Upcoming Events › Talk

John McGill talks about the history of the Magnet and Holland Motors sites - the first developed as an industrial cement works in a semi-rural landscape on the edge of the 19th century city of Cambridge, and now a new and beautiful Mosque; the second a garage re-developed as student housing. He explores the process and implications of physical and social transformation in Romsey Town, changing demographics and land values.

Shop front 1920, courtesy of Duncan Mackay Duncan Mackay describes exciting projects and turbulent times for one of Cambridge’s favourite family businesses. The story starts in Scotland, via East Road, Cambridge and a deal with wheelwright firm Alsop & Sons in 1912, and reaches as far as Los Angeles. The firm has been involved in several major 20th century developments, including the early radio telescopes, all whilst continuing to supply its local market.

Maggie Kalenak will talk about love, courtship and engagement in nineteenth century England, considering sources such as love letters, diaries, etiquette manuals, periodicals, novels and the stories of individual couples. For middle-class Victorians finding a spouse was a highly ritualised and high-stakes process.

Mariel Rodriguez explores how the 1830s national revival of interest in antiquarianism and archaeology was initially dominated by the University in Cambridge, until residents like Frederick Leach and C. H. Evelyn White created their own advocacy spaces. By the 20th century the non-university antiquarian society was at the forefront of national preservation debates.

The society's Annual General Meeting plus a special event, more info to come.