SANHS Local History Committee
WHAT’S ON 2022-2023
We are planning several real-world and virtual local history talks and events for you to enjoy in 2022 and 2023.
Watch this space for further details!
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
FUTURE EVENTS
We hope to arrange some enjoyable history visits in 2023 depending on host availability. Details will be posted here.
An Autumn Winter Spring programme is being finalised. Highlights below.
THE TWO MANORS OF PRESTON BOWYER:
a similar history, but very different outcomes.
A webinar by David Victor.
Unfortunately David Victor ‘s webinar talk on the history of the two manors of Preston Bowyer has had to be postponed until January 2023. Book with SANHS office.
2023
For 2023 we shall celebrate the work of Somerset photographer Peter Wickens Fry, mark the 1623 heralds’ visitation of Somerset, explore the story of the Turbevilles of Gaulden and the extraordinary life of Aubrey Herbert. We intend to visit some Somerset castles as part of an enjoyable spring outing. In the autumn we hope to have talks on the eccentric vicar of Axbridge, Thomas Gould, and on Ilchester gaol.
WEDNESDAY 22 Feb 2023 7.30pm
PETER WICKENS FRY
John Page will talk about the work of the pioneering Somerset photographer Peter Wickens Fry of Compton House, Compton Bishop, who was a founding member of the Royal Photographic Society.
Venue: SHC
Book with SANHS office by 20 February
Suggested donation £5
WEDNESDAY 22 March 2023 7.30pm
HERALDRY IN SOMERSET
Des Atkinson will talk about the significance and development of bearing coats of arms to mark the 500th anniversary of the Visitation of the College of Arms to Somerset.
Venue: SHC
Book with SANHS office by 20 March
Suggested donation £5
In the autumn we shall have an event to mark the life of ‘Greenmantle’ Aubrey Herbert (d. 1923).
Looking ahead to summer 2023 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 [email protected].
Our Committee
The local history committee is one of the society’s newer committees. However, it was designed to showcase events illustrating the history of Somerset and its unique localities.
Like the society as a whole the committee exist to promote the history of the historic County of Somerset.
We are a small group 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
We aim to brighten dull evenings especially in the darker months with talks on a wide variety of topics. Talks are followed by tea and cake, Covid permitting, and the 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 our annual 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
Recent events 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, and others on sickness and health and Roman Somerset. We have also 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.
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 let us know 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 to hear distinguished speakers like Julian Orbach, Jerry Sampson and John Crockford-Hawley. We also visited the beautiful St. Andrew’s Church, Taunton.
We arranged a 2022 programme full of talks and live events. Keep an eye on this page for news. We had a talk in Castle House in Taunton in March and visited a new museum in Watchet in April. We also planned a walk round historic Exeter in June. Moreover, on 21 May we had a joint event with the archaeological committee on “Roman Somerset“.
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. It was formed of 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!