WINTER TALKS 2024-25

Our fantastic series of talks is back with more great speakers on local wildlife, landscape and history!

Talks start at 7pm, Snainton Village Hall
 
Tickets £4 from Eventbrite

Thursday 17 October
Historic York – A World Heritage City?

with John Oxley
York is a centre of power that has been continuously inhabited for almost 2000 years. John Oxley will talk about the history of York and set out the background to the city's bid for World Heritage status. What would a World Heritage Site in York consist of and what are the benefits and possible drawbacks to designation?

John Oxley MBE FSA is an archaeologist and consultant based in Scarborough. He was City Archaeologist for the City of York until 2019. He is Co-Director of Big Ideas By The Sea festival held in Scarborough each May.

Thursday 16 January 2025
What Has Shaped the North York Moors?

with Raymond Clarke
The landscape of North York Moors has been shaped by two million years of ice ages, thousands of years of agriculture and a host of industries. The land is peppered with fascinating crosses and waymarkers. Raymond Clarke will talk about the history of the landscape and the wildlife that lives on the moors.

Raymond Clarke has been a volunteer ranger for the National Park, carrying out conservation work in all seasons. He is a member of the North York Moors Association.

Thursday 20 February 2025
Paradise In Scarborough – A Community Archaeological Excavation

with Marie Woods
An archaeological excavation known as the Big Dig has been exploring settlement in Scarborough Old Town – in particular in the area around St Mary's Church. Digs have uncovered the garden of a Cistercian house from around 1180AD and a landscaped garden between c.1700AD and c.1920AD. What was on the site before 1180?

Is there evidence of Viking or even Roman occupation? Once the borough was established in the twelfth century how did the area develop? Is there physical evidence for a twelfth to fourteenth century pottery industry?
 
Marie Woods is an archaeologist and education consultant. She is Chief Executive of the Land of Iron museum in Skinningrove and a trustee of Scarborough Museums Trust.

Thursday 20 March
Kirkdale Cave – The Discovery That Launched A New Science

with Rebecca Bennion
The Kirkdale cave near Kirkbymoorside is one of the most important sites in British scientific history. In 1822 William Buckland presented his analysis of fossil animal bones found here by quarrymen. His interpretation of the cave as the remains of an ancient hyena den was revolutionary and gave birth to the science of palaeontology. Over 200 years later this talk celebrates the remarkable story of the cave and its fossils.
 
Dr Rebecca Bennion is a palaeontologist from Whitby, now based in Skipton.

Snainton Village Hall, Barkers Lane, Snainton, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO13 9BG  Email us