Past Events
September 2017 Heritage Open Days
Talks and guided tours by Paul Chamberlain (pics by Paul Biggins and Doug Maltman)
Featuring latest investigations into musket practice at Yaxley Mill, and uniform buttons found near Folksworth
Musket target practice at the Old Mill on Yaxley Fen
Buttons and artifacts found near Folksworth Distribution of musket balls found at Yaxley Old Mill
September 2016 Heritage Open Days
Talks and guided tours by Paul Chamberlain (pics by Doug Maltman)
September 2015
June 2015: FONC at Peterborough Heritage Festival (Cathedral Green)
July 2014: Bicentenary Commemoration Event - see Bicentenary 2014
May 2014: "Yaxley Festival History Talks"
Yaxley Festival 16th-18th May 2014: History Talks
November 2013: "The Sky's The Limit"
Ben Robinson, the "flying archaeologist", gave a fascinating and entertaining talk about life as a pilot and an archaeologist. Ben was the archaeologist at the Peterborough Museum for several years and a member of the committee when we were raising the money for the eagle monument. He was also instrumental in the 2009 Time Team dig at Norman Cross. Most recently, he has hosted a series of programmes for the BBC as the ‘flying archaeologist’.
September 2013: The Heritage Open Days.
This was similar to previous years, with Napeoleonic renactments by the 9th (East Norfolk) Regiment of Foot, and guided tours of the site of Norman Cross Prison Depot at 11am and 2pm. These tours told the story of this Napoleonic war prison, the men who were held there, and the men who guarded them. The prison had a major impact upon the local community and this aspect of the local history and heritage was included in the story.
Paul Chamberlain gave a talk in the Gallery.
June 2013
Heritage Festival at Peterborough Cathedral.
May 2013
Annual General Meeting, with a talk by Henry Duckett of the Peterborough Civic Society, introduced by Peter Lee, entitled "From Norman Cross to St. Vincent's Cross: history through architectural detail". The Peterborough Civic Society and the Peterborough Photographic Society have produced a book on the subject of architectural detail in local buildings which will be on sale at the AGM. Agenda and Membership Form
May 2013:
The Friends organised historical talks by Paul Chamberlain, and guided tours of the Norman Cross depot site.
The Friends also had an information stall in the History Zone at Middletons Road Recreation Ground.
February 2013:
Talk by Paul Chamberlain entitled “Tales from Norman Cross”.
November 2012
Peterborough Museum
The last event of this year was at the Peterborough Museum, hosted by Stuart Orme.
November 2012
Ceremony of Remembrance at the Chatham POW Memorial
This is a ceremony organised by Le Souvenir Français to commemorate the French prisoners who died at Norman Cross, to which we are invited.
September 2012
National Heritage Open Weekend at the Norman Cross Gallery.
The house and grounds open to the public, with the 9th (East Norfolk) Regiment of Foot in attendance, and guided talks by Paul Chamberlain together with tours around the site. Cream teas available.
August 2012
National Maritime Museum
A visit to London to the National Maritime Museum which has an Exhibition called “Royal River” and the Cutty Sark which has reopened after its refit.
June 2012: Heritage Weekend in Peterborough Cathedral Precincts.
May 2012
Our AGM at the Norman Cross Gallery, followed by a talk from Paul Chamberlain and Dr Tom Davies on life and health in the camp.
April 2012 - Trip to Portsmouth
The Friends organised a weekend trip to Portsmouth, including a day in the Royal Dockyard (including HMS Victory and HMS Warrior), and visits to Southsea Castle and Portchester Castle, with a guided tour (between the showers) by Paul Chamberlain. Details and Pictures
November 2011
Our final event of 2011 was a talk at the Norman Cross Gallery by Stuart Orme of Peterborough Museum.
September 2011
Heritage Open Day, Norman Cross Gallery. Will Fletcher of English Heritage and our resident historian Mr Paul Chamberlain visited the site of the Napoleonic POW Camp with a talk and guided tour of the former Napoleonic POW Camp: starting with the first tour at 11 a.m. followed by an afternoon tour at 2 p.m. Details in this flier (pdf)
June 2011
Heritage Weekend at the Cathedral precincts.
The Friends of Norman Cross attended with a display.
June 2011
Visit to Great Yarmouth; full details in this flier (pdf).
May 2011
Our AGM at the Norman Cross Gallery.
Followed by a talk by Mr. John Jenkins entitled ‘Peterborough Memoirs of a French Privateer Captain’
April 2011
Visit to Apsley House, the Duke of Wellingtons Official Residence.
February 2011
Talk to Friends of Norman Cross at the Norman Cross Gallery by Mr Geoffrey Lee entitled
“Were your forebears in Nelson's Navy?"
November 2010
A Talk at Norman Cross Gallery by Mr. Mike Petty, Cambridgeshire Local Historian
September 2010: Greenwich
June 2010: trip to King's Lynn
The FONC explored the strong connections between King's Lynn and Norman Cross depot. Prisoners were landed at King's Lynn and then marched or taken by barge to Norman Cross. The Lynn Museum contains many bone and wood carvings made by the museum, and the town contains much contemporary history and architecture. Pictures
November 2009: Sculptor John Doubleday, who cast the replacement bronze eagle, gave an entertaining talk in the Gallery.
August 2009: Coach trip to the Royal Dockyards at Chatham.
March 2009: Talk at Peterborough Museum about Victorian Peterborough, and Dr Thomas James Walker, who researched and wrote a history of the Norman Cross depot in 1913.
September 2008: Historian Paul Chamberlain, author of "Hell Upon Water - Prisoners of War in Britain, 1793-1815", helped launch the Friends with a presentation in the Gallery about the use of 'hulks' and depots to house prisoners. Pictures. Order on Amazon
June 2005: Historic talk in the Gallery to the Molde Male Voice Choir from Norway. Pictures.