A small group of veterans from the Industrial Archaeology team visited New Holland and Barrow upon Humber on 5 February.

The aim was to follow the footsteps of the Lincolnshire industrial archaeologists who made a similar tour in 1967.

In the photograph (taken at Barrow Haven with the Humber Bridge as the backdrop) are: Eric Newton, Jon Sass, Stewart Squires and Chris Lester - with Ken Redmore behind the camera.

The visit included a tour of the small dock at the head of Barrow Haven where timber was being unloaded from Lady Anneke, a Dutch vessel of 2544 tons.

Photograph: Rear views of Chris Lester, Stewart Squires and Eric Newton

On a cold Wednesday in early February a large number of SLHA members enjoyed a visit to the BHI Museum at Upton near Southwell.

The tour began in the main hall with a general introduction to the development of long-case clocks. Next we heard about the drive to achieve ever greater accuracy in the construction of regulators.

Over the weekend of 24 and 25 March visitors were invited into Jews' Court and told about its history and significance.

SLHA Chairman, Nigel Burn, gave an introduction to the building and its importance to the Jewish community.

photo: Chris Hewis 

Pearl Wheatley, seen here on the left, and Chris Hewis, who was behind the camera, provided tours of the interior of Jews' Court.

The number of visitors entertained over the two days totalled 175.

On 6 May SLHA hosted the launch of the long awaited book on Lincolnshire Houses by the late David Roberts.

Stewart Squires (left) took the chair for the event; the chief speaker was Shaun Tyas (right), editor and publisher of the book.

The theme of the 2018 Local History Conference held at Horncastle Banovallum School on 19 May was 'fighting monks'.

Speakers included Dr David Markham, formerly of the University of Nottingham Extra-mural Department. His talk: St Lazarus of Jerusalem and Leper Knights.

The 2018 Study Tour led by Ken Hollamby was based at Harper Adams University, Shropshire from 12 to 16 July.

A demonstration of encaustic tile making was given at the Jackfield pottery in Ironbridge.

The Shropshire tour ended with a visit to Ditherington Flaxmill Maltings, currently subject of a huge restoration project.

The unique iron columns and beams of the main mill could not be viewed but the tour included the Dye House, a later building within the complex. 

Eric Newton (left) and Chris Lester, members of the SLHA IA Team, spoke about small-scale water supply installations in Lincolnshire at an open event at Scawby Village Hall on 25 July.

Ray Carroll (1930-1017) was honoured in the lecture given by Shaun Tyas at the Red Hall, Bourne on 22 September. He presented a critical account of modern publishing.

Photograph: Shaun Tyas (speaker), Lynne Carroll (widow of Ray Carroll), Stewart Squires (chairman)

A large group joined Nigel Burn and Malcolm Stainforth in a guided walk in Uphill Lincoln on Lincolnshire Day, 1 October.

The focus of the tour was the medieval markets in the City.

The Society's Annual Awards were presented at the AGM in the Conoco Rooms, Louth on Saturday 20 October.

The Flora Murray Award for 2018 was won by Winterton Parochial Church Council; Mrs Gwenifer Shawyer (centre) accepted the award.

An Award of Excellence was received by Professor Carenza Lewis (left) on behalf of the University of Lincoln and Architectural Project Services of Heckington.

The awards were presented by Dr Rod Ambler (right), SLHA President.

In November the Society office was moved from its location on the ground floor to the former library on the first floor. This was to create better working conditions for the staff and improve security.

Sue Smith, clerk, and Kathy Holland, SLHA administrator, are hard at work in this shot.

The increased business of the bookshop, especially in the trade of second-hand books, has brought pressure on storage at Jews' Court.

The solution, from November, has been to locate a large proportion of the bookstock in the former office on the ground floor at Jews' Court, which also has eliminates the need to carry books up and down the staircase.

In the photograph: Shanta Das, Membership Secretary (front left), Eva Moore, Joint Bookshop Manager (back left), Chris Page, Postal Despatch (centre) and Nick Moore, Joint Bookshop Manager (right)

The annual Christmas party was held in the Refectory at Bishop Grossteste University on 5 December. This was the third year in succession that BGU was the venue; this year's event was organised by the IA team.

Over 40 members and friends enjoyed festive fare. The folk singing group Delta Dogs provided excellent entertainment.