Contact: Ann Shrive Tel: 01536 373216
1. Water, water everywhere: Fenland landscapes 1600–2000 C2328627
There is so much more to Fenland history than drainage! Meet some Fenland characters, study maps, join the riots, smell the drains and possibly get your feet wet – on a field trip, for which there may be an extra charge.
Tutor Liz Carter Fee £50.25 (discounted: £45.25) or Free
Venue Brigstock Village Hall, 8 Bridge Street, Brigstock NN14 3ET
Date Thursday 2–3.30pm, 9 meetings + field visit from 12 January 2012
Contact: Rosemary Johnson Tel: 01327 261327
2. The SMJ Railway: the line to Shakespeare land C2328628
The Stratford-
Tutor Martin Bloxsom Fee £50.25 (discounted: £45.25) or Free
Venue Byfield Village Hall, The Green, Byfield NN11 6UT
Date Tuesday 7.45–9.15 pm, 10 meetings from 17 January 2012
Contact: Bridget Chapman Tel: 01604 813445
3. Garden history C2328657
What influence did Renaissance gardens have in England? Why was Lancelot Brown’s work so universally admired? Where did Joseph Paxton spend much of his working life? Find out while exploring the form and function of parkland and gardens from the medieval period to the 20th century. Local gardens will be examined against the wider picture to illustrate developments in design and planting.
Tutor Judith Hodgkinson Fee: £67 (discounted: £60.30) or Free
Venue Canons Ashby House, Ashby Lodge, Canons Ashby, Daventry NN11 3SD
Date Thursday 10am–noon, 10 meetings from 12 January 2012
Contact: R Tindley Tel: 01536 395555
4. Songs, satire and social commentary C2328629
Musical theatre has often served as a reflection of the times and culture that shape
its lyrics, melodies and plots. This course will consider, among other examples,
the risqué operettas of Offenbach, the milder wit of W.S. Gilbert, the fin-
Tutor David Price Fee £50.25 (discounted: £45.25) or Free
Venue Meeting Room, Corby International Swimming Pool, George St, Corby NN17 1QG
Date Tuesday 7.15–8.45pm, 10 meetings from 10 January 2012
5. The Tudor year through customs and traditions C2328696
A look at the ritual year in Tudor times and its associated traditions and customs. We’ll explore the meaning and significance of these events to the peoples of the time and examine activities that are still the basis of seasonal celebrations today. A visit to Packwood House and Baddesley Clinton on Sunday 3 June is included (there may be an extra charge for the visit).
Tutor Martin Sirot-
Venue Meeting Room, Corby International Swimming Pool, George St, Corby NN17 1QG
Date Tuesday 7.15–8.45pm, 5 meetings + field trip from 24 April 2012
Contact: Lin Deeley Tel: 01295 711938
6. Archaeology of the British Isles C2328630
Join us for a sweeping introduction to the rich and diverse archaeology of Britain and Ireland. Learn about the sequence of peoples who settled here, from the earliest humans to the Normans, and explore the significance of some of the most intriguing and enigmatic sites, monuments and artefacts they left behind. Gain a new appreciation for the importance of archaeology in the study of human history in Britain.
Tutor Mark Anderson Fee £50.25 (discounted: £45.25) or Free
Venue Farthinghoe Village Hall, Cockley Road, Farthinghoe
Date Friday 7.30–9pm, 10 meetings from 20 January 2012
Contact: Richard Farquharson Tel: 01295 760079
7. Famous gardens and gardeners C2328631
People have always made gardens. This course explores in detail several significant
and interesting gardens and their creators. We’ll look at historical trends, budgetary
constraints and changing plant styles. We will also consider contemporary developments,
the use of non-
Tutor Andrew Mikolajski Fee £53.60 (discounted: £48.25) or Free
Venue Helmdon Reading Room, Church St, Helmdon NN13 5QJ
Date Tuesday 7.30–9.30pm, 8 meetings from 17 January 2012
Contact: Kim Eaves Tel: 01832 733565
8. Strong-
Move over Mrs Pankhurst – there’s more to this suffrage business than chaining yourself
to railings! Discover some of the strong-
Tutor Liz Carter Fee £50.25 (discounted: £45.25) or Free
Venue Rushden Indoor Bowls Centre, 144 Northampton Rd, Rushden NN10 6AN
Date Tuesday 9.45–11.15am, 10 meetings from 10 January 2012
Contact: Mrs Jo Stroud Tel: 01604 843284
9. Comfortable life in the country house C2328659
From privies to colza oil lamps, and dovecotes to bell-
Tutor Judith Hodgkinson Fee £67 (discounted: £60.30) or Free
Venue Kelmarsh Hall, Harborough Road, Kelmarsh, Northampton NN6 9LU
Date Wednesday 10am–noon, 10 meetings from 11 January 2012
Contact: Audrey Mitchell Tel: 01536 522127
Contact: Nelia Eaton Tel: 01536 513471
10. Adventurous women C2328633
What makes a woman adventurous? We investigate the life and times of a selected group of women who shook off their social chains and embraced the wider world using their own words and comparing them with contemporary and modern views.
Tutor Liz Carter Fee £50.25 (discounted: £45.25) or Free
Venue Church House, St Botolphs Road, Barton Seagrave, Kettering NN15 6SR
Date Tuesday 2–3.30pm, 10 meetings from 10 January 2012
Contact: Betty Izzard Tel: 01327 842908
30. War and rebellion in Northamptonshire C2328634
From the Romans to the renaissance Northamptonshire was one of the most important counties in England and many battles were fought within its borders. This course examines the wars and major political events that took place in the county and helped to shape England.
