A look at Charles Dickens and some of our Christmas traditions.

It is relatively easy using census and BMD records to trace a family back to circa 1800, but what about earlier, the 17th and 18th centuries?

A look at how women dressed in wartime Britain, their lifestyles, rationing, make do and mend and men's utility fashion.

Marion will give a light -hearted talk about her life as a Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths.

Wed 1st May visit to Rode Hall - the tour of Rode Hall will begin at 12 noon with Sian Rhodes.

Please pay at the kiosk or the Courtyard tearoom mentioning Betley LHS to gain entry for a special price of £13.

There are other tours at 1 pm and 2 pm.

Please contact Sian on 07583 697241 or email her at sianrhodes1@outlook.com for more information.

Sian is a guide at Rode Hall and will speak about this fine country house and garden.

Her talk will introduce us to the Baker-Wilbraham family and their unique collection of ceramics.

This will be an informal talk, illustrated with slides, given by the convivial, Liverpool-born Henry Madden, proprietor of Cavern books at Dagfields Antiques Centre.

His interactive talk will show the development of Liverpool and its overhead railway.

A selection of his local history and other books will be available to buy during the evening.

Mervyn is a local historian. He writes a column - 'The Way We Were' - in the Sentinel, and produces local history books.

His topic will cover the origins and meanings of local pub signs and their names.

Join us at Betley Tea Room for a hot drink, a sandwich and a piece of cake.

The cost is £10 per person; please contact Judy Bettley-Smith beforehand at judy.bs@btinternet.com so that she can inform the Tea Room about the numbers to cater for.

Anne’s Uncle Edwin, from Balterley, is one of the soldiers remembered on the memorial at Betley Church.

The Police Force of Newcastle earned the gratitude of townsfolk because Isaac Cotterill protected them from the Chartist Riots of 1842.

Come and find out more…

Graham is a member of the Nantwich Museum Research Group, and this talk is based on the research of the late H. Gladden MBE.

Keith is a member of the Nantwich Museum Research Group and an expert on The English Civil Wars. He’s also Director of the Cheshire Civil War Centre at Nantwich Museum.

You may remember his talk about our local toll roads three years ago.

An in-house presentation by various members of BLHS coordinated by Mavis Smith.

BLHS members recall the removal of The Medicine House to Alan Garner’s Toad Hall (with its literary connections) and includes the Johnson’s !9th century production of medicine in Wrinehill, as well as a short section about the Summer House.

Carl’s talk will include a description of the battle together with exhibits from medieval times.

This visit will include a talk about the history of the Court and a guided tour of accessible parts of the ground floor. There will also be access to the grounds.

Refreshments will be available.

Places for this visit must be pre-booked

A talk about the restoration of the historic gardens at Betley Court.

Les, the Secretary of the Heritage Centre, will talk to us about the Apedale Heritage Centre and Country Park.

A talk about the coach and bus firm from Wrinehill that so many of us can remember.

A talk about the restoration of the historic gardens at Betley Court.

IN VIEW OF THE BAD WEATHER THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL 20th APRIL.

Join us at Betley Tea Room for a mince pie and a piece of cake.

Cost: £7 per person.

Please book by contacting Judy Bettley-Smith at judy.bs@btinternet.com

A talk by BLHS Committee Member Laura Lee about her new book for the Platinum Jubilee.

This talk will take place in Betley Tea Room - click here and scroll to the bottom of the page for the location.

A talk by Rebecca Jackson - Collections Officer at the Staffordshire County Record Office.

A talk by Bruce & Moira Johnston.

A family outing with a picnic to a drift mine, a Roman Britain exhibition in Chesterton and a café, with many attractive walks.

A talk by Mavis Smith.

A talk by Graham Dodd from the Nantwich Museum Research Group.

The Rector of Nantwich led the town through a cholera outbreak and restored the church in the mid C19

A talk by Nigel Brown

In St. Margaret’s Church, Betley