Stapleford History Society

The Stained-Glass Windows of King's College Chapel
2025-12-09 19:30 - 21:00 (Europe/London) | Jubilee Pavilion, Gog Magog Way, Stapleford, CB22 5BQ, United Kingdom
A talk by Paul Shakeshaft, who returns by popular request, following his excellent talk last year on the Building of King’s College Chapel.
The glazing of King’s College Chapel was one of the great achievements of the reign of Henry VIII. The talk will set out to illustrate two important aspects of the windows: how the Renaissance transformed the original late Medieval designs and how the Protestant reformers responded to the original Catholic theological programme.
We will be serving Mulled Wine and Mince Pies at 7.30pm, with the talk itself starting at 7.45pm.
All talks are free to members, or £3 for guests / non-members, payable on the door.

P.G.Wodehouse - "Jeeves and the British Empire"
2026-01-13 19:45 - 21:00
A talk by Dr Sean Lang
What ho! How the creator of Jeeves and Bertie Wooster helped bring down the bally British Empire.

This is a historian’s take on PG Wodehouse – a significantly different approach from the usual literary scholar’s way of reading him. Historians often underestimate the importance of light comedy, both as a source and as a factor in causing events in the past. PG Wodehouse’s creations – Jeeves and Bertie Wooster; Lord Emsworth and his pig; the members of the Drones Club and their formidable aunts – exist in an idyllic world which seems miles away from the harsh reality of the times when they were created. But what makes people laugh is a good clue to what they are thinking and Wodehouse’s humour also reflected the outlook and beliefs of his readers – including about the British Empire.
All talks are free to members, or £3 for guests / non-members, payable on the door.

The History of The Kite and its Colourful Characters
2026-03-10 19:45 - 21:00
A talk by Mike Levy.

All talks are free to members, or £3 for guests / non-members, payable on the door.

Henry VIII's Grandmother - The Life of Margaret Beaufort
2026-05-12 19:45 - 21:00
A talk by Stuart Orme.

All talks are free to members, or £3 for guests / non-members, payable on the door.

The Story of The Granary (and AGM)
2026-07-14 19:45 - 21:00
A brief Annual General Meeting of the History Society will be followed by one of our fascinating speaker talks:
“The Story of The Granary” by David Martin.
All talks are free to members, or £3 for guests / non-members, payable on the door.
