We are peased to announce that the SPMA AGM 2025 will be held at 16:00 on 16 December, at York Medical Society, York, UK.
The AGM will be followed at 18:00 by the Geoff Egan Memorial Lecture and drinks reception. This year’s lecturer is Dr Beatriz Marín-Aguilera, who will speak on An Archaeology of Radical Tenderness. Post-lecture refreshments will include soft and alcoholic drinks and seasonal snacks (vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free).
Members have been sent the Notice of Annual General Meeting. A Zoom link will be circulated in advance of the meeting for those who wish to attend remotely. Apologies for absence can be emailed to secretary@spma.org.uk.
The city of York is accessible from around the UK by rail and has an excellent bus network and private hire car/taxi services. York Medical Society, 23 Stonegate, is a 10-15 minute walk from the train station. Turn left from the station concourse and walk towards the Minster. Pass the Milner Hotel to the left and walk ahead through the traffic lights. Follow the pavement under the arch through the city walls. Bear left and cross the river over Lendal Bridge. After 200m turn right at traffic lights onto Blake Street. Turn left onto Stonegate, which is pedestrianised. The York Medical Society is reached through a passage between two shops on the right-hand side.
York Medical Society was founded in 1832. It is one of the oldest membership societies for medical professionals. The Society moved into 23 Stonegate in 1944. The building is one of the largest timber-framed houses still standing in York, built around 1590 but incorporating earlier features. 23 Stonegate is accessed through one of the narrow, stone-paved entries between two shops that York is famous for.
23 Stonegate was enlarged during the 1600s and 1700s. Henry Anderson built the present library in 1804. His son, Dr William Anderson, enlarged the property, creating a consulting room and dispensary. Dr Tempest Anderson added rooms for entertainment in 1870. His ornate dining room is the present-day lecture room. Tempest’s additions were built in an early example of fireproof steel and concrete construction.
York Medical Society accessibility information
Passage from the street: level access, 970mm wide or more.
Front entrance: five steps with handrail, no lift or ramp. The doorway is 970mm wide, side-hung and manual. From the entrance, level access to a toilet and an accessible toilet.
Garden entrance: accessed from Coffee Yard/Grape Lane (What Three Words location). Follow the alley to the left of Coffee Yard towards a red door on the left-hand side. The red door, 900mm wide, opens into the garden. There is a sloped path leading up to the building. A ramp can be laid out for wheelchair access. Please email conference@spma.org.uk and we will be happy to arrange access through the garden entrance.
Inside: there is high colour contrast between walls and doorframes. Society for Post-Medieval Archaeology volunteers will be available to help our guests. The ground floor accessible toilet has a portable ramp to the door. The route and doorway are 700mm wide. There is a 450mm transfer space in front of the toilet, with transfer bars. The toilet has a hand towel dispenser.
The lecture room where the AGM and Geoff Egan Memorial Lecture will be held is on the ground floor. A hearing loop is available.