Tutor Mike Ingram Fee £50.25 (discounted: £45.25) or Free
Venue Baptist Church School Rooms, Market Place, Long Buckby NN6 7RR
Date Monday 2.30–4pm, 10 meetings from 16 January 2012
Contact: Sue Payne Tel: 01780 782747
31. History of British architecture 1600–present C2328698
Everywhere we look in Britain buildings are in view. Some are a delight, others can make us ill. Judge, enjoy and be amused by our rich built environment.
Tutor Terry Sladden Fee £50.25 (discounted: £45.25) or Free
Venue Nassington Village Hall, Church Street, Nassington PE8 6QG
Date Tuesday 2–3.30pm, 10 meetings from 10 January 2012
Contact: E C Garrett Tel: 01327 342539
32. The Tudor year through customs and traditions C2328635
A look at the ritual year in Tudor times and its associated traditions and customs. We’ll explore the meaning and significance of these events to the peoples of the time and examine activities that are still the basis of seasonal celebrations today. A visit to a typical Tudor house is included (there may be an extra charge for the visit).
Tutor Martin Sirot-
Venue Bliss Charity Primary School, Middle Street, Nether Heyford NN7 3LL
Date Wednesday 8–9.30pm, 5 meetings + field trip from 22 February 2012
Contact: Mrs Jo Stroud Tel: 01604 843284
33. A lighter side C2328652
Poetry can raise your spirits and help you rediscover the lighter side of life. From
Chaucer onwards, poets have explored a wide range of themes through an even wider
range of humorous forms. Share ideas and fun reading and discussing poems by well-
Tutor Hilary Lewis Fee £67 (discounted: £60.30) or Free
Venue St Matthews Parish Centre, 27A The Drive, Northampton NN1 4RY
Date Tuesday 10am–noon, 10 meetings from 10 January 2012
34. Aspects of love C2328653
Love, the most powerful of emotions, has inspired many great poems. Love has many shapes and forms but is rarely straightforward. Many poets struggle with complicated feelings including desire, passion, anger, guilt, bitterness, humour and sadness. This course will explore poetry’s unique capacity to both express and contain the language of love.
Tutor Hilary Lewis Fee £40.20 (discounted: £36.20) or Free
Venue St Matthews Parish Centre, 27A The Drive, Northampton NN1 4RY
Date Tuesday 10am–noon, 6 meetings from 17 April 2012
35. The Tudor year through customs and traditions C2328636
A look at the ritual year in Tudor times and its associated traditions and customs. We’ll explore the meaning and significance of these events to the peoples of the time and examine activities that are still the basis of seasonal celebrations today. A visit to a typical Tudor house is included (there may be an extra charge for the visit).
Tutor Martin Sirot-
Venue Harlestone Village Institute, Upper Harlestone, Northampton NN7 4EH
Date Thursday 7.30–9pm, 5 meetings + field trip from 23 February 2012
36. A history of textiles C2328702
A lively exploration of some snippets of textile and craft history. From medieval
tapestry to Japanese kimonos, wartime make do and mend, to sustainable fashion, this
two-
Tutor Ruth Singer Fee £33.50 (discounted: £30.15) or Free
Venue St Matthews Parish Centre, 27A The Drive, Northampton NN1 4RY
Date Friday 10am–4pm, 2 meetings 16 & 23 March 2012
Contact: Ann Butlin Tel: 01536 710822
37. Music in stone C2328637
Music in stone is a paraphrase of the quotation by German philosopher, Frederich von Schelling who said “Architecture in general is frozen in music”. Looking at a variety of buildings over the ages in Northamptonshire an attempt will be made to see how Schelling’s statement can be said to be true.
Tutor William Walford Fee £50.25 (discounted: £45.25) or Free
Venue The Lounge, Madams Gardens, Rushton Road, Rothwell NN14 6EX
Date Tuesday 2–3.30pm, 10 meetings from 10 January 2012
Contact: David Wilcock Tel: 01327 351782
38. The detective in fiction C2328638
An in-
Tutor Peter Leyland Fee £50.25 (discounted: £45.25) or Free
Venue A5 Rangers Cycling Club, 101 Watling Street, Towcester NN12 6AG
Date Wednesday 10.15–11.45am, 10 meetings from 11 January 2012
Contact: Mary Traxton Tel: 01933 224324
39. Wining and dining C2328639
This course studies the history of food and drink in England from the later medieval
period to the early 20th century, looking at changes in ingredients used and the
way food was cooked and served. Paying particular attention to the largely self-
Tutor Judith Hodgkinson Fee £50.25 (discounted: £45.25) or Free
Venue Friends Meeting House, 29 St. Johns Street, Wellingborough NN8 4LG
Date Wednesday 7.30–9pm, 10 meetings from 11 January 2012
Contact: Glyn Jones Tel: 01327 261265
42. The English Cathedrals C2328651
There is a natural sense of awe upon entering these soaring buildings, but why were they designed, and often rebuilt, in the form that survives today? This course examines the form, purposes and meaning of the architecture and decoration of these great churches.
Tutor Keith Hasted Fee £50.25 (discounted: £45.25) or Free
Venue Weston Community Project, High Street, Weston NN12 8PU
Date Wednesday 2–3.30pm, 10 meetings from 11 January 2012