SANHS Local History Committee
WHAT’S ON
WHAT’S ON 2024-5
Join us live at the newly refurbished Wyndham Hall or on-line for one of our entertaining local history talks or come on an enjoyable local history walk.
Past webinars
If you missed our Zoom talks some are available as recordings just click on the title that interests you
John Page: LOCATING THE BURH IN AXBRIDGE and David Victor: LORD ASHBURTON
Watch David Victor’s webinars on ‘The twin manors of Preston Bowyer‘ and ‘The Turbervilles of Gaulden Manor‘.
PAST EVENTS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED!
After the 2024 AGM members enjoyed a walk along the river Tone and millstream to Longrun and saw the willow cathedral.
On 29 June 2024 Tom Mayberry showed a group of SANHS members around Taunton Castle.
Despite a wedding, which prevented a visit to Castle House, and a very noisy event on Castle Green, members were able to see how the Castle had developed over time and enjoyed an exploration of the main rooms. The tour concluded with a pleasant tea break in the sunny courtyard and a talk on the early history of SANHS and its acquisition of the castle. Some members then found time to visit the Dr Who exhibition!
We enjoyed talks at the Wyndham Hall in 2024 including the bribery and violence at Taunton’s Parliamentary elections and an excellent introduction to the work and uniforms of the Somerset Militia. There was an opportunity afterwards to chat and ask question over tea and cake. The committee is aiming for an equally entertaining programme in 2025 and beyond and we welcome ideas for speakers and subjects.
FUTURE EVENTS
A winter Webinar with Tom Mayberry
21 November 2024 7.30pm On-line
Orator Hunt, Peterloo and the Ilchester gaol scandal
Tom Mayberry will talk about Henry Hunt, renowned as the greatest radical orator of his age. Following the tragic outcome of a mass meeting in St Peter’s Fields, Manchester in 1819, he spent 30 months in Ilchester Gaol. There he wrote his autobiography and agitated for prison reform. This talk, first given to mark the bicentenary of the Peterloo Massacre, explores his turbulent life, political career and strong Somerset links.
To register go to
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4q83A4ehQDW1ziXYzKvpdw
or email: webinars@sanhs.org
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 the society appreciates donations. If you would like to donate, please go to the SANHS website https://sanhs.org/ and use the Donate button. We suggest a donation of £5 or more.
Date and venue to be confirmed February 2025 7.30pm
AXBRIDGE CHANTRIES
John Page will talk about the Axbridge chantry estate.
Suggested donation £5
Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond can you offer a tour or visit to somewhere of interest perhaps in your own community? If you have any ideas and suggestions then please let us know at office@sanhs.org.
Our Committee
The local history committee is one of the society’s newer committees. It was designed to showcase events illustrating the history of Somerset and its unique localities.
Like the society as a whole the committee exists to promote the history of the historic County of Somerset.
Although a very small group, we are committed to providing a wide range of talks, walks and other events throughout the year for Society members and the wider community.
What we do
Aiming to brighten dull evenings especially in the darker months we aim to provide talks on a wide variety of topics. Tea and cake follow after talks with a chance to talk to the speaker. In the warmer months we also like to get out on walks and visits to historic corners of Somerset and sometimes further afield. By way of contrast symposia bring together a wide range of people and specialist speakers in a relaxed way to enjoy a day of presentations, exhibitions and food where possible.
Our Events
These have included a symposium on the work of Harold St George Gray, looking at the work of one of the leading 19th-century Somerset archaeologists. Others featured sickness and health and Roman Somerset. We have enjoyed guided visits to Dunster, Minehead, the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth, the SS Great Britain and medieval Exeter. Moreover, we have looked at places, people, events and objects, known and relatively unknown, the good, the bad and the downright ugly! Reports on events appear in the SANHS newsletters and on this page.
If you would like to get involved
The committee is always open to new members. If you have an interest in local history and would like to see more events in your area let us know or contact the SANHS office. Also if you have been engaged in some interesting research that you would like to talk about. Perhaps you live in a place of interest you would like to share with other enthusiasts. We are always happy to hear from you.
LOCAL HISTORY NEWS
Our 2019 symposium on “Victorian Architects and Architecture” attracted a wide range of people. They heard distinguished speakers like Julian Orbach, the late Jerry Sampson and John Crockford-Hawley. We also visited the beautiful St Andrew’s Church, Taunton.
Our 2022 programme was full of talks and live events. We had a talk in Castle House in Taunton in March and visited a new museum in Watchet in April. In June a small group enjoyed a guided tour of historic Exeter. Our first post-Covid symposium in May was a successful joint event with the archaeological committee on “Roman Somerset“.
In March 2024 we had our first talk for many years in the Wyndham Hall, which is being renovated.
The committee is now planning events for 2025.
EARLY SANHS EVENTS
Few people today have the leisure for the days of outings enjoyed by the original members of SANHS! The Somerset Archaeological and Natural History was born in Taunton on 26 Sep 1849. Sir Walter Calverley Trevelyan of Nettlecombe took the chair. There was from the start a strong social side to the society. Members came from the aristocracy, clergy and gentry and their wives as well as professional men.
July 1850
In July 1850 nearly a hundred people met at Nunney to visit the castle before proceeding to the Roman villa at Whatley. There they partook of a cold collation before proceeding to Orchardleigh. Frome members had opened their houses and loaned their carriages to visiting members. ‘So that no visitor incurred any expense in the two days beyond that of going thither and returning’.
The First AGM
In September the AGM was at Wells with talks on the Cathedral as well as the usual reports by the treasurer and others. A further three papers on various subjects were not given as there was insufficient time. The members had been invited to tour the cathedral before dinner. Dinner for 120 was provided at the Judges chambers but up to 60 more had to be turned away. This was still a male dominated society but we are told that many ladies graced the table. Ladies were allowed to join without being approved by ballot as the men had to be. More papers occupied the evening and the following day the bishop’s palace and gardens were visited. Then the members proceeded to Glastonbury abbey and eventually returned home after two days of much gratification and enjoyment!