The Society was formed in 1973. Its specific aim was to foster an interest in Lenton Priory but this soon developed into a general
interest in the history of the locality. Old and New Lenton, Lenton Sands and Dunkirk, the Lenton and Dunkirk Industrial Estates, plus the Lenton Abbey and Wollaton Park housing estates are all considered now to fall within the Society's area of interest.
Over the years we have built up a substantial archive of material relating to Lenton. This includes books and articles, newspaper reports, and a wide range other printed material. Photographs loaned to the Society have been copied and we now have a collection of several thousand historic photographs plus a number of taped recollections made by former residents most of which focus on life in Lenton during the first half of the twentieth century. Those wishing to gain access to this archive should contact Cliff Voisey. The archive is presently kept at Cliff's house although, in due course, the Society would prefer to see it housed in a building which would offer easier access to the general public.
The Society mounts a regular programme of talks and outings. The talks are now held in the church hall attached to St. Mary's Church, Wollaton Hall Drive, off Derby Road and during 2010 will take place on the second Wednesday in the month.
The forthcoming programme is as follows:-
| Wednesday 13 January |
| 'The Regeneration of Wollaton Hall' by Ron Inglis |
| Wednesday 10 February |
| 'The Victorians'by Gareth King |
| Wednesday 10 March |
| 'Stanton at War on Film' by Steven Flinders |
| Wednesday 14 April |
| 'Through the Looking Glass' by Dave Sankey. This will be preceded by the Society's AGM. |
| Wednesday 12 May |
| A Tribute to WWI Women Volunteers' by Rev. Clive Tougher. This will be the Margaret Ball Memorial Lecture. |
| Wednesday 9 June |
| 'The Search for May Kinder' by Jill Sparrow |
| Wednesday 14 July |
| 'Lost Railways of Nottinghamshire' by Jeffrey Kingscott |
| Wednesday 11 August |
| The Changing Face of Nottingham: 1550 to 1840' by Adrian Henstock |
| Wednesday 8 September |
| 'St. Pancras Station' by Nigel Lowey |
| Wednesday 13 October |
| 'Life in the Workhouse' by Dr. Wendy Freer |
The monthly meetings in 2010 will all take place in the church hall attached to St. Mary's Church, Wollaton Hall Drive, Wollaton Park on the second Wednesday in the month. Admission is £2 per person which includes a cup of tea or coffee during the interval.
All are most welcome to attend. Following the sudden closure of the Hillside Club in March 2009 we had to move our meetings to the upstairs room in the Rose & Crown public house. However the cost of the room and problems with its access, primarily the narrow, steep flight of stairs leading up to it, have prompted us to move yet again.
The Society produces a periodic newsletter which is distributed to its all members who also receive the current edition of Lenton Times, the Society's magazine.
Individual membership of the Society is currently £5.00 and anyone living in the British Isles who would like to become a member is asked to send a cheque made out to 'Lenton Local History Society' to our Membership Secretary. The rate for those living overseas is £7.00.
Any general enquiries about the Society should be directed to Cliff Voisey.
Contacts
Cliff Voisey, Hon. Secretary, 53 Arnesby Road, Lenton Gardens, Nottingham NG7 2EA. Tel. 0115 9703891.
Sylvia Taylor, Membership Secretary, 18 Hawton Crescent, Wollaton Park, Nottingham NG8 1BZ. Tel. 0115 9700380.