• Dates and times: Latest programme shown below. From 7.15pm there is opportunity for a tea/coffee/social, then our guest speaker starts at 7.45pm.
• Venue: St Leonard's Community Centre, 4 Bramcote Lane, Nottingham, NG8 2ND.
• Entry: Entry is free for Society members and non-members are welcome, paying £3 at the door.
• Parking: Car park to the rear of the Community Centre.
• Nearest bus stops: NCT no. 30 to the Admiral Rodney, or trentbarton the two to Birdsall Avenue.

2026-2027 Programme

• Wed 25 February 2026
  Karen Slade (Company of Artisans)
  "Medieval Tiles from Lenton Abbey & Beyond." Discovery, history and reconstruction.
• Wed 25 March 2026
  Julia King
  "Who Lived at the Admiral Rodney in the 18th century?" Fascinating insights into the lives of the people who lived in Wollaton's public house between 1680-1790.
• Wed 22 April 2026
  AGM followed by Anja Thompson-Rohde
  "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.
• Wed 23 September 2026
  Linda Birkin
  "The Good, The Bad and the Bugly - Weird Bug Stories from History."
• Wed 28 October 2026
  Adrian Gray
  "East Coast Mainline Disasters."
• Wed 25 November 2026
  Stephen Flinders
  "Stanton on Film."
• Wed 27 January 2027
  Chris King
  "Nottingham's Caves - Exploring Hidden Histories."
• Wed 24 February 2027
  Danielle Burton
  "Anthony Woodville - Sophicated or Schemer."
• Wed 24 March 2027
  Dorothy Mountford
  "The Empress and the Washerwoman - St Peter's through Women's History."
• Wed 28 April 2027
  AGM followed by Lizzie Didcock
  "The Nottinghamshire Coroner - Medieval to Modern."

Follow the link to read more on each of the topics and the speaker bios. See also your copy of Wollaton Historical (issue no. 28, 2025), pages 26 & 27.

Now closed until Spring 2026... hope to see you then. Dates to be posted early 2026 so please watch this space!

Open 2.00pm to 4.30pm on the dates shown below.

FREE admission, donations welcomed (we receive no funding).

More information on the Wollaton Village Dovecote Museum is shown on our Dovecote page.

2025 Programme (2026 Programme landing here soon!)

This year is the centenary of the sale of Wollaton Hall and Park, and the wider estate. Whilst marking the end of the Willoughbys ownership in the area, we are delighted that Lord Middleton will once again return to Wollaton to open the Wollaton Village Dovecote Museum in May 2025. The main theme of displays this year will be life in Wollaton both before and after 1925.

• Sun 11 May*
  Grand Opening and unveiling of the Maureen Jones memorial bench by Lord Middleton.
• Sun 8 June*
  Displays continue
• Sat 5 July
  Wollaton Community Festival. Traditional games on the Dovecote lawn, inc. skittles, boules and jacks.
• Sun 13 July*
  Displays continue
• Sun 10 August*
  Displays continue
• Sat 13 & Sun 14 September*
  Heritage Open Days

*Free guided walk around the village at 3.15pm

Please do come and visit the Wollaton Walled Garden, learn more about its history and witness the incredible restoration. Full details can be found on our Walled Garden page, whilst details of the special events for this year are shown below.

Special Events 2026:

• Spring Festival - more information
  Sat 25 & Sun 26 April 2026 (£2 entrance fee, children free)
  Open 11.00am to 4.00pm
• Summer Festival - more information
  Sat 4 & Sun 5 July 2026 (£2 entrance fee, children free)
  Open 11.00am to 4.00pm
• National Garden Scheme - more information
  Sun 16 August 2026 (£5 entrance fee, children free)
  Open 11.00am to 4.00pm
• Heritage Open Days 
  Tue 15 & Thu 17 September 2026 (entry free - donations welcomed)
  Open 11.00am to 3.30pm
• Autumn Festival - more information
  Sat 19 & Sun 20 September 2026 (£2 entrance fee, children free)
  Open 11.00am to 4.00pm

Walled Garden
(Photo by Russ Pearce)