Welcome to MyThornbury's local history section. There's plenty to explore:
Thornbury & District Museum
The museum was started in 1986 to house a collection of artefacts bequeathed to The Thornbury Society, and rapidly expanded. It is an independent museum and financed by grants and donations.
Come and visit our exhibition rooms, chat to our volunteers, visit our shop, enjoy your local museum. Click here to visit the Museum's website.
Thornbury Local History and Archaeology Society
Thornbury's local history society meets monthly - details on the right, and have produced a series of articles based on these talks. Visit the Society's page for more information and to read the articles (articles are also listed below).
Local history groups
Lots of local history groups, covering a variety of subject areas.
Resources
Our local history resources page has links to many useful websites.
Family history
Genealogy groups and resources for family history hunters.
Local history books
Old maps
Explore MyThornbury's collection of old maps of Thornbury and the surrounding area. Includes a map browser that lets you switch between different age maps.
Old photos
We've teamed up with Francis Frith to offer reprints of old Thornbury and district photos.
We'd also like to recommend the fascinating Images of Thornbury site, with its large collection of old photos and now-and-then comparisons.
Bristol in the Civil War (Sep 2010)
The Berkeleys and Berkeley Castle (Apr 2010)
Clifton Suspension Bridge (Mar 2010)
The Purton Hulks (Feb 2010)
Thornbury High Street (Dec 2009)
Arnos Vale Cemetery (Nov 2009)
Basket Weaving (Oct 2009)
The Luftwaffe's Attacks (Sep 2009)
Redcliff Street, Bristol (Apr 2009)
Gloucestershire ballads (Mar 2009)
Farm buildings (Feb 2009)
Bristol Castle (Jan 2009)
Walls & boundaries (Dec 2008)
Dark Satanic Mills (Nov 2008)
Clarkson and the Slave Trade (Oct 2008)
What to wear at work (Sep 2008)
Thornbury Pubs (Mar 2008)
Rethinking Militancy (Feb 2008)
Down the Garden Path (Jan 2008)
The Slave Trade (Dec 2007)
Crinoline and Corsets (Nov 2007)
Love Thy Neighbour (Oct 2007)
Digging up the Glass Works (Mar 2007)
Death and disease on the SS Great Britain (Jan 2007)
How the forest was won (Oct 2006)
Clifton Rocks Railway
Gloucester and Sharpness Canal
In sickness and in health
Mr Lister - a gentleman employer
More
There's a searchable database of Thornbury Trade directories, with 24 directories included, covering the period 1790 to 1939. There are also various Voter Lists, Coroners Lists, Street Directories and a gallery of old Thornbury adverts from local businesses.
There are in-depth histories of the houses in many of the older streets of Thornbury and of the families who lived in them with an extensive collection of photographs.
Thornbury and District Museum, Chapel Street, Thornbury
This exhibition runs from 5 November 2011 to April 2012, and the Museum is open 1pm-4pm Tuesday to Friday, and 10am-4pm on Saturdays.
In November 2011, the museum celebrated its 25th birthday and we are having a special Silver Jubilee Exhibition to mark the occasion. We have been busy choosing 25 objects (or groups of objects) which aren't normally on show and which we think give a taste of the museum's collection. It's been hard whittling it down to 25! The chosen objects will be on display throughout the museum, encouraging you to explore each room.
We don't want to give too much away but here are some hints of what you can expect to see....
... parts of the Littleton Whale of 1885.
... the link between Mary Bruton (whose collection of local historical objects formed the core of our museum collection) and Donald Campbell, land and water speed record breaker.
...the Little and Large of the bible world.
... and the device which prevented crashes on the Yate to Thornbury railway line.
www.thornburymuseum.org.uk
10am, meet at the kissing gate entrance to the Fishponds on Manor Walk
It is planned to carry out coppicing, path clearance and removal of any litter that has accumulated.
As always, please wear suitable clothing and footwear. Be prepared for wet and muddy conditions. Strong gloves are also recommended.
Dave has a "slasher", 2 loppers and some litter pickers. Allan Burberry will also be bringing some tools.
For more information, please contact Dave Rowley on 01454 412941 or by email below.
www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk
Email:
7.30pm, St Mary's Church Hall, Eastbury Road, Thornbury
Hot Off The Press – Thornbury from Victorian and Early 20th Century Newspapers, by Meg Wise
Please click below for more information.
www.mythornbury.co.uk/thornbury_s...
