EVENTs
Annual outing - Tuesday 25 June
This year we are heading in a completely different geographical direction from usual and going to Hertfordshire to the former ancient Roman city of Verulamium. Here in the third century a local citizen, Alban, became a Christian after sheltering a priest who was fleeing from persecution. He was put to death for refusing to renounce his new faith and became the first British martyr. He was buried on the hillside and a church was built over his tomb – making the site the oldest place of continuous Christian worship and pilgrimage in Britain. A Benedictine monastery was founded there in the 8th century and by 1115 a fine abbey church was completed in the Norman style. After the dissolution of the monasteries the Abbey was closed in 1539 and the church slowly declined before being saved in the mid-19c when Sir George Gilbert Scott was appointed to restore it. In 1877 the church became the Cathedral for the new Diocese of St Alban’s.
Our day in St Albans will start with a guided tour of the Cathedral and Abbey Church (after some refreshments, of course) and then you will be free to explore the other attractions of the city, which include several museums and the Roman site and museum. There are plenty of good places to eat and a wide variety of shops.
Please put the date in your diary. We will be issuing booking forms at the end of March.
Local and Family History Advice Session
Next date: The date of the next Family History Advice Session will be announced here as soon as it is known.
If you would like to attend the session, please book a slot in advance using the contact form. Janet Hurst will then get in touch with you to make the arrangements.
Interest in the centenary of World War I may also have prompted you to find out what your ancestors did in the conflict. A good deal of military information is now online and we can help you to access it.
On the other hand, if you are interested in any aspect of local history, or the history of your house, then we may also be able to help using the information held in the Society's collections of documents, books and photographs.
This year we are heading in a completely different geographical direction from usual and going to Hertfordshire to the former ancient Roman city of Verulamium. Here in the third century a local citizen, Alban, became a Christian after sheltering a priest who was fleeing from persecution. He was put to death for refusing to renounce his new faith and became the first British martyr. He was buried on the hillside and a church was built over his tomb – making the site the oldest place of continuous Christian worship and pilgrimage in Britain. A Benedictine monastery was founded there in the 8th century and by 1115 a fine abbey church was completed in the Norman style. After the dissolution of the monasteries the Abbey was closed in 1539 and the church slowly declined before being saved in the mid-19c when Sir George Gilbert Scott was appointed to restore it. In 1877 the church became the Cathedral for the new Diocese of St Alban’s.
Our day in St Albans will start with a guided tour of the Cathedral and Abbey Church (after some refreshments, of course) and then you will be free to explore the other attractions of the city, which include several museums and the Roman site and museum. There are plenty of good places to eat and a wide variety of shops.
Please put the date in your diary. We will be issuing booking forms at the end of March.
Local and Family History Advice Session
Next date: The date of the next Family History Advice Session will be announced here as soon as it is known.
If you would like to attend the session, please book a slot in advance using the contact form. Janet Hurst will then get in touch with you to make the arrangements.
Interest in the centenary of World War I may also have prompted you to find out what your ancestors did in the conflict. A good deal of military information is now online and we can help you to access it.
On the other hand, if you are interested in any aspect of local history, or the history of your house, then we may also be able to help using the information held in the Society's collections of documents, books and photographs.
VISITS BY THE TRANSPORT HISTORY GROUP
The following locations and months are proposed for the Transport History Group for 2019. There may well be others. We are currently investigating visits and dates and details are to be decided. There may be changes, including other visits, but equally some locations may not be possible. We will publish more details as soon as we know them.
Wed Feb 27 Berkshire Aviation Museum, Woodley
Wed Mar 20 Black Country Museum, Dudley
Sat Apr 27 London Transport Museum Reserve Collection
Wed May 15 Royal Gunpowder Mills, Waltham Abbey
(Tue Jun 25 Annual GGLHS outing, this year to St Albans)
Thu 25 Jul Canal boat ride from Bradford on Avon to Avoncliffe
Sat 31 Aug Epping Ongar Railway Classic Car Rally, Ongar
Wed 2 Oct Brewery Museum, Burton-on-Trent
Sat 2 Nov Farnborough Air Sciences Museum
Please note we reserve the right to change these destinations - and that they have not necessarily been booked.
Visit to Berkshire Aviation Museum (Wednesday 27 February)
A small museum to start the year with, but one which is packed with exhibits and information. It is crammed with aircraft, and there are numerous display cabinets which explain the history of aviation in the area. Miles and Handley Page built aircraft here, and this is where Douglas Bader had the crash in which he lost his legs. Staff are mostly from the aviation world, and are interesting to talk to. Remember to dress warmly! To download a form to join the group, click here.
The following locations and months are proposed for the Transport History Group for 2019. There may well be others. We are currently investigating visits and dates and details are to be decided. There may be changes, including other visits, but equally some locations may not be possible. We will publish more details as soon as we know them.
Wed Feb 27 Berkshire Aviation Museum, Woodley
Wed Mar 20 Black Country Museum, Dudley
Sat Apr 27 London Transport Museum Reserve Collection
Wed May 15 Royal Gunpowder Mills, Waltham Abbey
(Tue Jun 25 Annual GGLHS outing, this year to St Albans)
Thu 25 Jul Canal boat ride from Bradford on Avon to Avoncliffe
Sat 31 Aug Epping Ongar Railway Classic Car Rally, Ongar
Wed 2 Oct Brewery Museum, Burton-on-Trent
Sat 2 Nov Farnborough Air Sciences Museum
Please note we reserve the right to change these destinations - and that they have not necessarily been booked.
Visit to Berkshire Aviation Museum (Wednesday 27 February)
A small museum to start the year with, but one which is packed with exhibits and information. It is crammed with aircraft, and there are numerous display cabinets which explain the history of aviation in the area. Miles and Handley Page built aircraft here, and this is where Douglas Bader had the crash in which he lost his legs. Staff are mostly from the aviation world, and are interesting to talk to. Remember to dress warmly! To download a form to join the group, click here.
FURTHER AFIELD
South Stoke Historical Society have a talk by Hazel Williams on "The Gatehampton dig and other archaeological finds around South Stoke" at 8pm on Friday 22 February in South Stoke Village Hall. Hazel was Director of the dig, unearthing the remains of a Roman Villa there, and round about South Stoke there are signs of even earlier historical periods.
Members get in free, non-members pay £5.
Didcot Archaeological and Historical Society hold talks, usually on the second Thursday of the month. For details see www.ddahs.org.uk
The Berkshire Local History Association AGM this year is on Saturday 6 April at Watlington House, one of the oldest properties in Reading. The Mills Archive is there, and the pre-lunch talk will cover their activities. After lunch there will be a guided tour around the Wesley Methodist Church and the Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart. There will be no charge for this event.
South Stoke Historical Society have a talk by Hazel Williams on "The Gatehampton dig and other archaeological finds around South Stoke" at 8pm on Friday 22 February in South Stoke Village Hall. Hazel was Director of the dig, unearthing the remains of a Roman Villa there, and round about South Stoke there are signs of even earlier historical periods.
Members get in free, non-members pay £5.
Didcot Archaeological and Historical Society hold talks, usually on the second Thursday of the month. For details see www.ddahs.org.uk
The Berkshire Local History Association AGM this year is on Saturday 6 April at Watlington House, one of the oldest properties in Reading. The Mills Archive is there, and the pre-lunch talk will cover their activities. After lunch there will be a guided tour around the Wesley Methodist Church and the Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart. There will be no charge for this event.