Departed glory! Talk at Grimsby Town Hall will recall great bustard and other lost birds of Lincolnshire

                                    

Great bustard - favourite target of men with rifles

THE days when great bustards roamed Lincolnshire will be recalled at a talk to be held later this month at Grimsby Town Hall.

This bird used to breed in the Wolds but, as elsewhere in the country, it was hunted to extinction.

The free talk, starting at 11am on September 17,  will be given by bustard expert Phil Espin who is chairman of the Lincolnshire Bird Club.

It is part of a fortnight of heritage activities, starting on Friday.

Other events lined up include: 

Cleethorpes on The Move 

Town Hall, Knoll Street, Cleethorpes

10am to 4pm, Friday 9 and Saturday 10 September

Explore the story of transport that created the Cleethorpes of today, see displays, items and artefacts on the railways, trolley buses, tramways and more. Enjoy the *Punch & Judy show outside Blighty’s Café and meet *Willy and Milly, our seaside posers. Fun quiz for children to enjoy.

*Saturday only

Marvellous Machinery – A Windmill in Action

Waltham Windmill, Brigsley Road, Waltham

Open 10am to 4pm (weather permitting), Saturday 10 September

Tour the Waltham Windmill, a fully restored 1666 six-sailed mill that still produces flour and is made into bread. Watch millers at work and purchase flour and bread.  Visit the Museum of Rural Life and the RAF Grimsby exhibition located in a Nissen hut, the former dining hall for RAF Grimsby WAAFs during WWII.  GCMES train rides available for a small charge.

Weelsby Hall Open Day

Weelsby Hall, Weelsby Road, Grimsby

Open 12 noon to 3pm Saturday 10 September

Discover the history of Weelsby Hall with a self-guided tour. Owned by Linkage Community Trust, Weelsby Hall is one of the grandest buildings in North East Lincolnshire and is not usually accessible to the public. The mansion was built for George Sleight, a trawler owner, in the late 1800s. It is now a facility which supports people with learning disabilities.  Booking essential. email Sophie Tuplin at marketing@linkage.org.uk

Discover Immingham

Immingham Museum, Civic Centre, Pelham Road, Immingham

Open 1pm to 4pm, Saturday 10 September

Visit Immingham Museum and learn about the town’s social history. Exhibitions showcase the history of  Immingham Dock, the influence of the Great Central Railway, the town’s connection to the Mayflower Pilgrims and their dramatic escape from the shores of Immingham in 1608 and an extensive working model railway displayed on the first floor.

Discover Tin Town, the home of those who built Immingham Dock

Immingham Tin Town Heritage Centre, 359 Pelham Road, Immingham

Open 12-4 Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 September and also Sat 17 & Sun 18 September

Visit the last remaining building of Immingham’s Tin Town which has been lovingly restored to its former glory. Homes and facilities were built to house the thousands of labourers who were employed to build the dock, called Tin Town. Using primitive equipment, it took six years to build and was opened in 1912 by King George V.

 

Talk: Grimsby’s Fishing Heritage Centre, the Ross Tiger and the history of Trawling with Dave Ornsby

Grimsby Town Hall

7.30pm Thursday 15 September

Part of the Summer Talk Programme with the Grimsby & Cleethorpes District Civic Society

 

Delve into the Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre

10am-4pm, Saturday 17 September

Enjoy 20% discounted entry into Grimsby’s favourite attraction! Visit the award winning Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre and experience life in the 1950s for trawlermen and their families.   Learn about Great Grimsby’s fishing heritage and experience the sights, sounds, smells and movement of the 1950s as the centre takes you back to the life of our trawlermen and their families both at home and at sea.  Take the opportunity to view the two exhibitions taking place in the Murial Barker Gallery – Sea to Sale and Fish ‘n’ Quips.  Enjoy a cuppa and cake in the on site café.

 

Discover The Time Trap and Grimsby Town Hall

Grimsby Town Hall, Town Hall Square, Grimsby

10am to 4pm, Friday 16 and Saturday 17 September

Explore the town’s treasures with FREE entry to the Time Trap museum, Grimsby Town Hall and the Council Chamber.  Also view displays from the Great Grimsby Family History Group, Grimsby Photographic Society, the North Lincolnshire Art Society and the Council’s Archives. 

