Tuesday Talks 2026
Welcome to our free Lunchtime Talk.
Held in our Auditorium on the first Tuesday of the month 1-2pm
7th April
Making Common Sense: How the 1984-85 Miners’ Strike Is Remembered
What do we think we know about the 1984–85 miners’ strike?
That the pits were uneconomic, the strike undemocratic, and the conflict simply a personal battle between Arthur Scargill and Margaret Thatcher.
This lunchtime talk, Dr Gavin Hawkton explores how these ideas became accepted as ‘common sense’ during and after the strike. Drawing on original research with journalists who reported the strike, he examines how journalistic practices, editorial decisions, and ideas of legitimacy shaped what could be said and what was dismissed. By revisiting familiar narratives and introducing overlooked perspectives, the talk shows how collective memories are formed, why they endure, and why misunderstanding the strike still matters today.
5th May
A Volunteer's Experience of Roman Carlisle.
Declan Burton shares stories and highlights from his time as a volunteer with Uncovering Roman Carlisle from helping out with some of the earliest digs to to the most recent, he'll be here to answer your burning questions about what it's like being involved in one of Carlisle's most exciting excavations.
2nd June
A History of teh World in Popular Music and Song
Speaker Brian Gaudet presents a wide ranging subjective survey mankind, major historical incidents and significant musical works from the dawn of time to the beggining of the last century.
7th July
The Black Roll
Carlisle author and sports journalist Jon Tait will present a talk called ‘The Black Roll’ with information from his latest book ‘Raiders along the Anglo-Scottish Border – A history of those pacified by King James.’
The book details the grisly hangings, beheading and drownings carried out as capital punishment against the border reivers and the talk with explore the names and numbers of those executed by the Border Commissioners between the years 1605 and 1609.
Ticket options
Welcome to our free Lunchtime Talk.
Held in our Auditorium on the first Tuesday of the month 1-2pm
7th April
Making Common Sense: How the 1984-85 Miners’ Strike Is Remembered
What do we think we know about the 1984–85 miners’ strike?
That the pits were uneconomic, the strike undemocratic, and the conflict simply a personal battle between Arthur Scargill and Margaret Thatcher.
This lunchtime talk, Dr Gavin Hawkton explores how these ideas became accepted as ‘common sense’ during and after the strike. Drawing on original research with journalists who reported the strike, he examines how journalistic practices, editorial decisions, and ideas of legitimacy shaped what could be said and what was dismissed. By revisiting familiar narratives and introducing overlooked perspectives, the talk shows how collective memories are formed, why they endure, and why misunderstanding the strike still matters today.
5th May
A Volunteer's Experience of Roman Carlisle.
Declan Burton shares stories and highlights from his time as a volunteer with Uncovering Roman Carlisle from helping out with some of the earliest digs to to the most recent, he'll be here to answer your burning questions about what it's like being involved in one of Carlisle's most exciting excavations.
2nd June
A History of teh World in Popular Music and Song
Speaker Brian Gaudet presents a wide ranging subjective survey mankind, major historical incidents and significant musical works from the dawn of time to the beggining of the last century.
7th July
The Black Roll
Carlisle author and sports journalist Jon Tait will present a talk called ‘The Black Roll’ with information from his latest book ‘Raiders along the Anglo-Scottish Border – A history of those pacified by King James.’
The book details the grisly hangings, beheading and drownings carried out as capital punishment against the border reivers and the talk with explore the names and numbers of those executed by the Border Commissioners between the years 1605 and 1609.
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