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Guided Walk around Norton Fitzwarren: Saturday 11th May 13.45

Somerset Heritage Centre Brunel Way. Norton Fitzwarren, Taunton

Bob Croft (Head of Historic Environment for SWHT) will lead this guided walk which starts from the Somerset Heritage Centre at 13.45. It will then take in the Norton World War 2 camp, the Church of All Saints and Norton Fitzwarren hill fort. The walk will finish at the Somerset Heritage Centre for a well-earned […]

Weston-super-Mare Archaeological and Natural History Society (WANHS): “Elizabethan Houses and the Transformation of England” by Dr Jonathan Foyle

Faces Cafe, 4-6 Station Rd Weston-Super-Mare

Tuesday 14 May: doors open 7.00 / talk will start at 7.30 pm. FACES Cafe, 4 - 6 Station Rd, Weston-Super-Mare, BS23 1XB Entry £1.00 for members   /  £3.00 for non-members. Car parking is available nearby and is accessible by bus. For further information please visit https://www.wanhs.co.uk

The Turbevilles of Gaulden Manor: A webinar by David Victor. Thursday 16th May 2024 7.30pm

Webinar

A webinar by David Victor about the family that inspired a novel by Thomas Hardy To Register please email: webinars@sanhs.org Or to register directly, go to: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uTs5qBGjRayU7BWMgAeC4g After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar and reminder emails nearer the event. This is a Free event, but donations are greatly […]

BioBlitz at St James’s Churchyard, Taunton: Saturday 18th May 10.30 to 13.00

St James's Church Taunton St James St, Taunton, Somerset, United Kingdom

Location – St James’s Churchyard, Taunton, TA1 1JS Come and join the SANHS Natural History group recording species in the churchyard. Results will be compared with the previous survey made 2 years ago. Everyone invited to come along – no prior knowledge required to participate in searching and recording. A donation to SANHS would be […]

John Page talks about “Rowland Pavey: a Cheddar Eccentric” – a webinar

Webinar

Thursday 6th June 2024 at 7.30pm Rowland Pavey is best remembered today as the man who built Jacob’s Ladder in Cheddar Gorge. However, he was also involved in several other projects, which included water divining, cave exploring and human flight! To Register please email: webinars@sanhs.org Or to register directly, go to: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GeufYm4zRXKvSLhqySElOQ After registering, you […]

Dragonfly Spotting at Priddy Pond: Saturday 8th June, 10am to 1pm

Stockhill Wood car park, Priddy Old Bristol Rd, Priddy, Taunton, Somerset, United Kingdom

Jon van Gowler, a Citizen Scientist with a lifelong interest in nature and the environment, will lead this guided walk. It starts from Stockhill Wood Car Park, Old Bristol Road, Priddy, BA5 3AS. Booking essential. Please email the SANHS office or ring 01823 272429 A donation of £5 would be welcome. Online payments can be made via SANHS website.

Visit to Hornblotton and Alford Church: Saturday 22nd June 2024

The Historic Buildings Committee of SANHS invite you to visit Hornblotton and Alford Church  on Saturday 22nd June 2024. Meet at Hornblotton at 10.45am. Julian Orbach will talk about the architecture and Lizzie Induni will explain about the Sgraffito plasterwork process.  Lunch venues available in Castle Cary or pubs nearby for own arrangements, or if the […]

SANHS and TAUNTON CASTLE

Taunton Castle Castle Green, Taunton, Somerset, United Kingdom

Tom Mayberry will give a tour of the Castle and Castle House to mark the 150th anniversary of the purchase of Taunton castle. After a break to allow people to take tea in the café, Mary Siraut will give a talk in the castle learning room on the early history of SANHS and its connection […]

GRADING OF WALKS

Events are graded from 1-4 in difficulty. The grading is found in the event description in the calendar on this page. Keep in mind that a change in weather conditions can make a walk more difficult than anticipated. All walks and activities demand a basic level of fitness, suitable footwear and waterproof clothing.

1 Easy – generally even ground with a few gentle slopes; no special fitness needed.  Comfortable footwear required.

2 Moderate – for reasonably fit people, may include unsurfaced rural paths and tracks, moderate slopes, uneven surfaces, steps and stiles. Walking shoes/boots required.

3 Strenuous – for fit, experienced walkers, will include hills, uneven surfaces, tracks and may include muddy terrain. Walking boots and waterproof clothing are essential.

4 Confined spaces – including caves and attics. Locations may be dusty, slippery and dark.

Activity leaders carry out a risk assessment beforehand. Participants are required to provide emergency contact details before taking part in an activity – this information is destroyed by the group leader after the activity has taken place.