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Latest News
History talks at the Foundation
The Sir John Moore Foundation is pleased to announce the calendar of talks for 2025. We have some amazing speakers lined up. Please click the More button below for the full list
Upcoming Events:
6th April Pupils Past and Present 12pm-3pm FREE
A co-production with the Sir John Moore Primary School. Did anyone famous go to the school? And what secrets lie behind the graffiti in the hall?
6th April Professor Fred Steward. 3.30pm £12
An investigation into the pupils of Appleby Magna. How instrumental were they in the industrial Revolution?
11th April Lesley Smith 7pm £15
Meet Elizabeth I and be transported back to the time of Raleigh and Drake in this glittering performance.
4th May Women, War and Heroes 12pm-3pm FREE
Stories of soldiers and forgotten heroes, women who were awarded wartime medals and those who kept the home fires burning.
4th May Andrea Zuvich 3.30pm £12
A look at Barbara Villiers, the enchanting mistress of Charles II
9th May David Moylan 7pm £15
A fun and lively performance, celebrating the lives of the great comedians of days gone by.
1st June Family Histories 12pm-3pm FREE
We follow the stories of Appleby Magna families through history, exploring key national and local events as they saw them.
1st June Mick Rawle 3.30pm £12
The suffragettes as experienced by Mick's own family.
13th June Danny Wells 7pm £15
Get ready for the summer with this light hearted investigation into the beginnings of the package holiday and the life of Thomas Cook
6th July House Histories 12pm-3pm FREE
Ever wondered about the lives of those who lived in your house before you? We explore some of the key buildings in Appleby Magna.
6th July Llynda Baugh 3.30pm £12
Llynda shares the secrets of superstitious congregations from the past.
11th July Moorestock 7pm £15
Get on your glad rags and groovy on down to the Foundation for an evening of live bands! Playing all the funkiest tunes from the 1960s, you'll be sure to dig the beat tonight.
3rd August Heritage Sports Day 12pm-3pm FREE
Join in the fun!
3rd August Danielle Burton 3.30pm £12
A fun talk about pirates, highwaymen and thieves.
8th August Andrea Zuvich 7pm £15
A fun and compelling royal investigation into the badly behaved lives of the scandalous Stewarts.
7th September The Appleby Magna Community Project 12pm-3pm FREE
A big thank you to everyone who took part! Join us for a celebration of this amazing project with awards, tall tales and possibly some cake! If you contributed to our exhibitions, please come along.
7th September Sally Lowe 3.30pm
The story of Appleby Magna as told to Sally by the people who live there.
12th September Birmingham Royal Conservatoire 7pm £15
A celebration of strings, performed by leading musicians.
News Summary List
Appleby Writing School
Professor Fred Steward gives a fascinating talk on the unusual and distinctive contribution to British education that Appleby Writing School had.
If you would like to view this video please visit the Sir John Moore Foundations You Tube Channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIioE6rIUss
[More]Be part of the conversation
What events, talks or exhibitions would you like to see at the Sir John Moore Foundation?
What a successful Classic Car Meet
What better way to spend a glorious Sunday afternoon than in the grounds of our glorious Grade I listed building surrounded by Classic Cars
[More]
Research at the museum
Our museum manager Sally has been busy helping research family trees, researching the lives of former students of SJM and looking after our collection.
[More]Classic Car Meets return
Classic Car Meets return every 4th Tuesday and 2nd Sunday of each month - £2 entry beginning 11th May
History talks at the Foundation
The Sir John Moore Foundation is pleased to announce the calendar of talks for 2025. We have some amazing speakers lined up. Please click the More button below for the full list
[More]National Lottery Heritage Fund Grant
Using money raised by National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK’s heritage. Renovate, Refresh, and Reimagine project - phase 1 is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to commission various reports including a condition report, a drain survey, a Conservation Report, and an business forward plan.
North West Leicestershire Community Lottery
The new local community lottery for North-West Leicestershire.
Support the Sir John Moore Foundation by selecting us as your good cause.
Local History Café Newsletters
PDF format newsletters, click title to view.
LHC Extended May 2025
Missing treasure, learning about house plants and another favourite teacher
LHC Extended April 2025
A favourite teacher and girl guide leader, and Appleby's Neolithic beginnigs
LHC Extended March 2025
Variable Spring weather and rural communities, the village cobbler
LHC Extended February 2025
Edwardian Valentines, ghost signs and mobile shops
LHC Extended January 2025
When many rural households kept a pig
LHC Extended December 2024
Christmases past and Appleby footpaths
LHC Extended November 2024
Including memories of Ashby Statutes and Memorials to child deaths in the 19th C Appleby graveyard
LHC Extended October 2024
Continuing memories of the wartime blackout, plus exploring harvest time and halloween
LHC Extended Golden Anniversary Supplement
To celebrate our 50th edition of the newsletter, a look back over earlier editions
LHC Extended September 2024
How WWII blackouts affected Appleby life and our volunteer project to decipher the hall graffiti
LHC Extended August 2024
Memories of summer fetes, the school year of 1891 and the history of our museum
LHC Extended July 2024
The school year in 1891 (on which our museum is based) and other summer items
LHC Extended June 2024
A final part of memories of wash day, how steam trains changed holidays and religion and prosperity in the 1890s
LHC Extended May 2024
How children were named in the past, some history of Birmingham and more
LHC Extended April 2024
A history of postcards, a visit from the High Sheriff and more Appleby childhood memories
LHC Extended March 2024
More Appleby characters and lead inkwells in the museum collection
LHC Extended February 2024
Memories of the village cobbler, the big freeze of 1947, and boards to share Appleby's heritage
LHC Extended January 2024
More memories of Appleby and nearby
