Historical Society
Olveston Parish Historical Society
The Society
The society was formed in 1966 to "promote interest in the history of Olveston and the surrounding areas and to collect and preserve documentary and photographic records". The Society meets at the Methodist Hall on the first Wednesday of each month from October to April with guest speakers on topics as diverse as The Severn Channel during the Ice Age and Concorde. In the summer months we usually have two or three field trips, often following up talks given during the previous winter. Visitors are always welcomed and, more often than not, recruited.
You can use the menu buttons on the left hand side (under Historical Society) to find out more about:
- the history and historic buildings of Olveston Parish
- the Society's publications
- and various local historical organisations.
This photo shows some OPHS members taking part in a historical walk around Aust, guided by Society Archivist, Eric Garrett.
Contact details for Olveston Parish Historical Society
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Chairman of Society, principal contact and holder of the society's publications: Les Harper 01454 612304
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Society Archivist: Eric Garrett 01454 613019
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Programme Secretaries: Jenny & Richard Newley 01454 202011
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Membership Secretary & Treasurer: Anne Young 01454 412528
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OLVESTON PARISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY PROGRAMME: Oct 2012 - April 2013 |
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Wed. 3 Oct 2012 |
The Society's AGM, followed by the showing of a DVD of local interest. |
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Wed. 7 Nov. 2012 |
We’ll be in Olveston School Hall for this event. There will be the launch of Eric Garrett’s new book Olveston and Aust Parishes in the Second World War, a display of local wartime photographs and objects, and a presentation by Eric. Don’t miss it! |
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Wed. 5 Dec. 2012 |
Prof. Jennifer Tann will be Exploring Gloucestershire’s Cloth-Making Heritage through Pictures and Places. Using paintings, photographs, maps and plans, she will bring to life some of Gloucestershire’s extraordinary centuries-long history of woollen-cloth making. Her knowledge of this successful export industry is considerable and her enthusiasm for Gloucestershire woollen mills is infectious! |
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Wed. 2 Jan. 2013 |
Prof. Ronald Hutton will give us an overview of the seventeenth-century war that split communities, The English Civil War. He will draw examples from the West Country and, among other things, will try to explain why – for instance – the clothworkers sided with Parliament and the miners with the King. |
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Wed. 6 Feb. 2013 |
When we think of Bath, we think of the Romans and the Georgians. But something else must have happened there, surely? Stuart Burroughs, Director of the Museum of Bath at Work, will give some examples, in his illustrated talk on 2000 Years of Earning a Living in Bath. |
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Wed. 6 Mar. 2013 |
The Theatre Royal in Bristol has just been beautifully refurbished. Peter Carey will tell us about Secrets Uncovered at the Oldest Continuously Working Playhouse in Britain. A taster for one of our summer visits - a backstage tour. |
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Wed. 3 Apr. 2013 |
The 2nd Augustan Legion (one of just thirty legions in the entire Roman Empire) planted itself just over the Severn at Caerleon and stayed there for two hundred years. Mark Lewis, Curator at the National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon, will tell us all about Caerleon and the Roman Army – and in the summer will act as our guide when we visit this site. |
All events (except that on 7 November 2012, which will be held in Olveston School) will be held at the Methodist Church, The Street, Olveston BS35 4DR at 7.30pm.
Existing and new members are very welcome, as are visitors.
Annual membership and entry to the entire season of talks: £5, payable at the door.
Entry to single talk: £2, payable at the door.
Following up Paul Barnett's February 2010 talk on the Purton Hulks, OPHS members visited the hulks, with Paul as a guide, in May. This was one of our two field trips in 2010.
