Friends of Nottinghamshire Archives (FONA)

How researching two names on a marriage agreement turned into a family history rollercoaster ride from a 16th century rural backwater to the very top of 19th century Nottingham society. Featuring greedy lawyers; land speculators ; a father trying to safeguard his daughter's £2000 dowry against a groom who'd left it rather late to get […]

Explore a year in the traditional folk customs of the East Midlands. From mob football games to Maypole dances and mummers plays, this lively talk incorporates live music, puppetry and a wealth of personal anecdotes.  Tea/coffee and mince pies served from 10.30am

A look at the foods being eaten and patterns of dining in the county from c.1540 through to c.1700. What foods did people eat? Where did their food come from? Was the food of the county different to that elsewhere and indeed how did food differ in different parts of the county? Based largely on […]

March is Women’s History Month and the 2024 theme is a celebration of the contributions and resilience of women through the ages. The focus of this talk is the role of archives in uncovering the contributions of women to Nottingham’s history over the course of the last century. Val will outline the background of the […]

Nottingham has been known for its vast system of caves since the Early Middle Ages. Richard’s talk examines Nottingham’s medieval caves using the borough court rolls and other records held by the Nottinghamshire Archives. These reveal a huge amount of information about what the caves were used for, who owned them and their value to […]

This talk focuses on the period since the Industrial Revolution and highlights the lives and careers of notable performers from Regency fiddlers, through Victorian London, the Great Depression and into the Hit Parade! Free to FONA members, guests are asked to make a £3 donation. Tea, coffee and biscuits from 10.30 am

The 19th century saw an increasing movement to reform the legal system both generally and with regard to married women’s rights. At the same time women, though disenfranchised, were becoming politically active with the feminist movement in its infancy. The battle for women’s suffrage could not be fought successfully until there had been radical changes […]

In the late 1500s John Darrell , who farmed land in the county discovered he had powers to exorcise demons. He rose to national prominence by exorcising William Somers, a Nottingham apprentice. So what happened next?