with speaker Dr Andrew Walker.

In this talk Andrew will explore a number of hiring fairs that took place within the county during the ‘long’ nineteenth century. Attention will be paid to what types of labour were hired at such events, by whom and on what terms. The changing nature of agricultural service will be considered. The lively nature of the hiring fairs themselves will also be investigated and what attempts were made to regulate these and with what success will also be assessed. The illustrated talk will draw upon a variety of sources including personal testimonies, newspaper reports, census data and marriage records.

Dr Andrew Walker is an historian with a longstanding interest in Lincolnshire history. He is an active member of various local history societies, including the Society for Lincolnshire History and Archaeology, the Lincoln Record Society and The Survey of Lincoln. For many years, he worked at the University of Lincoln and its predecessor institutions, before becoming Vice Principal at Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance in Kent.