Find out about our monthly meetings on this page. Our meetings programme is set out below and you can download a pdf of our 2026 talks programme from the link towards the bottom of this page, where there’s also a location map of our venue.
Meetings are held at The Olde House, Loundsley Green Road, Newbold, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S40 4RN, on the third Monday – February to November inclusive. You will find us in the Large Function Room. We start at 7:30 pm unless otherwise stated; with doors opening around 7pm. Refreshments can be obtained at the main bar, situated within The Olde House bar.
There is usually a talk or presentation on a subject about, or related to, the history of Chesterfield and surrounding districts. There are no meetings in December or January.
Admission is free for members and for visitors the charge is £3. Students under 22 in full-time education are also free. Free parking is available on site.
Meetings programme
March 16 – The Folklore of Derbyshire, with Simon Unsworth. A fascinating journey into the rich folklore of Derbyshire and the Peak District; its stories, traditions, legends and mysterious places.
April 20 – Treating the Soldiers of the Crimean War, with Danielle Burton. Mary Seacole, Betsy Cadwaladr and Florence Nightingale, who went to nurse injured soldiers in the Crimean War, despite prejudice.
May 18 – The Textile Arkwrights: a surprising family of musicians, politicians and artists, with Cliff Lea. We all know about the first fortune made by the Arkwrights at Cromford, but what happened in successive generations?
June 15 – Living from Art, with David Charlesworth. The well-known Chesterfield artist talks about his life in art.
July 20 – The Gentry of Scarsdale and their Houses: 1660-1830, with Philip Riden. Local expert historian tells us more about the squires, gentlemen and Dukes of the 71 villages and towns of North East Derbyshire.
August 17 – Murder in 19th Century Derbyshire, with Gay Evans. Tales of local homicides and executions
September 21 – The Rise of the Cavendish Dynasty, with John Taylor. Charting the rise of this remarkable dynasty from a sleepy village in Suffolk of the same name and a sheep farm in rural Derbyshire to the very pinnacle of the nobility and beyond.
October 19 – Lady Arbella Stuart – The Queen that Never Was, with David Templeman. Revealing the granddaughter of Bess of Hardwick, who was born to be a Queen.
November 16 – Rare Wild Flowers of the Peak District, with Byron Machin. Featuring the many wild flowers to be found on our doorstep, including some that are unique to our county, illustrated via Byron’s wonderful photographs.
NO MEETINGS IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY
Download a pdf of our current programme below
Location of The Olde House
Page last updated 20 February 2026.