Welcome to our diary pages where you will find all you need to know about the dates of mill openings, family heritage events, archives evenings, walks, talks or volunteer sessions.
We are looking forward to Hough Mill reopening on Sundays and Bank Holidays from 3rd April to the end of September 2022.
If you need any further details please contact Katrina our Trust Chair and Events Coordinator via our Contact Page to find out more.
June 2022
Hough Mill Open – 2pm to 5pm, Sundays 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th
Land Management at Swannington Incline – 9am-1pm Wednesdays 8th and 29th
Land Management at Hough Mill – 9am-1pm Wednesdays 1st, 15th, 22nd
Land Management and Mill Maintenance at Hough Mill – 9am-1pm Fridays 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th
July 2022
Swannington Open Gardens – Sunday 3rd
Leicestershire and Rutland Festival of Archaeology – Saturday 2nd to Sunday 31st July
The festival includes numerous events, details are on the festival website. Some organisations also list their events on the national website. Swannington events are:
Wordsworth’s Church and Swannington’s Stories – 6.30pm Thursday 14th – Tour St George’s church and graveyard and discover their fascinating history – the poet, the amateur artist who was the catalyst for the national gallery, the muscular vicar who rebuilt his church, the Baptist minister who became the vicar, the miners’ union president and his pub, the matron of the smallpox hospital, the horse thief whose execution may have killed his father. So many stories. To book email swanningtonresearch@gmail.com
Swannington Incline Guided Tour – Saturday 16th July 10am – Join one of Swannington Heritage Trust’s knowledgeable volunteers to walk in the footsteps of Robert Stephenson and explore the Swannington Incline. The Incline was the rope hauled western end of the Leicester and Swannington Railway, the first steam railway in the Midlands and opened in 1833. The walk is approx.1.5 miles and returns up the 1 in 17 slope. Entry is free although donations are welcome. To book please email Swanningtonwalks@gmail.com or ring 07474 610112.
Califat Coal Mine Excavation Tour, Swannington – Saturday 16th July 2pm and 3.30pm – Join Leicestershire Industrial History Society and Swannington Heritage Trust for a tour of the 1855-1873 Califat coal mine. Explore two engine house complexes, learn about the two fatal accidents from a guide dressed as a miner from the 1860s. The tour includes the miners’ cottages and an 18th century haystack boiler and learn
about the latest finds from the excavation team. Entry is free although donations are welcome.
To book please email swanningtonchair@hotmail.com
Hough Mill, Swannington – Sundays 10th , 17th , 24th and 31st July 2 – 5pm – The lovingly restored Hough Mill is open to visitors and our enthusiastic and knowledgeable guides will be able to answer all your mill related questions! This wonderful windmill, dating back to 1800, is a ‘must see hidden gem’. You can have
a go at making flour. Entry is free although donations are welcome. No booking necessary.
Email swanningtonchair@hotmail.com for more details
Glenfield Tunnel Tours – Saturdays and Sundays in July – Part of Robert Stephenson’s 1832 Leicester and Swannington Railway. Our partner Leicestershire Industrial History Society is leading tours of the tunnel, booking via Eventbrite
Volunteer Activities
Land Management at Swannington Incline – 9am-1pm Wednesdays 13th, 27th
Land Management at Hough Mill – 9am-1pm Wednesdays 6th, 20th
Land Management and Mill Maintenance at Hough Mill – 9am-1pm Fridays 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th
Land Management at Snibston No3, Spring Lane – 10am-1pm Saturday 9th
Excavation of Alabama Engine House and Califat Miners Cottages – 9.30am-1pm Tuesday 12th, led by our partners in Leicestershire Industrial History Society
August 2022
Hough Mill Open – 2pm to 5pm Sundays 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th and bank holiday Monday 29th
Excavation of Alabama Engine House and Califat Miners Cottages – 9.30am-1pm Tuesday 9th, led by our partners in Leicestershire Industrial History Society
September 2022
September
Hough Mill Open – 2pm to 5pm Sundays 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th
Blackberry Fayre at Swannington Village Hall – our usual extravaganza with a blackberry twist! Sunday 11th
Trouble And Strife, The Challenges In Getting A Wife – Talk to Hinkley and District History Society – Thursday 15th
Heritage Festivals
There are two heritage festivals during September: Hello Heritage – North West Leicestershire and South Derbyshire – Saturday 3rd to Sunday 18th September and Heritage Open Days – Countrywide -Friday 9th to Sunday 18th September – Events to be notified
Saturday 17th September . Wordsworth’s Church and Swannington’s Stories – 10am – Tour St George’s church and graveyard and discover their fascinating history – the poet, the amateur artist who was the catalyst for the national gallery, the muscular vicar who rebuilt his church, the Baptist minister who became the vicar, the miners’ union president and his pub, the matron of the smallpox hospital, the horse thief whose execution may have killed his father. So many stories. To book email swanningtonresearch@gmail.com
Excavation of Alabama Engine House and Califat Miners Cottages – 9.30am-1pm Tuesday 13th, led by our partners in Leicestershire Industrial History Society
October-December 2022
Take Teddy to the Mill – Sunday 2nd October
Christmas at the Mill – Sunday 4th December
2023
Talk to Gilmorton WI – Trouble and Strife, the challenges in finding a wife – history of marriage law with examples from Swannington – Wednesday 5th April 2023