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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 Church on the first Wednesday of each month from October to April.  Talks usually have a local connection, either through the subject matter or the speaker.  In the summer months we usually have two trips, often following up talks given during the previous winter. Visitors are always very welcome at all our meetings.

 

 

OLVESTON PARISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY PROGRAMME:

Oct 2025 - April 2026

All meetings take place in the Methodist Church, The Street, Olveston BS35 4DR at 7.30pm, with refreshments served before the start of the meeting.

Annual membership is £10, payable on the door - covers all seven talks and refreshments. Cash or cheques only, please.

Visitor fee is £3 per evening, payable on the door - includes refreshments

All welcome! Anyone can join or visit.

Wed. 1 Oct 2025

Welcome, all!   After a short AGM, Matthew Riddle will tell us how the Lower Severn Internal Drainage Board works to ensure we don’t have water, water everywhere. He’ll trace the Board’s roots back centuries, as well as covering its current work. Those rhines are doing a good job.

Wed. 5 Nov. 2025

Jane Duffus has compiled three books called ‘The Women who Built Bristol’. Each book contains lively profiles of 250 ordinary and extraordinary women who have lived in or had links to Bristol. Jane will tell us about some of the women featured.

Wed. 3 Dec. 2025

We welcome back retired professor and local writer Gareth Williams, whose latest book tells the true story of the top-secret British atomic programme, codenamed “Tube Alloys,” established in 1940. He explains how, without the expertise of this programme’s scientists, Robert Oppenheimer’s research at Los Alamos would not have succeeded.

Wed. 7 Jan. 2026

GKN is a successful local aerospace company with its roots going back to the Dowlais Iron Works near Merthyr Tydfil, founded in 1759. Dr Victoria Owens will tell us about Lady Charlotte Guest who, for three years, on the death of her husband, headed up this company. Under her management, Dowlais became the world’s largest manufacturing company. 

Wed. 4 Feb. 2026

Dr Toby Jones is a nautical archaeologist and the Curator of the Newport Medieval Ship, a vessel found in the River Usk in Newport in 2002. He will tell us about the ship’s discovery, how and where it was built, its current situation and future plans.

Wed. 4 Mar. 2026

Dr Robert W. Jones will tell us about the life of William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke, one of the most powerful Anglo-Norman lords in medieval England. He led a colourful military life and, as a statesman, served five English kings. He substantially extended and modernised Chepstow Castle, based on his experience of warfare in France and the Crusades.

Wed. 1 Apr. 2026

Kate Peake, a licensed drone pilot, has created some engaging films tracing the course and giving some of the history of the Wye Valley, following in the footsteps of William Gilpin, populariser of ‘romantic’ tourism. Sit back & enjoy the show.

 

Contact details for Olveston Parish Historical Society:

  • Chair and principal contact:              Richard Newley 01454 202011
  • Programme Secretary & Secretary:   Jenny Newley  01454 202011 
  • Membership Secretary & Treasurer:  Anne Young  01454 412528  
  • Holder of the society's publications:  Richard Newley  01454 202011

 

  

'FOR THE LOVE OF OLVESTON' by STEVE HUMPHRIES

Olveston book cover

This newly published book, written by Steve Humphries, tells the story of the parish through the memories of Eric Garrett, Jean Panes, Nigel Dawes, Ted Addis, Angela Shepherd and other local people aged around ninety, whom Steve (an acclaimed oral history documentary film maker and author) has recently interviewed.

Illustrated with over 100 photographs, the book can be bought for £10, through Olveston Parish Historical Society, to whom Steve is generously donating any profits. The  first two print runs sold out but we have had a recent reprint and copies of the book are now available again.  Don't miss out!

To buy a copy of the book, please ring Jenny or Richard on 01454 202011

 

 

DIGITISED RECORDS OF LOCAL MANORIAL COURT LEETS

OPHS has a project under way to digitise four volumes of Manorial Court Records. All have been transcribed by Society volunteers and will be put on this website when they have been fully proofread and indexed. 

A Record of Court Leets for the Manor of Elberton, from 1776 to 1830 and from 1859 to 1870: is now fully transcribed, proofread and indexed - available here. 

A Record of Court Leets for the Manor of Olveston, from 1775 to 1830: coming soon.

Two further volumes, covering Elberton & Olveston from 1735 to 1774/5, have been fully transcribed and have still to be fully proofread and indexed.

 

 

GRAVEYARD SURVEY

Scroll down the page to find the 'Graveyard Survey' link.  Here you can find out all about the Historical Society's project to transcribe and digitise the transcriptions of all the graves and memorials in Olveston church and churchyard.

 

You can use these links to find out more about:

 

This photo shows an OPHS trip to Owlpen Manor in Gloucestershire

OPHS visit to Owlpen Manor