The archives and collections of the Dereham Antiquarian Society are an important resource for the study of local history. Material has been collected from the Dereham area since 1953 when the Society was founded. Displays of items from the collection can be seen in Bishop Bonner’s Cottage Museum.

Membership Benefits

Free entry to Bishop Bonner's Cottage Museum.

During the summer months, day and evening visits are arranged on Wednesdays to places of historical interest in East Anglia and nationally. There is a charge to cover coach transport and entry fees where applicable.

Meetings and talks, which include a programme of visiting speakers, are held in winter on Wednesday nights at the Trinity Methodist Schoolroom, Theatre Street. Dereham at 7.30pm.

Newsletter with articles on local history in the Dereham area and Norfolk.

New members always welcome

Click on this text for a membership form and information.

Programme 2010-2011

Indoor meetings are £1 for members
non-member may attend for £2 per talk.

Wednesday Illus. Talk, 10^th March 2010           

Norfolk Workhouses                                                           

Speaker: Stephen Pope                                               

 

                                                                                               

Wednesday Illus. Talk, 14^th April 2010                       

Norfolk As I See It - Vol. 2                                               

Speaker: Peter Bradbury                                                                                                                                               

Wednesday Talk, 28^th April 2010                                   

The Annual Cowper Evening                                   

Speaker: Rev. Jonathan Boston                                   

 

Wednesday Outing, 12^th May 2010

Wisbech and Octavia Hill House

 

Wednesday Outing, 9^th June 2010

Southwold

 

Wednesday Outing, 14^th July 2010

Chelmsford and Cressing Temple

 

Wednesday Outing, 11^th August 2010

Belvoir Castle

 

Wednesday Outing, 8^th September 2010

Greenwich Park

 

Wednesday, 13^th October 2010

The Annual Dinner

 

Wednesday Talk, 10^th November 2010

Better Late than Never! –1913 celebration of the birth of George Burrow,

Dereham’s most famous son.

Speaker: Dr. Clive Wilkins-Jones

 

Wednesday Illus. Talk, 8^th December 2010

Dereham Bygones

Speaker: Gordon Olley

 

Wednesday 12^th January 2011

TO BE ANNOUNCED

 

Wednesday 9^th February 2011

Annual General Meeting – 7.30pm


The Society incorporates the Cowper Society of Dereham. There is traditionally a William Cowper evening, around the anniversary of the poet’s death on 25th April 1800. Flowers are laid on his tomb in Dereham Church.


Engraving of William Cowper, by William Blake

The Arcadian Club is another specialist group within the Society. It studies the life and works of the local antiquarian Dr. Augustus Jessopp. He was the rector of Scarning for 30 years until 1902.


 Dr Augustus Jessopp