The Arnold Local History Group brings the past to life

If you are visiting Nottinghamshire as a tourist, or perhaps returning after years of being away, there is nothing like finding out about the heritage of the local area. Whether you are researching your family tree, interested in the buildings of the past or simply want to put a name to a face in an old photograph, there are often plenty of resources at your disposal - but the question is, where do you start? One organisation which is helping people to delve into the history of Arnold, a market town just north of Nottingham city centre, is the Arnold Local History Group. The group, which was set up six years ago, is dedicated to bringing the past to life and each month it hosts a lecture which chronicles the lives of people living in and around Arnold. Previous speakers have covered subjects as diverse as music hall and Victorian optical toys, as well as public sanitation and the Luddites – and this year’s programme promises to be just as exciting with talks on the iconic Raleigh bike company and Nottingham’s caves planned for the coming months. The history group is also set to host a three week-long exhibition in October which will remember all of the Arnold residents who left to fight in the Great War and did not come home as well as those who served but did return. The exhibition will be held at Arnold Library and runs in parallel with the county-wide Trent to Trenches programme, which marks 100 years since the start of the conflict. It will explore, among other things, the role of Arnot Hill House, a magnificent house which was used as a hospital for injured soldiers during the war. A spokesman for the group said: "Our recent heritage day had an excellent attendance and there was a great deal of interest from the public so we are greatly encouraged to believe that we can put on a high quality show in October." You can also meet members of the Arnold Local History Group at the Arnold Carnival on 14th and 15th June where they will be leading heritage walks around Arnot Hill Park. The group's monthly lectures, which take place at Arnold Labour Club, cost £2 for visitors and £1 for members (annual membership is £5). For more details on the group, including an archive of old photographs, visit the website. Many of Arnold’s significant buildings also feature on our Gedling Borough Heritage Trail.