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Richard III and Bosworth talks and tours for 2019/20 booked so far. Please contact individual organisations to book a place.
18 Feb 2020 Olney Archaeological Soc Fotheringhay 28 March 2020. Helion Bosworth Study day and Battlefield Tour 4 April 2020 Richard III Society Norwich/Battlefields Trust study day Richard III and the French Connection Talk 9 May 2020 Richard III Society Worcester Branch Richard III and the French Connection Talk 21-29 June 2020 Richard III Tour (Travel Editions) 7-9 Aug 2020 Richard III Tour (Travel Editions) 25-27 Sept 2020 Richard III Tour (Travel Editions) 18 November 2020 Wolverton & District Archaeological and Historical Society Richard III and the French Connection Talk
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Although largely forgotten or ignored, Northampton has a fascinating history. Many events that shaped Britain took place within its walls. Our tour takes you through its medieval streets, to the sites of long lost buildings and surprising survivors, where you will hear tales of Saxons and Vikings, Kings and Castles, Rebels and Treachery. You will also hear about Northampton’s medieval trades, how it became a centre for religion and one of the first universities in England as well as long-forgotten battles and rebellions fought in and around the town.
Due to Covid we are running small group tours most Sunday's. Please email mikeingramtours@gmail.com for more details and to book a place. Subject to government regulations at the time. All tours start 11:00 am, Chalk Lane Carpark, Northampton NN1 2RW . Tours take approx. 2 ½ hrs (exteriors of buildings only). Max 10 people per tour. Adults £10.00, under 16’s £5.00 per person on the day (parking not included). Please wear clothing and footwear suitable for the conditions. Under 16’s to be accompanied by an adult. See also www.facebook.com/Northampton-Tours-2157123911207814/ Reviews "Very informative and thought provoking. Mike’s knowledge of medieval Northampton is amazing. Great to see the town in a new light. Thoroughly recommend." "Thoroughly recommend the Northampton History Walk led by Mike Ingram. We went on this two hour walk on Sunday and learnt that this town of ours has such a significant past, a wonderful story to tell that sadly is not appreciated by most who live here. Mike was such a wonderful enthusiastic and knowledgeable leader that his story should be heard by many more people who could keep the past alive. Please support this and learn about those that paved the way for us." Brilliant walk today around medieval Northampton with Mike Ingram. Really enjoyed it, extremely informative, thank you.! We have just come back from a wonderful walk led by Mike Ingram telling us about medieval Northampton and its inhabitants from kings, barons, monks and tradesfolk! Great morning well spent being reminded of the fact that Northampton is more than shoes - wool merchants, dyers, horse traders and then all the nobility that either fraternised with or rebelled against the kings! Perhaps the university ought to highlight to its fashion students that Northampton was the best place for dying quality wool scarlet and for producing the best leather then they will know what to aim for. Do go on Mike’s next tour which he will advertise on the Battlefield Society web site/FB page, it is £10 well spent and our borough and county councillors could do with good no on the tour so they understand what they are in charge of! Northampton is suffering from an epidemic. For years now, more and more people have been infected by a disease which is proving to be far more destructive than anything the town has known before. The disease is apathy. And one of its most obvious symptoms is a total lack of pride or interest in the town itself. Few remain untouched by the disease and exactly when it first struck is hard to say. However, its effect is that Northampton has changed almost totally out of recognition. Politicians and too many of its people have forgotten that the town itself is a living, breathing organism and between them they are slowly suffocating it to death under a blanket of indifference and too often wilful ignorance. Yes, progress is essential, but not at the total expense of the past for it is in its history where you will find the source of any towns pride. Yes, there are economic pressures, the likes that have never been seen before, but you do not solve the problems by callously ripping out the physical and cultural heart of the town. The town itself should not be made to pay for mistakes, errors in judgement, short term gain or simple incompetence of its leaders. Look at what we have lost from one of the biggest and most important castles in England to the old bus station which was far from perfect but it worked, and ask yourself what the town has actually gained? Don’t you realise or care that once the remnants of the towns past have gone they are gone forever? One of the great ironies is that many people, including the politicians, mourn the loss of our great castle, berate those who perpetrated it and criticise their short-sightedness, yet they are no different, and just as guilty of destroying other aspects of our past. What will our descendants say about them? Is this how they want to be remembered? We now hear that County Hall is going up for sale because Northamptonshire County Council could not manage its finances to the extent that the Government of its own political party was forced to step in and abolish it. County Hall is a building so steeped in the town’s history that the air is thick with it, but because of the financial mismanagement the crude calculation is that it has to go to the highest bidder. And that is wrong on so many levels. Are you just going to let it happen? Even the towns history has been debased in this Wikipedia world of quick fixes, false news and a fast buck, who cares about the real facts for the sake of a good story, so lets go back and have a quick look at some of the borough’s history. • We were one of the earliest borough’s in England. • We had the first or second mayor in England. • We have one of the oldest and biggest market squares in England. • The town’s wealth was built on wool, cloth and horses – not shoes. They came later, but political memories are too often short and selective. • Many kings and queens stayed here, and in spite of the Borough Councils futile attempts to claim otherwise, we own the nationally important Queen Eleanor Cross at Delapré (Only one of three left in England out of twelve). • Important national decisions and laws were made in the town too, for example, several peace treaties with Scotland were signed in the town. Another was the Assize of Northampton which was a series of measures taken by King Henry II that solidified the rights of the knightly tenants and made all