The Cleveland and Teesside Local History Society operates an active and varied programme.
We provide regular talks and day-schools on a wide variety of topics and covering every period of history, from Anglo Saxon and Roman times to Victorian and Twentieth Century developments.
Details of our current programme of talks are provided below.
Summer 2025 Programme
Saturday 16 August at 10.30am-12pm
Pease and Backhouse – the families who brought the S&DR to life
A guided tour led by the Friends of Stockton & Darlington Railway
In Darlington’s Quaker burial ground, many members of the Pease and Backhouse families are buried. These were the characters responsible for the development of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. We will explore their stories of the origins and early years of the Railway. We will meet some of these characters, and some of their interesting and colourful family members.
This walk takes place within Darlington town centre and is approximately 1.5 miles on easy terrain. There is a particular focus on the Quaker Burial ground where there are benches to sit on.
Spaces limited.
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Saturday 6 September at 10am
A Tour of Kirkleatham’s World War II Defences
Local expert Stuart McMillan guides us on a fascinating tour of the wartime defences that existed around Kirkleatham. The tour starts at the church and lasts around an hour and a half across flat ground.
To reserve a spot on any of these walks, please contact Matt Falcus (mattfalcus@hotmail.com; 07980 660446)
Winter 2025/26 Programme
Saturday 20 September at 10am
Venue TBC
Lesser Known Personalities of the Stockton & Darlington Railway
Ian Stubbs
Middlesbrough’s Winter Gardens
p.a. Morbid
Saturday 18 October
Hartlepool Headland Guided Tour & Talk
10am-2pm
Tim Bailey will lead us on a fascinating walking tour of the main features of the Conservation Area on Hartlepool Headland (listed buildings, characterful streets…), as well as a tour of Heugh Battery museum.
Then, we will enjoy a talk from volunteers at the museum who will showcase key parts of the collection (small arms, ordnance, medals and ordinary wartime artifacts).
There will be a lunch break, and we suggest trying the Poppy Tearooms at the museum.
The walking is all on the flat, and not very far. It will be taken at a leisurely pace.
Cost £12 per person. If you’d like to join us, please let us know: mattfalcus@hotmail.com / 07980 660446
November 2025
Elgee Memorial Lectures
Venue TBC
Saturday 14 February 2026 at 10am
Venue TBC
The Battle of the Standard
Anthony Wood
Christopher Dresser and the Linthorpe Pottery
Gill Moore
Saturday 25 March 2026 at 10am
Venue TBC
Annual General Meeting, followed by
Jet Mining on the North York Moors
Chris Twigg
Revising Pevsner: The Cleveland Experience
Professor Jane Grenville
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