TOPICS from Coniston’s copper mines to the medieval castle at Gleaston feature in a new series of talks in South Cumbria.

The winter programme of Kendal Historical and Archaeological Society starts on Monday, October 2 when Neil Whalley looks at Gleaston Castle and the Medieval Manor of Muchland.

Members and visitors meet from 7.30pm in the regular venue of the Shakespeare Centre, at the top of Yard 76, off Highgate, Kendal.

Gleaston Castle was probably built in the 14th century for the Harrington family, although the first written reference to it is not until 1550.

It later went to the Cavendish family and was sold with a farm around 1922. Gleaston Castle has been a ruin since the 16th century.

On November 6, Matthew Symonds explores The Purpose of Hadrian’s Wall in the Dorothy Charlesworth Memorial Lecture, which is supported by Cumberland and Westmorland Archaeological and Antiquarian Society.

Ian Jones is the speaker on December 4 with the topic A Grand Tour of Lakeland from Victorian Glass Plate Negatives.

On January 8, Fiona Edmonds, the director of the Regional Heritage Centre at Lancaster University, will describe the Rise and Fall of the Northumbrian Kingdom.

The focus is on industrial Lakeland on February 5 when Warren Allison talks about the History of Coniston Copper Mines.

German miners came from Keswick to open new workings in Coniston during the reign of the first Queen Elizabeth.

Mine speculator Charles Roe tried his luck in the 18 th century.

It was the middle years of the 19 th century when Coniston’s mines were at their most productive – with ore leaving by boat across Coniston Water and on the new branch railway to Foxfield.

On March 5 the speaker is Hunter Fraser with the topic Worlds in Transformation: Celtic Art and Roman Conquest in Central Britain.

There will be the annual meeting on April 9 followed by Graham Hooley on Guarding the Pass: Low Borrowbridge in the Tebay Gorge.

All are welcome at the talks. Annual subscription is £10, or visitors pay £2.50 per lecture.