Mark has studied the social history of the monks of Glastonbury Abbey. He will give an account of the scandal in 1408 and ask the audience to help him solve the crime. Meetings are held in The Lecture Hall at Wells & Mendip Museum. Admission FREE for members. Visitors £2.00    

An 2022-23 Historical Association event "A Real hero is one who exhibits extraordinary bravery and spirit" writes the author in the introduction to his book, 'Six of the Best'. People have made heroes of individuals in all societies throughout history. This talk explains how heroes emerge as exemplars of the customs and norms of their […]

"A Genealogical Detective Story" by Clive Barker Tintinhull Local History Group Autumn 2022 Programme Coffee available from 7.15pm with presentation from 7.30pm Cost: £3 Venue: Tintinhull Village Hall

An 2022-23 Historical Association event Before the Second World War, only 115 of young people had any experience of secondary school and hardly 1-2% of higher education; today of course everyone goes to secondary school for up to 7 years and half of all young people go on to higher education. How did we get […]

It is easy to underestimate the significance of the legacy of nonconformity in Somerset. In 1991, the Royal Commission listed 198 nonconformist chapels in Somerset, 13 of them ‘principal monuments’. David will talk about what they tell us about the social history of the county. This is a Free event, but donations are greatly appreciated. […]

The Twin Manors of Preston Bowyer  

Steve has been a long-time volunteer at the Museum as well as other local groups. His association with these has led to an interest in the local lead mines and their importance to the local economy throughout history. Meetings are held in The Lecture Hall at Wells & Mendip Museum. Admission FREE for members. Visitors […]

An 2022-23 Historical Association event Young black militants calling for 'Black Power' in mid-1966 were famously referred to as 'the angry children of Malcolm X' - but what was Malcolm X's impact on the Black Power movement that emerged after his assassination? And what can we learn about the longer history of Black Power from […]

David is the Hon. Curator at the Museum and has been a keen member of local caving clubs for many years. Unsurprisingly, his interest in the caves found in areas of limestone has also led to the plants found there. Meetings are held in The Lecture Hall at Wells & Mendip Museum. Admission FREE for […]

An 2022-23 Historical Association event The Russian Revolution remains a deeply problematic historical moment in modern Russia. On the one hand Putin's Russia tries to harness the past to strengthen patriotism and project state authority, and there was little of either evident between 1917 and 1922 in Russian as revolution descended into brutal civil war. […]

This fully illustrated talk will take us on a trip to the island of Steep Holm in the Severn Estuary. Just off Weston-super-Mare, the island is home to a range of uncommon wildflowers, slow worms, Muntjac deer and hundreds of breeding gulls. Managed by a small local trust this talk will give you an insight […]

Historical Association - Taunton Deane branch present: "Creating a 'usable past' : the legacy of the 1917 revolution in modern Russia" Talk by Dr Matthew Rendle (Univ. Exeter) - Fee £2