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HOW DID IT START?

It was fashionable in the Nineteenth Century for members of the gentry and the church to establish antiquarian societies. Since the majority of members were churchmen, it was natural that the new societies should be based on a diocese. This was the case of the Lincolnshire society, which was founded in 1844, firstly as an architectural one but later to include archaeology. It eventually assumed the title The Lincolnshire Architectural and Archaeological Society (LAAS).

Links were formed with neighbouring counties, some of which were part of the diocese until the latter part of the 19th century. The volumes of ‘Reports and Papers’ first produced by the Society included reports from The Diocese of Lincoln, County of York, Archdeaconry of Northampton, County of Bedford, Diocese of Worcester, County of Leicester, and Town of Sheffield. For a long period the editor was Rev. Edward Trollope, who eventually became Bishop of Southwell – a new diocese formed to cover the county of Nottinghamshire in 1884. It was after this date that the LAAS reports became exclusively concerned with Lincolnshire architecture and archaeology.

WHAT DID THE ORIGINAL SOCIETY DO?

The activities in the early days consisted of two meetings a year but these lasted several days and were located around the County. Each day was spent visiting churches and archaeological sites and listening to talks on Lincolnshire topics. Generally there was a display of the museum collection held by the Society and the library was open for members to borrow books and study the manuscripts in the Society’s ownership. The latter have since been deposited with Lincolnshire Archives. Perhaps the museum collection was donated to City and County Museum in Lincoln.

With improvements in education the generation between the Wars was keen to expand its academic interests. This included history and in particular local history. Lindsey County Council was first to recognise this and, through the Community Council, established the Lindsey Local History Society (LLHS). As with the LAAS, week-end and week-long conferences became part of the programme. In addition a collection of historical artefacts was begun, as was publication of local histories and regular magazines. The Counties of Kesteven and Holland and the County Boroughs of Lincoln and Grimsby were envious of the success of the LLHS, resulting in an expansion to form the Lincolnshire Local History Society (still LLHS). By 1965 antiquarian interests were flagging and the LAAS approached the LLHS and the two groups were amalgamated.

Some county societies invested in property and became wealthy. The Lincolnshire one was given Jews’Court on Steep Hill in Lincoln when it objected to local council proposals to demolish the building. It also received by donation the site of Bardney Abbey. However, it never became wealthy. In 1965 the LAAS formed a trust to administer Jews’ Court and Bardney Abbey. This still functions and SLHA now rents Jews’ Court from the Jews’ Court Trust.

The post war period witnessed the growth of interest in archaeology. Among the new organisations formed to foster this interest was the Lincoln Archaeological Research Committee (LARC). That functioned until 1974 when another amalgamation took place and LARC joined LLHS. The name changed yet again to become The Society for Lincolnshire History and Archaeology.

WHERE ARE WE NOW - AND WHAT NEXT?

Numerous amalgamations and changes of direction bring us to the twenty-first century. The Society has a membership of over 600 worldwide. Interests are varied and catered for by sub-groups. Sometimes these are a force to contend with; at other times they have a spell of rest. In the 1960s and 70s archaeology was the most popular. Members were diggers and researchers. The 1970s and 80s witnessed the birth and expansion family history studies. Such was the growth of this that a new Lincolnshire society (The Lincolnshire Family History Society) was formed with the break away from SLHA. The parts that stayed with SLHA were the Sleaford and Spalding branches. From the 1960s industrial archaeology attracted members in both research and fieldwork and is the most active of the groups within SLHA to-day.

Publications on a wide variety of County topics have flowed from the presses in recent years and many more are in the planning.

Since the millennium there has been closer liaison with the many history, archaeology and heritage groups across the County, and plans are in place to expand the service to these. In such a large region it is difficult to retain close contact without arranging meetings and visits to distant parts. To achieve this the Society’s AGM and Annual Leach Lecture are moved around the County. Meetings with other groups and visits help to strengthen ties across the area. Heritage studies are ever more popular and it is the duty of the Society to foster these and do all in its power to be of service to the people of Lincolnshire. This reflects the future aims of SLHA.