MALDON District Council has announced the programme for the ever-popular Heritage Winter Talks, which are returning this year.

The talks each focus on a different aspect of the district's history, ranging from the Treasures of Thomas Plume's Library to Aerodrome Anecdotes. They are free to attend and no booking is required.

Cllr Simon Morgan, Leader of Maldon District Council said; "I'm so pleased to see the Heritage Winter Talks returning for the 2026/27 season. These talks are always extremely popular and they help to shed light on the fascinating history of our beautiful district.

"The Heritage Winter Talks are a must for anyone who is interested in the history of the area or for those who just want to find out more about the properties.

"I would like to thank the speakers for bringing the stories of our unique district to life and for bringing people together to explore its distinct history and culture."

The 2026/2027 Programme

Free admission, no booking required.

All talks start at 7.30pm and finish at 9pm

3rd November 2026: Helen Kemp – Treasures of Thomas Plume's Library

VENUE: Friends Meeting House, Butt Lane, Maldon, CM9 5HD

Thomas Plume's Library was founded in 1704 under the terms of the will of Dr Thomas Plume, Vicar of Greenwich and Archdeacon of Rochester, who had been born in Maldon in 1630. He bequeathed to his native town his collection of c.8,100 books and pamphlets, to be kept in the building which he had constructed from the ruins of the old St Peter's Church in the centre of the town, on the corner of Market Hill and the High Street. In this talk the present Library Keeper, Dr Helen Kemp, will discuss some of the significant items in the Plume Library collections. It will consider why Thomas Plume might have wanted to include them, and how they can be used by us today for historical study.

8th December 2026: David Thorpe – The restoration of Bradwell's forge

VENUE: Bradwell-on-Sea Village Hall, South Street, Bradwell on Sea CM0 7QJ

This talk will describe and illustrate the award-winning renovation of a grade II listed timber-framed village smithy.

12th January 2027: Tim Howson – Hearth and home: historic fireplaces in the Maldon District

VENUE: Friends Meeting House, Butt Lane, Maldon, CM9 5HD

From primitive medieval open hearths through to cosy Tudor inglenooks and elegant Georgian classical chimneypieces, Tim will explain how the design of fireplaces changed over time.

2nd February 2027: Tim Howson – Steps through time: a history of staircases in the Maldon District

VENUE: Friends Meeting House, Butt Lane, Maldon, CM9 5HD

This talk will explore the evolution of the staircase with reference to the finest historic examples in the Maldon District.

2nd March 2027: Stephen Nunn – AERODROME ANECDOTES: Chapters from Stow Maries' Past

VENUE: Friends Meeting House, Butt Lane, Maldon, CM9 5HD

Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome has a fascinating, chequered history, from its opening in 1916 right through to present day. There are so many chapters in its story. Stephen Nunn tells us about some of them – 'Anecdotes from the Aerodrome'. We follow the long preservation journey, learn about some of the people, incidents from both World Wars, discuss objects and reflect through Remembrance of the Fallen.