GORING GAP HISTORY
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EVENTS

Visit to Bentley Priory Museum, Stanmore
24 June 2025


As Headquarters Fighter Command, Bentley Priory played a pivotal role in the Battle of Britain.  At the museum you can explore this through an award-winning audio-visual film which highlights the incredible leadership of 'The One' ACM Dowding, engaging displays telling the story of 'The Few', the aircrew, and a recreation of the Filter Room - the technologically innovative first large-scale centralised air defence command and control system. 

Bentley Priory has a wider history from its origins as a priory, to being the home of the first Marquess of Abercorn and the Royal residence of Queen Adelaide. As a spectacularly restored Grade II* listed mansion house, Bentley Priory's architecture is as inspiring as its history, with particular interest to us as its Georgian architect, Sir John Soane, was born in Goring. There are also restored Italianate gardens. This is a private visit, just for our group. 

The cost is £50 to include all transport, admission fees and food/drink. For a booking form, which includes an itinerary, please click here.
FURTHER AFIELD

South Stoke Historical Society
SSHS's next meeting is on 2 June 2025.  Gillian Cane will be talking about 'A tour of the Bodleian Library'. 

Meetings take place in South Stoke Village Hall. Visitors are welcome, £5 per head, to include refreshments. 

Reading Museum: Talks on Roman Silchester by Professor Michael Fulford
Saturday 15 March          The Origins of Roman Silchester
Saturday 12 April             Silchester: Life in the Roman City
Saturday 10 May             Silchester: The End of the Roman City

Mike Fulford is Professor of Archaeology at the University of Reading, and he has been excavating this important Roman site south of reading since 1997.  The talks aim to raise money for the redevelopment of the Silchester Roman Gallery at the Museum. Ticket price for each lecture is £12, or £30 for all three. The talks start at 11am and are in the Victoria Hall at Reading Museum. 
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British Modern Military History Society
BMMHS has a programme of talks twice a month, one on Zoom and the other at Woodcote Village Hall. For details please see their website  www.bmmhs.org

Didcot Archaeological and Historical Society holds talks, usually on the second Thursday of the month.  For details see www.ddahs.org.uk

Site created 1 February 2015
Last update 04 May 2025
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