Northamptonshire Natural History Society

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE'S IRONSTONE INDUSTRY Whilst ironstone has been quarried in Northamptonshire's since Roman times, it was following the Great Exhibition of 1851 that iron and steel became significant in Northamptonshire' industrial history. In this joint meeting with the Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group, Ian Clarke and Mike Ringwood will tell the story of the iron and steel industry, relating it to the Jurassic geology of Northamptonshire.

TELESCOPIC TOPICS A meeting comprising member contributions on various astronomy themes. Your chance to show the section observations you have made, equipment you are using or anything else that has interested you enough to share it with the section. Guests are very welcome.

AN ECONOMIC REFUGEE? In 1828 Henry Negretti aged 10 and family walk from Como in Italy to London to make their fortune. By 1855 the company he founded with Joseph Zambra is exhibiting at the Great Exhibition and grows in status until in the second half of the 20th Century it succumbs to the British disease. On the way Henry makes legal history being the only person allowed to bring a private prosecution for murder! A story of hope, excellence, political intrigue, possible corruption in the police force, and finally the greed of British Government economic policies of the late 20th century and today.

ZIMBABWE THE PATH TO THE SMOKE THAT THUNDERS by Robert Snary. Robert will show us the images he took on his 2022 trip to Zimbabwe and includes Lake Kariba, Hwange National Park, Victoria Falls, people, wildlife and culture. (Lecture in person or zoom TBC).

GALLS WORKSHOP by Seán Karley. “A gall is an abnormal growth produced by a plant or other host under the influence of another organism”. Seán presents this very informative, short, well illustrated course on these fascinating oddities of the plant world.

RECENT COMETS by Nick James. Nick is comet section Director of the BAA. He will talk about recent comets including C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) and 3I (ATLAS). "Comets are like cats: they have tails, and they do precisely what they want". David H. Levy. Guests and visitors welcome.

EXPLORING THE SOCIETY'S COLLECTIONS. The society has important collections including butterflies, shells, eggs, sands, microscope slides, rocks, minerals and Northamptonshire fossils. This is a great opportunity to look at our extensive collections, to draw, study them or just appreciate their beauty. Also, if you wish to assist us conserving or documenting you would be welcome.