Austwick Field and Local History Society

We meet on the third Wednesday evening each month from September to the following May, in Austwick Parish Hall starting at 7.30pm. We often organise a couple of outdoor visits during the summer months. 

Members pay a £12 annual subscription for free admission to all the talks during the year. Guests are welcome for a small admission fee of £3. Following the talks, homemade refreshments will be available.

For further information contact Graham Cleverly on graham.cleverly1@gmail.com

Read the latest Austwick Field and Local History Society Newsletter

Get updates on the AFLHS Nature Recovery Schemes

Autumn 2025 to Spring 2026 Schedule of Talks

Wednesday 17 September 2025 – Craven Place Names with Dr Mike Spence

The talk will examine the history of Craven and its towns and villages, by looking at the names assigned to them long ago by the people who lived in or controlled the area. Most names still in use today will be seen to have originated around a thousand years ago, and in some cases, several centuries earlier.

Wednesday 22 October 2025 – Edward Elgar’s links to Giggleswick “Nothing so good has occurred to me” with Clive Lane

Wednesday 19 November 2025 – Sustainable Farming in the Dales and the Clapham Wader Monitoring Project: Activities and Results in 2025 with Pete Webster from Lawkland Hall Farm and Hilary McGuire from RSPB

Wednesday 10 December 2025 – Droving: the whys and wherefores of a long-distance trade with David Johnson

Wednesday 21 January 2026 – Wild Ingleborough Update with Dr Tim Thom from YWT

Wednesday 18 February 2026 – RSPB Bird Investigations with Jack Ashton-Booth from RSPB

Wednesday 18 March 2026 – Geology Giants with Colin Speakman

Wednesday 15 April 2026 – Common Land with Prof. Angus Winchester

Wednesday 20 May 2026 – Craven Wildlife Rescue Centre with a speaker TBC

Wednesday 17 June 2026 – Fossils and Fossil Hunters of the Yorkshire Dales with Dr. Rebecca Bennion