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 delighted that Hough Mill has reopened on Sundays.
If you need any further details please contact Katrina our Trust Chair and Events Coordinator via our Contact Page to find out more.
July 2021
FESTIVAL OF LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND ARCHAEOLOGY
Swannington Heritage Trust is delighted to be participating in the Festival of Leicestershire and Rutland Archaeology – These events will require booking via Eventbrite. Califat coal mine tours are being provided in conjunction with our partners Leicestershire Industrial History Society.
Saturday 3rd – 10am – The Land That Doesn’t Know Where It Is Guided Walk – From Hough Mill a tour of north Swannington and Peggs Green that is a confusion of changing parish boundaries and addresses that suggest properties are in a different location – the walk will pass coal mines, tramways, public houses, a post mill and Wordworth’s site for a church. This 2-3 mile walk commences at 10am and will take 2-3 hours as the area is so packed with history. Booking essential – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/158319394571 FULLY BOOKED
Sunday 11th – 10am – Guided Tour Swannington Incline – Walk in the footsteps of Robert Stephenson on a guided tour of the Swannington Incline at the western end of his 1832 Leicester and Swannington Railway. Admire the amazing work of the navies who moved thousands of tons of material to dig out the cutting and build the embankment at the bottom of the Incline. The walk distance is 1.4 miles and the return is up a 1:17 Incline. Park in the Snibston No 3 site on Spring Lane, the Incline is across the road. Booking essential https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/156974548099
Sunday 11th – 2pm- Guided Tour Califat Coal Mine – Join Leicestershire Industrial History Society and Swannington Heritage Trust on a tour of the 1855-1873. Explore two engine complexes, learn about two fatal accidents from a guide dressed as a miner from the 1860s. The tour includes the miners’ cottages and an eighteenth century haystack boiler, learn about the latest finds from the excavation team. On St George’s Hill take the track to Hough Mill and park on the left opposite the Califat Spinney. Booking essential – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/158321119731 FULLY BOOKED
Saturday 17th – 10am and 1pm (additional tour due to demand) – Guided Tour Swannington Incline – See above. Booking essential
- 10am https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/158321512907 FULLY BOOKED
- 1pm https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/162905307159 EXTRA TOUR
Saturday 17th – 2pm – Guided Tour Califat Coal Mine – See above. Booking essential – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/158321677399
Monday 19th – 7.45pm – Leicestershire Railways online talk – Bill will describe the development of the current railway network in the County, starting with the earliest tramways. He will talk about each line in turn and show how the network reached its peak in the early 20th century. He will then speak about subsequent closures and what became of these old lines. Finally he will talk about some of the industrial and other railways that never became a part of the system. Bill is an active member of Swannington Heritage Trust and Leicestershire Industrial History Society and has a particular interest in the Leicester and Swannington Railway. Booking essential – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/158321787729
Saturday 24th -10am – Hidden In Full View Guided Walk – From Hough Mill a tour of the country lanes towards Coleorton passing historic houses, a public house, chapel, tramway and coal mines that many people do not realise were there. This 2-3 mile walk commences at 10am and will take 2-3 hours as the area is so packed with history. Booking essential – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/158322323331 FULLY BOOKED
Monday 26th – 7.45pm – Coal Mines of Swannington and District online talk – This Zoom talk will cover several hundred years of Swannington’s coal mining history. It will include bell pits, gin pits, Newcomen engines and deeper mines; also disputes with a powerful landowner, blind horses, fatal accidents and how to buy blasting powder at the grocer’s shop. Booking essential – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/158322529949
REGULAR EVENTS
Tuesday 13th – Coal Mine Buildings Excavation – 9.30am-1pm Califat Spinney
Wednesdays 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th – Land Management Volunteers – 9am-1pm Incline
Thursdays 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th – Children’s Trail Project Team – 9am-12noon Califat Spinney
Fridays 2nd, 9th 16th, 23rd, 30th – Land Management Volunteers – 9am-1pm Califat Spinney and Gorse Field
Sundays 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th – Hough Mill open 2-5pm, booking not required, visitors may need to wait a few minutes if the building is “full”, please wear a face covering
August 2021
REGULAR EVENTS
Sundays 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th – Hough Mill open 2-5pm
Wednesdays 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th – Land Management Volunteers – 9am-1pm Incline
Thursdays 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th – Children’s Trail Project Team – 9am-12noon Califat Spinney
Fridays 3rd, 10th 17th, 24th, 31st – Land Management Volunteers – 9am-1pm Califat Spinney and Gorse Field
September-December 2021
Swannington Heritage Trust will be taking part in the North West Leicestershire District Council sponsored Hello Heritage festival in September. Events to be decided.
Tuesday 16th – Talk to Desford and District History Society – Cardiff and Leicester, so similar yet so different
2022
Tuesday 11th January 2022 – A Coal Mining Dynasty – Talk to Shepshed History Society