Nostalgia and local history are now so popular that an event guaranteed to bring the memories flooding back is to be staged in Southampton this month.

Bitterne Local History Society has organised the history fair, which will include a series of talks by authors and experts on subjects as diverse as Jane Austen and Southampton Airport, plus exhibitions and displays by various clubs and organisations.

The event, to be held at the imposing Townhill Park House in Cutbush Lane on Saturday, March 28, is already attracting a great deal of interest from those who enjoy a feast of nostalgia.

Now the home of The Gregg School in Southampton, the former mansion, set in stunning gardens laid out by the renowned designer Gertrude Jekyll, will be the perfect setting for the fair, as the house has its own long and rich heritage.

A programme of talks is due to be held throughout the day, starting at 10.15am with Southampton author Jim Brown talking about how to write a local history book, followed by subjects including Jane Austen, 100 years of flying at Southampton Airport, the Hampshire Record Office, Southampton’s Tudor House and the former Netley military hospital.

Among the many organisations at the fair will be local history societies from Millbrook, West End, Botley and Curdridge, Durley, Warsash and West End, the Diaper Heritage Association, Eastleigh Railway Preservation Society, Bursledon Brickworks, the Mid-Hants Railway (probably better known as The Watercress Line), Southampton and District Transport Heritage Trust, and Friends of Old Southampton Cemetery.

Other stands will feature cigarette card and postcard collecting, archaeology and genealogy, together with information on the Friends of Townhill Park House Gardens, whose members are set to give conducted tours of the grounds.

One of the longest established organisations of its kind, the Bitterne society is dedicated to the study and research of the history of Southampton in general, but specialising in areas east of the River Itchen, such as Bitterne, Bitterne Park, Harefield, Itchen, Merry Oak, Midanbury, Peartree, Sholing, Thorn-hill, Townhill Park, Weston and Woolston.

l The History Fair takes place on Saturday, March 28, 10am to 5pm. Entry is £2, accompanied under-16s free. Car parking will be free.