors. The talk will look at the reasons why buildings become at risk and what is being done to save them looking at a range of cases from across the city.
Speaker: Chris Patrick
Venue: The Wellington Pub
Non-member tickets: Buy now
Tuesday 5th December 2023
NEW LECTURE TO BE CONFIRMED
This lecture will be preceded by the Annual General Meeting.
Speaker: Mark Roberts
Venue: The Wellington Pub
Non-member tickets: On sale soon
Tuesday 16th January 2024 (12pm - 2pm)
Encounters with Achilles: The Discovery of a Trojan War Mosaic in a Rutland Field
In 2020 a Rutland landowners walk across fields during the pandemic lockdown led to the discovery of one of the most exciting Roman mosaics in over a century. The unique example of ancient art featured scenes of Achilles and his battle with Prince Hector of Troy as told by Homer in his epic Trojan War poem The Iliad which were the first of their kind from Roman Britain. John Thomas will describe the discovery of the mosaic and its imagery and will talk about further work by University of Leicester Archaeological Services & Historic England that has revealed the wider setting of the mosaic, within an extensive villa complex.
Speaker: John Thomas
Venue: The Wellington Pub
Non-member tickets: Buy now
Tuesday 6th February 2024 (12pm - 2pm)
The progression of patronage and of the display of status: examples from the Collegiate Church of St. Mary, Warwick
St. Mary's Warwick is one of the finest parish churches in England, the product of the patronage of the earls of Warwick for over three hundred years. The lecture will explore how successive earls became increasingly determined and innovative as they strove to define their legacy through building, architecture, and art, culminating in the magnificent and stunning Beauchamp chapel. Attendees are invited to join Tim for a visit to St Mary's Warwick after the lecture. The church is a 10 minute walk away from the venue.
Speaker: Tim Clark
Venue: Warwick Quaker Centre
Non-member tickets: Buy now
Archaeological Talks Day
Saturday 17 June, 2023
Join Tamworth Castle for some archaeological presentations by industry experts.
More information here: https://www.tamworthcastle.co.uk/archaeological-talks-day
Black Country Society Talk: An introduction to the Portable Antiquities Scheme and interesting finds discovered in the Midlands
28th June 7.30pm
Bilston Town Hall
An introduction to the Portable Antiquities Scheme and interesting finds discovered in the Midlands by Victoria Allnatt
The Portable Antiquities Scheme was established in 1997 as a pilot scheme to encourage the recording of archaeological objects found by members of the public in England and Wales. The scheme has now recorded over 1.6 million finds on the database www.finds.org.uk. We also assist with the reporting of Treasure under the Treasure Act 1996 such as the Henrican gold locket that was recently discovered in North Warwickshire. This talk will give an overview of the role of the scheme and include some of the interesting small finds that have been discovered across the Midlands region.
To celebrate the Black Country Societ's first meeting at Bilston Town Hall, there will be a free drink for all attendees.
Portable Antiquities - 28 June 2023[97]
Medieval & Later Pottery Research Group Conference- Rubbish, Recycling & Curation: the reuse and disposal of ceramics
Rubbish, Recycling & Curation: the reuse and disposal of ceramics
MLPRG One-Day Conference, 1st July 2023
The Studio, 7 Cannon St, Birmingham, B2 5EP AND online!
Castle Studies Trust Symposium
To mark its 10th anniversary, the Castle Studies Trust is organising a conference on the present state of castle studies and its future at the University of Winchester.
Book tickets here
Congratulations George Demidowcz
Congratulations to our long-standing BWAS member George Demidowcz. The Association of Industrial Archaeology has awarded him the 2023 Peter Neaverson prize for outstanding contribution to scholarship on industrial archaeology for his learned (and readable) book on the Soho Manufactory, Mint and Foundry.
Demidowicz, G, 2022 The Soho Manufactory, Mint and Foundry, West Midlands: where Boulton, Watt and Murdoch made history.
Liverpool University Press on behalf of Historic England, Swindon
ISBN 978-1-80034-928-5
Exploring Aston: a walking tour of historic Aston in Birmingham
Date: Thu, 8 Jun 2023
Time: 13:15 - 15:45
Location: Meet at Aston Hall, in Stable Yard Cafe
Price: £5 + booking fee for members, £7 + booking fee for non-members
Join Birmingham & Warwickshire Archaeological Society to explore Aston. This walking tour includes a rare opportunity to see inside the parish church of St Peter and St Paul in the company of Nigel Cripps, project officer at the church.
After the guided tour of the church continue with us as we explore Aston by foot. We'll be taking in the site of the medieval village, various historic buildings at Witton Island and walking back through the park and gardens surrounding Aston Hall.
Whilst this excursion does not include access to Aston Hall you're invited to visit this important heritage property independently before the walk. Find out more about visiting Aston Hall.
Useful Information
The tour will take approximately 2½ hours. We will start promptly at 13:15, departing from Aston Hall's Stable Yard Cafe. The cafe is open from 11am.
Free parking is available at Aston Hall Park off Witton Lane, B6 6JD. Various bus services operate nearby and the closest rail stations are Aston and Witton, each approx. 10 mins away.
Please wear comfortable footwear and dress for the weather.
This walk is £5 (+booking fee) for members and members of affiliated societies.
This walk is open to non-members, please book a non-member ticket for £7 (+booking fee).
To find out more about becoming a member of Birmingham and Warwickshire Archeological Society, click here.
Attendees under 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Children who are covered by a BWAS Family Membership must be accompanied by an adult from the same membership.
Surveying and excavating an ancient and Byzantine provincial backwater in Boetia - intriguing results
02.03 Update: This event has been cancelled
The Birmingham Greek Club invites you to a talk by Archie Dunn:
http://www.pxc.me.uk/greekclub/prog.html
Derbyshire Archaeological Society Winter Programme
BWAS members are invited to join the Derbyshire Archaeological Society for their winter lectures.
Find out more below.
https://www.derbyshireas.org.uk/diary/winter-programme/
Industrial Heritage Day (East Midlands Industrial Archaeology Conference)
Sudbury Gasworks rescued and restored
Saturday 17 June 2023
The Old Gasworks, in the Derbyshire village of Sudbury, opened in 1875 and was designed by George Devey, a noted architect of the time. Gas was produced from coal and piped to provide lighting for Sudbury Hall and houses in the village. The gasholder was dismantled in the 1930s and the building stood empty and deteriorated for many years.
With grants from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and other sources, the original retort house has now been restored, and a new circular meeting room constructed on the footprint of the former gasholder.
This Heritage Day is one of the first chances to see the gasworks in its new guise, learn about the development of artificial lighting and its use on country house estates, and the extensive improvements made to Sudbury Hall and the village in the 19th Century.