Upcoming Events › Erasmus Darwin House Events
December 2026
Christmas Past with Sheelagh James
Did Oliver Cromwell ban Christmas? Was Queen Victoria the first queen to have a Christmas tree in a royal residence? Which king first ate turkey at Christmas? And how have other cultures and empires left their mark on Christmas today? These and many more questions are answered in 'Christmas Past', a festive look at the development of Christmas throughout the ages.
Find out more »January 2027
The WW2 Spy Princess
In 2014, Noor Inayat Khan (1914 – 1944) was featured on a Royal Mail stamp. But who was this WW2 British-Indian secret agent and princess? Returning to the theme of princesses, join Sundeep Braich for an exploration of the life, courage, and sacrifice of The WW2 Spy Princess.
Find out more »February 2027
Cheers – A Talk by Sheelagh James
‘For centuries ‘small beer’ was one of the safest drinks in the nation, drunk by men, women and children. This talk looks not only at ale, beer and porter in the Georgian period, but where it was served, what it was served in and who drank it, the zenith of the coaching era, the growth of the breweries and a notorious brewery explosion.’
Find out more »April 2027
Dr William Palmer of Rugeley – Saintly Billy or Mass Murderer?
A talk by Steve Booth. Dr William Palmer, better known as the Rugeley Poisoner. was convicted in 1856 for murder. Born in Rugeley executed at Stafford Prison. Gambling, Strychnine, and Victorian Killer all contributed to his downfall. Who was William Palmer and what lead to his heinous crimes?
Find out more »July 2027
The Adventures of Harry Payne – the Edwardian “Literary Tramp”.
A talk by Quintin Watt Looking at the remarkable story of a partially sighted vagrant, who tramped around the British Isles. Each town he visited, he earned a few pence by writing a review of that place for the local newspaper. These perceptive snapshots provide a unique worm’s-eye view of Britain before and during the Great War. They earned Harry the epithet, “Literary Tramp”, and challenge the myth that poor people left no written evidence of their lives and experiences
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