Society members had a choice of attractions for the afternoon following the AGM in Louth on 20 October.

A talk about William Brown's famous 1847 panorama was given by Cllr Mrs S E Locking in the town council's recently adapted premises of the former magistrates' court on Eastgate.  The two sections of the panorama now hang in the council chamber along with portraits of former mayors and items of the town's regalia.

A Louth Museum volunteer led a tour of some of the town's historic buildings. Beginning at the Museum in Enginegate, the tour moved on to Cannon Street (Independent Chapel, Playhouse Cinema), Little Eastgate (Town Hall, Methodist Church), Cornmarket (Albion Rooms, Masons' Arms, Midland Bank), Market Place (Market Hall, former Jackson's Printers), Aswell Street (horse steps), Kidgate (British school, Cinder Lane industry) and finally to The Gatherums (St Helen's Spring, cottages).

Some members took the less energetic but equally rewarding option of visiting the magnificent St James's Church or browsing in the Louth Museum.

The Society is grateful to the staff and volunteers of Louth Museum who acted as hosts for the afternoon.

Photographs: Cllr Sue Locking and the Louth Panorama (top); the tour group in the Cornmarket outside the Albion Rooms (home of SLHA's first predecessor)

SLHA members arranged and led a series of walks in Lincoln and two nearby villages to celebrate Lincolnshire Day on Monday 1 October.  Two walks in the upper part of Lincoln, led by Penny Forsdyke, included Newport Arch, the Mint Wall and the Eastgate in visits to the City's prominent Roman remains.

Lincoln's medieval market sites, from Bailgate to High Street, were the subject of a second pair of walks led by Nigel Burn and Malcolm Stainforth. It is not widely known that there were specialised markets, each with their own sites in the City, for butter, butchery, cloth, fish, poultry, malt and skin.

A walk in Welton, led by Avril Golding and Lynne Ballantine, looked at significant buildings and sites near the centre of the village. Detailed background information about historic developments was provided.

Karen Wood led a walk around Branston where the local history group has already provided useful information about several aspects of the village's history in the form of site information signs and a printed leaflet.

The initiative taken by the Society in organising these events was well rewarded. 75 joined the Roman tours, 55 visited the medieval markets sites, and there were 24 and 21 walkers, respectively, in the groups at Welton and Branston.

As part of their contribution to the Heritage Open Days programme over the weekend 7-9 September members of SLHA provided an exhibition of local photographs and postcards at Jews' Court.

Themes included the Lincolnshire coast, farming, people, transport and Lincoln industry. The images had been prepared by the Local History team led by Chris Hewis (many from his postcard collection) and Kathy Holland (SLHA Administrator).

The Industrial Archaeology team also presented a slide show on the theme of engineering innovation in Lincoln. This had been first assembled by Ken Redmore and Chris Page for the University of Lincoln in 2015.

SLHA members had warm and sunny weather for their annual picnic in Wainfleet on Saturday 4 August. The outstanding late fifteenth-century Magdalen School building was the base for the day's activities.

David Turner, born and bred in Wainfleet, led an absorbing walking tour of the town's main sites. Time was spent at All Saints' church, the Market Place clock tower, Barkham Street and the Magdalen School, and less familiar commercial and residential buildings around the town centre also received attention.

We heard about some of Wainfleet's notable sons and daughters and their High Street residences: Elizabeth Allan (1910-1990), stage and film actress; Thomas Reckitt (b.1772), father of Isaac Reckitt, founder of the Hull pharmaceutical firm; Huggins and Gees, pharmaceutical chemists and creators of Gee's Linctus. Wainfleet may seem to be a quiet and sleepy backwater today but it was once an important North Sea port and has its claims to fame.

The afternoon was spent browsing the wide-ranging local museum on the first floor of the Magdalen School building. All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable day.

Photographs: Top right - Market Place Clock Tower; Lower right - Magdalen School; Below - All Saints' Church

The Society's annual study tour, led by Ken Hollamby and administered by TravelWright of Newark, was based at Harper Adams University, Newport, Shropshire from 12 to 16 July. On the outward journey the afternoon was spent at the Black Country Museum in Dudley, a huge open site with a wide range of domestic, commercial and industrial features.

The first full day in Shropshire was centred on the historic Ironbridge Gorge. At the Jackfield Pottery we saw how modern encaustic tiles are made (as for the Palace of Westminster) and browsed the extensive museum collection of tiles. The iconic Ironbridge is being restored by Historic England and a specially constructed walkway enables visitors to see the original ironwork at close quarters and hear about the work being undertaken. The quiet and relaxing afternoon was spent at nearby Blists Hill Victorian town.

On Saturday morning we absorbed the sights, sounds and smells of Acton Scott Farm Museum. A conducted tour introduced us to the buildings (farmhouse, barns, stables, brick-kiln, workshops) and animals (sheep, cattle, chickens, pigs) of this authentic working farm. By contrast, the afternoon revealed the highlights of Shrewsbury and the town's connections with Charles Darwin; Peter Worsley was our expert guide.

The final full day, under Glynn Coppack's leadership, was devoted to Shropshire's archaeology and historic buildings. Included in the tour were Buildwas Abbey, Wroxeter Roman site, Acton Burnell Castle and Stokesay Castle. We heard about the history and development of each of these significant sites.

On the morning of our homeward journey we visited Ditherington Flaxmill Maltings, a large building complex dating from the late eighteenth century, currently being restored. The iron columns and beams of the principal building - the earliest such recorded structure - give it worldwide significance.

Photos: Opposite top - Silicone rubber mould, Jackfield Pottery; Opposite below - Ditherington Flaxmill Maltings; Lower left - Buildwas Abbey; Lower centre - Wroxeter Roman site; Lower right - horse gin, Acton Scott Farm Museum

The Jubilee Town Hall at Kirton hosted a successful and very well attended half term event for families on 12 February. The session was organised by Kathy Holland on behalf of the SLHA in conjunction with the Kirton in Lindsey Society.

Visitors had the opportunity to participate in a range of craft activities inspired by the theme of Knights, Kings and Queens. Crafts included creating a royal crown, and using craft materials to design and make a shield displaying heraldic designs. This activity included discussions on heraldry and investigating images of designs from the period.

Also on offer was the chance to create some sparkly jewellery inspired by medieval designs. The ever popular clay activity was crafting a Knight�s head inspired by a carving to be found in Lincoln Cathedral.

As may be expected, this activity provoked discussion about other carvings of the period and how they can help us find out about the appearance of people in medieval times.

Visitors could also study a selection of replica everyday artefacts from the period, some belonging to the Society and others kindly lent by The Collection in Lincoln.

Both adults and children were very appreciative and the event presented both the SLHA and the Kirton in Lindsey Society the opportunity engage with families and help promote interest in our history and heritage. We had lots of requests for more events and activities of this kind.

A large group of IA members visited the headquarters and museum of the British Horological Institute in Upton Hall near Southwell on 7 February.

Two excellent BHI guides gave an introduction to the huge collection of clocks and watches on display in the Hall. There are examples of rare, early long case clocks, some in magnificent decorated cases, and fine regulators, which keep time with remarkable accuracy.

The fascinating twentieth century development of the "speaking clock" is followed in the Museum's unique collection. The museum also has a vast range of watches which illustrate important innovations over the years. Of particular interest is the watch used by Captain Scott on his famous, ill-fated Antarctic expedition.

Photographs: Upton Hall, BHI Headquarters and Museum (top); part of the BHI Museum display in the Hall (below)