Dates: Meetings take place on the 4th Wednesday of the month from September to April (not December).

Time: 7.30pm-9.00pm

Venue: St Leonard's Community Centre, Bramcote Lane, Wollaton, NG8 2ND (opposite Wollaton Library)

Entry: Free for Society members. Non-members welcome and pay £3 on the door.

2025 - 2026 Programme

23rd April 2025 - AGM followed by David Skillen on 'Knitters, Nailers and Traitors' - Belper in the industrial revolution.

24th September 2025 - Andrew Hamilton on Wollaton Cottages Survey. An update on the recent research and new discoveries. 

22nd October 2025  - Yvonne Morley-Chisholm on A Voice for King Richard III: the search for the real man behind the myths. See and hear King Richard III speaking his own words and effectively brought back to 'life'.

26th November 2025 - James Wright on Historic Building Mythbusting in Nottinghamshire. An investigation into the underlying truths behind myths and romantic stories.

28th January 2026 - Sharon Bennett Connolly on Heroines of the Medieval World. Turning the spotlight on amazing Medieval women with strong ties to Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.

25th February 2026 - Karen Slade (Company of Artisans) on Medieval tiles from Lenton Abbey & Beyond. Discovery, history and reconstruction.

25th March 2026 - Memories of Wollaton. Stories and recollections gathered over the course of the 2025 exhibition at the Dovecote Museum presented by WHaCS members.

22nd April 2026 - AGM followed by Anja Thompson-Rohde on Coins as the First Social Media. How messages contained in the portraits and symbols on coins acted in the past to spread news and propaganda.

Open on the dates below from 2.00pm - 4.30pm, except where stated.

Free admission and free walk (on selected dates). Donations are most welcome on the day, or by using the Donate button shown on our Home page. More information on the museum is shown on our Dovecote page.

2025 - 2026 Programme

Whilst this year marks the centenary of the sale of Wollaton Hall and the estate, marking the end of the Willoughby's ownership in the area, we are delighted that Lord Middleton will once again return to Wollaton to open the Dovecote in May 2025.

The main theme of displays this year will be life in Wollaton both before and after 1925.

Sun 11th May* - Grand Opening and the unveiling of the Maureen Jones memorial bench at 2.15pm by Lord Middleton

Sun 8th June*  -  Displays continue

Sun 5th July* - Wollaton Festival. Traditional games on the lawn including skittles, boules and jacks

Sun 13th July* - Displays continue

Sun 10th August* - Displays continue

Sat 13th & Sun 14th September* - Heritage Open Days

*There will be a guided walk around the Village and Church at 3.15pm

WHaCS is one of the voluntary orgnisations which contribute to the restoration of the listed 18th century walled garden and associated buildings at Wollaton Hall.

Guided tours every Thursday from March to October at 10.30am. Donation £5.
Book online at: www.wollatonhall.org.uk/walled-garden-tours

It’s important to note that the Walled Garden is a separate area within Wollaton Park and should not be confused with the Formal Garden or the Botanic Garden, which are also located within the grounds.

Photo by Russ Pearce

Special events

Spring Festival: April 26th & 27th (£1 entrance fee)

Summer Festival: July 5th & 6th (£1 entrance fee)

Heritage Open Days: September 16th & 18th (Free)

Autumn Festival: October 4th & 5th (£1 entrance fee)

Photo by Russ Pearce

Our Article section of this website has more information on the early stages of this exciting restoration.

Further details on the Wollaton Walled Garden Project can be found at: www.friendsofwollatonpark.org.uk/walled-garden

Wollaton Historical & Conservation Society does not accept liability for any accident, loss or damage to members or visitors during its advertised activities.