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
Secretary: Caroline Meller secretary@galhs.org.uk
Treasurer: Ken Ascroft treasurer@galhs.org.uk
Committee members:
David Aldred
Jill Collins
Philip Watson
If you would like to become a member please contact Ken, our treasurer.
Like us on our Facebook pages, Gotherington & Area Local History and Gotherington History. You can also follow us on Twitter, @GotheringtonLHS
PROGRAMME DETAILS 2023-24
2023
Tuesday 24th October Making a Living on the Severn Vale; the Invisible Potters of Domesday – Jon Hart
Sunday 29th October, 2.30pm, at the Village Hall, the unveiling of a plaque dedicated to the memory of Elizabeth Malleson. Nancy Farr, Head of Community Nursing for Glos. and a Queen’s Nurse will perform the ceremony. Light refreshments will be served afterwards in the hall. All welcome to attend.
Tuesday 28th November The Secret World of Gloucester Docks – Tony Conder
Tuesday 19th December Cider Making in Glos.; From Foxwhelps to Firkins – Andy Meller
2024
Tuesday 23rd January The Gloucestershire Mummy! – John Putley
Tuesday 27th February Place Names in the Landscape – Simon Draper
Tuesday 26th March The History of Swindon Village – Barry Simon
Tuesday 23rd April A.G.M. followed by Old Paths of Gloucestershire – Alan Pilbeam
Tuesday 28th May Songs Sung at Winchcombe Workhouse – Shepherd’s Crook
Admission: £3 non-members. Refreshments included.
SUMMER OUTINGS 2024
A Guided Walk of Swindon Village with Barry Simon (date tba)
Please contact the secretary if you can recommend an outing within a 40 mile radius of Gotherington.
JUST MONTHLY COFFEE MORNING Saturday 7th September 2024
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 Caroline if you can offer any other recipes or would like information about those mentioned on the list above.
PAST EVENTS ORGANISED BY THE L.H.S.
On 29th October 2023 a plaque was unveiled on the Village Hall by Nancy Farr, Head of Community Nursing for Gloucestershire and a Queen’s Nurse. The plaque is dedicated to the memory of Elizabeth Malleson, founder of the Rural District Nursing Association and Patron of the Village Hall. Some photos can be viewed here.
In October 2022 a local history exhibition, ’40 for 40,’ was held at the Village Hall to celebrate 40 years of the Local History Society. Local residents and those with ancestral connections to the area were able to view 40 local objects which helped tell the story of our area, from the Early Bronze Age through to the early 1970s.
On Sunday 5th June 2022, at the Platinum Jubilee Fete, the LHS displayed a list of village events for each decade of the Queen’s reign.
The 8th May 2020 was the 75th Anniversary of VE Day. Due to the Pandemic Lockdown no formal activities could be held but many villagers organised socially distanced celebrations on their front gardens.
In July 2019 the History Society organised a stall at the Summer Fete to raise funds for the renovation of the War Memorial.
30th Anniversary 2012
To celebrate this anniversary we compiled a collection of old photographs taken around the villages of Gotherington, Woolstone and Oxenton. Take a look at our Picture Past page and discover more about how our area used to be.
RE-VISIT PAST OUTINGS:
2011 – 12: Civil war sites, Nailsworth mills , Roman Saturnalia Festival, Industrial archaeology of the Forest of Dean, Exploring medieval life at Gloucester Abbey.
2012 – 13: Our 30th anniversary celebrations, Romanesque architecture in Herefordshire: (Shobdon, Eardisley, Castle Frome), Exploring Cirencester, the Battle of Tewkesbury field walk, Marcher castles and churches (Grosmont and Skenfrith).
2014: Berkeley Castle, Medieval Bristol
2015: Prescott Hill Climb Deerhurst Lichfield Cathedral National Memorial Arboretum Cheltenham’s Ornamental Ironwork
2016: Selsley Church
2017: Chavenage
2019: Bletchley Park, Alney Island
USEFUL LINKS
Gloucestershire Local History Association
The Friends of Gloucestershire Archives
Gloucestershire Family History Society
TWITTER @GotheringtonLHS
Why not follow us? We will be sending ‘On this day in local history’ tweets throughout the year as well as news of local history events.
The ‘Gotherington & Area Local History’ page highlights our meetings and events.
The ‘Gotherington History’ page exhibits old photographs of the area.
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
Transcription of deeds by Caroline Meller. Email: cmbmeller@gmail.com
World War Two – Please send any local information to Caroline.
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.