possession of land subject to and guaranteed by royal law. Even the Magna Carta has its roots in Northampton and Northamptonshire. • When Kings were made, where did the Baron’s come to swear fealty? Yes Northampton – it was that important! That is only for starters, there is much much more. Yet what is Northampton best known for today in the world of history and culture? The international scandal of the sale of Sekhemka. So where can you and your children learn about all this amazing history – in our libraries of course. If you can find one that has not been closed. While under the proposed unitary council the potential of local people focusing on their Town's history could all be lost too. Throughout its past the town has always dared to be different, to stand up for its rights and a home to rebels from the Lollards to the Puritans to more recently Charles Bradlaugh. But that has all been consigned to the past (perhaps deliberately) and the people have lost the fighting spirit that was once in their blood. The town walls were pulled down not because it supported the wrong side but to stop it becoming a centre of rebellion again. Northampton has also always been a town of tolerance with one of the first recorded Muslims in England living in the castle, and it had the fifth largest Jewish community in England. When they were persecuted nationally, Northampton was one of their few safe havens. It was even one of only eight sanctuary towns in England where those who were fleeing persecution (and often justice) could come too. It is a sad state of affairs that today people are only concerned with self and Politicians only appear to be concerned with their party and their careers. Do you remember when the last one put the town first or really, really listened to the people who voted them into office or listened to the experts who actually know what they are talking about. Instead they just give us a polite smile and a nod to say they had consulted people [often on a rigged question] then carry on with their original plans. Very little takes place in the town or county without politics lurking somewhere. No one seems to do anything for the town any more without the perception of some kind of political or personal gain. The best of our politicians are here today and gone tomorrow. But, our history is already over 1,400 years long – and that should not be forgotten by anyone. Even some the local history, heritage and archaeological groups cannot work together because of their own agendas and politics, others have disappeared because they have outlived their usefulness or dared to oppose the plan. Where are the Friends of Delapré Abbey now or even the towns civic society? Those few that do stand up for the town are considered nothing more than moaners or just ‘campaigners’, and more often than not just ignored. Look how long it took the Battlefield Society to get those in power to listen to their concerns over the poor state of the Eleanor Cross and where were the local history and community groups then? They should have been shouting loud beside NBS but instead their silence was deafening. Back to the town being a living and breathing community; we are the brain, eyes and ears of Northampton, so who is to blame for our catching this disease? I am afraid it is all of us because we do not look, listen, think and above all talk about our town anymore. We are all guilty of apathy and often seem to exhibit a considerable lack of pride. If you care for our town it is time to use your senses again. That means being ready to put your head up above the parapet and shout out to save your towns heritage because if you don’t it will soon be gone for ever. And if you think you are too busy or preoccupied to do it for yourself then do it for your children and grandchildren because they have a right to grow up and live in a town that they can be proud of don’t they? Finally, I have only spoken about the town here. But the county as a whole is no better. Look what has happened it to over recent years. They have even parcelled up parts and given it away. Ever wonder why the town and county does not have a cathedral? Well we did – Peterborough was once part of Northamptonshire and its cathedral, and it was simply given away almost without a murmur of objection. Naseby battlefield, despite its importance, has no visitor centre and little to commemorate the battle. Earl Spencer described it as a “national disgrace”. Just think how the Americans remember the battles of their civil war! Now is the time for the people of Northampton and Northamptonshire to say enough is enough and to stand up for their town and its heritage. End the apathy now. Are we content to let politicians make swingeing changes without proper consulting? If it is not in the best interest of the town and county – say so! If we stand with one undivided voice they will listen – they have too. Remember unity is the enemy of the administration and they will do their utmost to divide. Now is the time for change. The Three Edwards starting 19/09/17 at Byfield Village Hall (Daventry)
Castles, Weapons and Warfare starting 21/09/17 at St Matthews Parish Centre Northampton. Please contact for more details Just received an outstanding from my recent teaching assessment with the following notes
• Extremely well researched course from a tutor with in depth knowledge of his subject. • Students finding the course content interesting and absorbing. • Very good at encouraging critical thinking. • Course content very well planned and logically organised • Very positive and productive atmosphere within the class. War & rebellion in Northamptonshire at Rushden Indoor Bowling Club, Rushden
Starts 17/01/2017 09:30 for 9 weeks The three Edwards at St. Matthews Church Rooms, Northampton Starts 19/01/2017 13:30 for 9 weeks The history of Richard II and Henry IV at Church House, Kettering Starts 17/01/2017 for 9 weeks For more details contact http://www.weanorthamptonshire.org/ 05-07 June Richard III Lord of the North 09-11 June Richard III: last King to die in battle 03-05 July King John’s Last Journey 21-23 July Richard III: last King to die in battle 11-13 Aug Richard III: last King to die in battle 07-09 Sep Charles II: Civil War and the Great Escape 13 – 15 Sep Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales 21 - 23 Sep Oliver Cromwell, Warts and All 29 Sep – 01 Oct Richard III: last King to die in battle 13-15 Oct Richard III: last King to die in battle To book or for more details please go to http://www.traveleditions.co.uk/searchresults.aspx?q=Mike%20Ingram New Course War and Rebellion in Northants starting Thurs 6th October. For 9 weeks 1.30-3pm. St Matthews Church Rooms, Northampton. http://www.weanorthamptonshire.org for more details |
Mike IngramHistorian, Author, Lecturer and Tours Archives
September 2019
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