WHAT’S NEW
Coming up next…
‘Cider to Gliders. The history of Stoke Orchard Airfield’. Tuesday 28th October. Gotherington Village Hall. 7.30pm.
How many of you know that Stoke Orchard was home to an RAF airfield in the 1940s, which housed the Elementary Flying school No. 10, the Glider Training School No. 3, the War Dept. Maintenance Unit No 7 and WAAF officers Training School?
And did you know that the daring aviatrix, Amy Johnson, lived in Stoke Orchard during the 1930s? Amy, of course, was the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia in 1930, a journey fraught with danger and drama.
Interested to know more?
Come along to our next presentation, when Richard Chatham will be talking about the fascinating history of RAF Stoke Orchard.
Members free. Guests are very welcome for just £3 each. Refreshments included.
Recent Presentations
Archaeological Findings in the Meadow Development presented by Josh Hargreaves from Thames Valley Archaeological Services (TVAS)
Tuesday 23rd September, 7.30pm, Village Hall, Gotherington
It was full house at the village hall for the fascinating presentation on the archaeological findings in the Meadow (Hayfield Heights development site).
Presenter, Josh Hargreaves, from Thames Valley Archaeological Services (TVAS), explained that carbon dating showed Neolithic activity on the site as well as multi phase farming from Bronze Age through to middle Iron Age, including evidence of Bronze Age round houses and cremation burial pits, in which burnt human remains were discovered (see picture below).
Excavations also revealed a well used Roman trackway and a pair of Anglo Saxon graves containing skeletal remains, one of which was thought to be a female aged between 26-35 who was found in a flexed position (see picture below). Next to her were some grave goods; seven beads resting on the upper body, and a knife blade next to the stomach area. The other skeletal remains were badly decomposed and they were unable to determine much information.
Animal bone analysis of both the middle Iron Age sub-phases suggested that cattle, sheep/goats and pigs were farmed and that the site was self-sufficient, producing the animals they ate.
The archaeological work also resulted in the recovery of 633 sherds of pottery. Most of the pottery dates to the middle Iron Age with a few potentially middle-late Bronze Age pieces along with a small quantity of Roman material and two post-medieval sherds.
History on our doorstep!
ABOUT US
In existence since 1982, the Gotherington & Area Local History Society promotes interest in local history (Gotherington, Bishop’s Cleeve, Oxenton, Woolstone, Dixton and Prescott) by arranging speakers at monthly meetings, maintaining a lending library of books and pamphlets of local interest, sponsoring classes, and researching and publishing articles and booklets on local history.
Meetings are from September to May on the fourth Tuesday of the month (except December) at 7.30pm, Gotherington Village Hall, GL52 9ER. Dues are £15 per year. Non-members are welcome for a visitor’s fee of £3. All meetings are followed by coffee, biscuits and the opportunity to browse through the Society’s wealth of local history books.
Chairman: Bridget Bollard chairperson@galhs.org.uk
Acting Secretary: Ken Ascroft secretary@galhs.org.uk
Assistant Secretary: Caroline Ryman secretary@galhs.org.uk
Treasurer: Ken Ascroft treasurer@galhs.org.uk
Committee members:
David Aldred
Jill Collins
Julie Ryan
Philip Watson
If you would like to become a member please contact Ken, our treasurer.
The Gotherington History Facebook page highlights our meetings and events and old photographs of the area.
You can also follow us on X @GotheringtonLHSPROGRAMME DETAILS 2025
Tuesday 28th January The perils of speculation in Regency Cheltenham: the Rise & Fall of
the Honourable Miss Monson (1754-1843) – Dr. Steven Blake
Tuesday 25th February Tewkesbury Abbey, an Armchair Tour – Richard Goddard
Tuesday 25th March Dating the timber-framed buildings in Bishop’s Cleeve and Gotherington – David Aldred (Change of Subject)
Tuesday 22nd April AGM followed by The Industrial Heritage of the Cotswolds – Dr. Ray Wilson
Tuesday 27th May The English Civil War in the Cotswolds – Simon Randall
Tuesday 23rd September Archaeological Findings in the Meadow Development – Josh Hargreaves
Tuesday 28th October Cider to Gliders – The History of Stoke Orchard Airfield – Richard Chatham
Tuesday 25th November Schools, Scholars and Scolding – Angela Dunsby
Tuesday 16th December The History of Christmas and Wassailing – Robin Burton
2026
Tuesday 27th January Surnames and Local History – Dr Simon Draper
Tuesday 24th February A walk down memory lane via steam, tram and horse – Ian Boskett
Tuesday 24th March A Blue Plaque Tour of Gloucestershire – poets, pioneers and performers – Andy Meller
Tuesday 28th April – A.G.M. followed by Tewkesbury Alleyways – Steve Goodchild
Tuesday 26th May ‘Cheltenham’s Lung’– The Long Making of Cleeve Common – David Aldred
Admission: £3 non-members. Refreshments included
JUST MONTHLY COFFEE MORNING Saturday 6th September 2025, Gotherington Village Hall
Traditionally, we provide cakes from different periods of history. What about Savoy Cake (19th cen.), Victoria Sandwich (19th cen.), Lemon Cake (19th cen.), Rich Seed Cake (18th cen.), Beetroot Pancakes (18th cen.), Gingerbread (17th cen.), Spice Cake (17th cen.), Shropshire Cake (17th cen.), Marzipan Bacon (17th cen.) …..? (But maybe give King Alfred’s offering a miss!)
Please contact the secretary if you can offer any other recipes or would like information about those mentioned on the list above.
Go to PAST EVENTS AND OUTINGS ORGANISED BY THE L.H.S.
USEFUL LINKS
Gloucestershire Local History Association
The Friends of Gloucestershire Archives
Gloucestershire Family History Society
ANCESTRY
The L.H.S. has a village family tree on Ancestry called ‘Gotherington Connections‘. Find the ‘home person,’ Tom Long, who was born at Gotherington in 1883 and who died there in 1959. He will lead you to over 3,000 profiles of people who once lived at either Gotherington, Woolstone, or Oxenton. The profiles on the tree predominantly incorporate research undertaken by Hilda Bishop in the 1970s and 80s. Access to Ancestry is available through Glos. Archives and at county libraries.
PUBLICATIONS
There are several local publications which focus on the history of our area. Local publications can be viewed by visiting online Courtyard Books
You can also browse in person a range of local books at The Cleeve Bookshop
RESEARCH IN PROGRESS (offers of photographs, newspaper cuttings, or memories gratefully received): –
Workhouses of north Gloucestershire by Jacquie Waine. Email: jmmwaine@gmail.com
Memories of village cricket by Rob Sharp. Email: rob_sharp100@hotmail.com
Why not undertake an investigation of your own?
Currently, members of the Society are researching the history of water in the area. There are always many different aspects of local history which could be researched, for example:
– the history of your house (we have notes on all the houses in Gotherington)
– a particular club/society eg. the Tritons?
– Gotherington Cross Garage?
– Longfurlong Mobile Home Park?
If you would like the Society to send research information to you then a donation to Gotherington LHS would be appreciated. Please contact the treasurer for details.
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