Transport Talks Series
This all series ticket covers all three talks in the “Transport” talks series, for the discounted price of £12.50 (members £10.00). You may also book each talk individually – see each separate event page. All three talks are on Thursdays at 2pm in The Centre for Heritage and Family History, Reading. They last about an hour with time for questions and discussion afterwards. Tea, coffee and cake after the talk is included in the price.
Thursday 10 October “Berkshire’s Forgotten Railways” with Dr Richard Marks
Historically, Berkshire had a more expansive railway network than it does today. Before the 1970s, the county had a strong railway service, with most places having easy access to a railway station. However, the situation changed significantly in the late 1960s and 1970s when extensive railway cutbacks resulted in the closure of many stations and lines.
Thursday 14 November “London Underground By Design” with Paul Joyce
Many of us will have travelled on the London Underground and admired the beauty of some of our underground stations. This talk celebrates their design and architecture. Hear about such diverse subjects as architecture, posters, signage, decorative tiling, Art Deco lighting, general fixtures and fitting and much more in this fascinating talk by a life-long railway enthusiast. Early booking is recommended as this is likely to be a very popular talk.
Thursday 5 December “Berkshire’s Canals” with Dr Richard Marks
Before the advent of railways, Berkshire was known for its extensive canal network. These waterways played a crucial role in Britain’s transportation infrastructure, establishing Berkshire as a significant junction and contributing to the county’s economic growth. This talk will explore the reasons behind the extent of the county’s canals and their impact on the local population. Additionally, it will reveal how the railways eventually overtook the canals, possibly at a slower pace than commonly perceived.
Find out more in these fascinating face-to-face talks.
Pre-booking is preferred, but you can pay on the door for this series ticket at the first talk, if there are spaces available.
Image: A narrowboat on the Kennet and Avon Canal by Steve Daniels, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Scroll down to book.
Date
- Thu 10 Oct 2024
- Expired!
Tickets
- £12.50
Location
- 2nd Floor, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 3BQ
Organiser
-
The Centre - Berkshire FHS
-
Email
booking@berksfhs.org.uk -
Website
https://berksfhs.org/branches/
Speakers
-
Paul JoycePaul Joyce is Chairman of Reading Transport Society and has been an author and photographer for the railway historical magazine “Back Track” for over 30 years. Paul is also an avid collector of anecdotal history and vintage photography, especially of anything connected to the railways of Reading.
-
Dr Richard MarksRichard is a published historian based in Berkshire who specialises in industrial, military, and railway history and also the history of science. His current areas of research are industrial development in the Victorian period, the development of the railway and canal systems in Britain in the mid to late 19th Century and the history of British Rail. He has a PhD in economic history. Richard’s book about British Rail Engineering was published by Pen and Sword in early 2024 and a new book is due out later in 2024 about the Wantage Tramway Company.