Weaverham History Society promotes the study of and interest in history and archaeology with particular reference to Weaverham and the surrounding area.
Snowdrops – Galanthus nivalis
Originating in damp woods and meadows across Europe and the Middle East, snowdrops can now be found growing happily across the UK. They prefer damp soil and are often to be found in broadleaved woodland and along riverbanks, but can also be seen in parks, gardens, cemeteries, meadows and scrub. The species mainly flowers in January through to March but there are an increasing number of December flowerings being recorded.
The ‘flowers’ lack petals and consist of 6 white flower segments called tepals which look like petals. There are 3 outer tepals with 3 inner tepals which are smaller and have a notch in the tip where a green upturned ‘v’ pattern can be seen.
There are about 20 known species of snowdrop but as they readily cross with each other over 2,500 different varieties exist.
Snowdrops flower so early in the year when there are few pollinators around, so they spread via bulb division but that does not prevent bees and other insects visiting them on warm days.
During WW2 British citizens nicknamed American soldiers ‘snowdrops’ due to their green uniforms with a white cap or helmet.
In traditional medicine snowdrops were used to treat headaches and as a painkiller while in modern medicine a compound in the bulb has been used to develop a dementia treatment, however the bulbs are poisonous if eaten.
So, look forward to spring and enjoy your snowdrops.
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The Society, Meetings, Membership, Visits
The Society meets at Weaverham Primary Academy, Northwich Road, Weaverham, Northwich, Cheshire, CW8 3BD.
Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month and we invite a guest speaker to talk to us on a topic of historical or archaeological interest, though sometimes the subjects range further afield. You can see what’s planned on our Programme page.
Membership is £15.00 per year with renewals in September. Payments can be made by BACS sort code 09-01-29 a/c 26685458. Meetings are free to members of the Weaverham History Society, children and students. Visitors are requested to pay £3 at each meeting.
We also organise highly enjoyable visits to local places of interest in spring and summer usually by coach from the village and we seem to have started a tradition of having a yearly canal boat trip as well. The Society normally invests in the services of Blue Badge guides on our visits. We also have a very enjoyable Christmas event every year, the talk commonly having a seasonal flavour.
We have articles on a range of topics, mainly about Weaverham, but also covering the surrounding areas. Although not a dedicated family history group, we do have some information on local families, and are always interested to hear from you.
We are continually developing our Archives and we have an array of items (objects, maps, and photos). We are always grateful to receive any contributions.
As we expand our new website you will be able to see some of what we have by visiting our Weaverham Archives page.
The Weaverham History Society also has a Facebook page.
We launched this website in January 2016, but while we move things across you can still find the old website at http://history.weaverham.org.uk/index2015.htm
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Next Meeting
Britain’s Railways’ Response to WW1
The next meeting of the Society will be held on Tuesday, 10 March at 7.30 pm at the Weaverham Primary Academy, Northwich Road, CW8 3BD.
Our speaker will be Jeremy Nicholls who is vice-chair of the Shropshire Railway Society and an amateur railway historian and he will be looking at the responses of the railway industry to the requirements of the war effort and how this effort led to far reaching social consequences.
We look forward to seeing you in March.