Plus free talks on the Saturday:

11am-12.30pm ‘The Great Bustard & Other Lost Birds’ an illustrated talk with The Lincolnshire Bird Club 11.00am – 12.30pm

2pm-3pm ‘Mr Grimsby’ with Geoff Scargill from the Watkin Society 

 

Discover the long history of Grimsby Minster

10am to 4pm, Saturday 17 September

Visit Grimsby Minster and see if you can spot the Grimsby Imp. It’s thought the imp was sent here from Lincoln who played naughty tricks and was turned into stone by an Angel!  The Minster forms part of the Grimsby Heritage Trail that can be done through your smartphone on the (free) Love Exploring App. Learn about the history of the Minster whilst you have a look around.  Don’t forget to indulge in a cream tea in the Minster Café.

Also on at the Minster that day is the OE Makers Market. Meet over 30 local artists and makers, enjoy street foods and yummy treats and listen to mellow musical sounds at this bustling local makers market, open 10am to 5pm. 

Take the time to explore St James Square. View the ‘murmuration’ public artwork by local artist Annabel McCourt created from the outlines of hundreds of volunteer residents. Etched into the pathway in the Square is Come Follow Me, artwork featuring references to Grimsby and its history through quotes, memories, stories and historical text.

Astounding Inventions Down Dock

Grimsby Kasbah Conservation Area, Auckland Road, Grimsby

10am-4pm Saturday 17 September

Join us on the historic port of Grimsby to celebrate the amazing innovations which have propelled us into the future. Join a fascinating tour or talk, see fish filleting demonstrations, see traditional net braiding in action with the Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre, have a go at stand up paddleboarding with Ebb & Flo at their on-land demonstration area, meet Orsted and gain an insight into the world’s largest offshore wind farm and enjoy street food and entertainment including uplifting sea shanties!

Bookable tours include:

• A guided walking tour of the historic streets of the Kasbah, 10am-3pm bookable only
• Smoke House tour with Alfred Enderby Fish Smokers, 10am, 12noon and 2pm, bookable only
• The Great Escape tour of Creative Start including the Paint the Town Proud artwork exhibition, 11am, 1pm and 3pm, bookable only
• Join Heritage Lincolnshire for a talk about historic building conservation and the work being done at Petersons and Building 89. Talks held at 10.30am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm, bookable only.

 

Behind the scenes at the Caxton Theatre

Caxton Theatre, Cleethorpe Road, Grimsby

10am to 3pm, Saturday 17 September

This art deco theatre has brought high-class amateur entertainment to our area for nearly 80 years.

Join them for this backstage tour including the wardrobe department, props and more.

 

Homegrown Talent at Grimsby Central Hall

Grimsby Central Hall, Duncombe Street, Grimsby

10am to 4pm, Saturday 17 September

Tours at 11.00, 12.30 & 14.00

Learn about the Hall’s rich 86 year history, the famous people who started their career here and the filming of the Three-Day Millionnaire show. Tours will take place at 11am, 12.30pm and 2pm. Booking not required.

 

Cleethorpes and the Growth of the Tourism Industry

Old Clee Church Hall

10am to 1pm (church closed at 1pm), Saturday 17 September

Come and discover the history with our volunteers and our self-guided trail in and around the surrounding area of the church.

 

Discover St Nicolas Church, rooted in its landscape for 800 years

St Nicolas church, Great Coates Road, Great Coates

Open 10-4 Saturday 17 September

This Grade I listed, ancient 13th century church is set in beautiful grounds. Look out for the gargoyles and the east facing blue clock. Medieval glass shows the arms of the Barnardistons who were lords of the manor of Great Coates in medieval and Stuart times. Sir Thomas Barnardiston has the distinction of being the original Roundhead. There are other items of note pertaining to the Barnardistons including two old brasses.  Guided visits to the church tower may be available to those who have a reasonable level of fitness and mobility.