10am-1pm, Winterbourne Medieval Barn, Court Farm, Church Lane, Winterbourne BS36 1SE
Winterbourne Medieval Barn Force is a small crew of dedicated friends who enjoy improving and maintaining the physical aspects of the barn and its immediate environment. We work as a group one Saturday a month, rain or shine, with a tea and coffee break somewhere in the middle.
If you would like to join us in this often satisfying work, please just show up and pitch in. Everyone is welcome.
www.winterbournebarn.org.uk
7.30pm, Alveston Methodist Church
With Mrs Martin.
www.alveston.org/alveston/local_h...
10am-4pm, meet at Sheiling School, Park Road, Thornbury BS35 1HP
Friends of Park Farm Medieval Fishponds have arranged an archaeological survey of two of the historic ponds within the Sheiling School estate.
The details of this event are yet to be finalised. However it is likely to be of another pond on land owned by Camphill Communities Thornbury (of which the Sheiling School is part). The good news is that this pond is DRY.
The survey will be led by Paul Driscoll (the South Gloucestershire Council Community Archaeologist). Training will be provide under the auspices of the SCARP initiative, a Heritage Lottery Funded project to help local groups research their historic environment.
Participants should bring packed lunches and drinks. A room will be provided for lunch breaks, and toilet facilities will be available. As this investigation is taking place in the Winter it is very weather dependent. Suitable clothing and footwear are essential. In the event that the weather prevents work on site, we will be looking into what can be done to occupy the time we are unable to work.
For more information, please contact Dave Rowley on 01454 412941 or by email below. He will email interested parties with more details nearer the date.
Email:
11am-4pm, Edward Jenner Museum, Berkeley
Garden Admission Only.
Dr Jenner's Garden will once again be open as part of the National Gardens Open Scheme 2012. This is an exclusive chance to visit Dr Jenner's Garden off season. Come and explore, see the snowdrops and even visit Dr Jenner's Temple of Vaccinia!
Our Old Cyder House gift shop will be open, light refreshments will be available along with crafts and free trails for children.
Tickets are just £2.50, children go free and all ticket proceeds go to NGS.
www.jennermuseum.com/events.php
3pm, Thornbury Castle, Castle Street, Thornbury, BS35 1HH
Valerie Quinn, a member of staff at Thornbury Castle for many years is a great authority on the castle’s history and you will be thrilled by her fascinating history talk and tour.
Arrive at 3pm in the Tudor Hall for the talk and tour. This will be followed by a delicious traditional Cream Tea - £18.50 per person.
Please call 01454 281182 to make your booking now.
www.mythornbury.co.uk/thornbury_c...
7.30pm, The Methodist Hall, The Street, Olveston BS35 4DR
Prof. Tom James has advised Melvyn Bragg and Bettany Hughes on the Black Death and contributed to Radio 4’s ‘This Scepter’d Isle’. He will give us an illustrated talk on “The Greatest Catastrophe in Recorded History: The Black Death of 1348-50” which, according to modern scholarship, killed over 50% of the population of Europe. His wide-ranging talk will include the impacts of the plague on art and architecture, on the economy and on the mentality of the people of the time.
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.
www.olveston.com/historical-society
7.30pm, St Mary's Church Hall, Eastbury Road, Thornbury
Victorian Education in Thornbury, by Tony Cherry
Please click below for more information.
www.mythornbury.co.uk/thornbury_s...
10am-1pm, Winterbourne Medieval Barn, Court Farm, Church Lane, Winterbourne BS36 1SE
Winterbourne Medieval Barn Force is a small crew of dedicated friends who enjoy improving and maintaining the physical aspects of the barn and its immediate environment. We work as a group one Saturday a month, rain or shine, with a tea and coffee break somewhere in the middle.
If you would like to join us in this often satisfying work, please just show up and pitch in. Everyone is welcome.
www.winterbournebarn.org.uk
1pm, meet at Purton car park opposite the Church
A programme of guided tours through the remains of the Purton Hulks, in the company of L. P. Barnett, Marine Historian and Winner of the Nautical Archaeological Societies: National Adopt A Wreck Award 2007 and Certificate of Merit 2008, and Runner-up 2009, Gloucestershire Environmental Hero Finalist 2010
Tour donation £3.50 per person. Approx tour time 2 hours, weather permitting. Slide presentations also available upon request. Call 07833 143 231 or click below.
www.mythornbury.co.uk/thornbury/l...
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