Past Events › Erasmus Darwin House Events
January 2025
At His Majesty’s Service by Canon Adrian Daffern
Canon Adrian Daffern was commissioned by the Archbishop of Canterbury to be the principal author of the revised Coronation service used for HM the King on May 6th 2023. In this illustrated talk, Adrian will give put the newly revised service in its historical context, referring to many of the extraordinary historic documents held in Lambeth Palace Library, and a number of Cambridge and Oxford colleges. In addition, we will hear something of the story of how a Coronation service…
Find out more »February 2025
Lunar Lecture – Joseph Wright’s portraits of Two English Businesswomen: Sarah Clayton of Liverpool and Ellen Morewood of Derbyshire by Dr Peter Collinge
Joseph Wright of Derby painted portraits of provincial businesswomen, Sarah Clayton of Liverpool (1769), and Ellen Morewood of Alfreton (1782), Derbyshire. Although both women were actively engaged in the management of the estates and collieries they owned, and invested in local transport infrastructures, the portraits are markedly different in appearance. To understand why, this illustrated presentation explores their lives, business ventures and legal troubles in a masculine world. Dr Peter Collinge is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and…
Find out more »Tales of the Heart
A traditional telling of love stories from around the world. Love comes in many shapes and forms. And whether we recognise it or not, we are surrounded by love all the days of our lives. During this enchanting evening, you will hear traditional tales of love and longing from different cultures and different times.   Tales of romantic love, platonic love, even the love of a dog for its master are beautifully stitched together with memories, hopes and dreams. Expect laughter,…
Find out more »Beasts of the Battlefield: Animal imagery in the Staffordshire Hoard. Sold Out!
Presented by Dr Charlotte Ball. The Staffordshire Hoard was discovered in 2009 in a field just outside Lichfield. It remains a landmark archaeological discovery, transforming our understanding of seventh-century society and material culture. In this talk, we will look at the Hoard from a different perspective “ that of the art historian “ and dive into the minute details of the objects to discover birds, beasts and the rich symbolic language of the past.
Find out more »Free Children’s Craft Activities.
Half-term craft activities for children. Come along between 11am and 3pm. No booking necessary. Children free. Adults £5.
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