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
When complete, the project will be available in e-form, and available to all, as a record of the facts. Already, the text is well-illustrated with photographs. Click below for more... (n.b. pdf is 6Mb and may take a while to download)
Email:
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
Thornbury Museum is open Tues–Fri 1-4pm, Sat 10am-4pm
Situated at the entrance to Thornbury, Daggs Allotments have long held a vital place not just in the geography and history of the town but in the hearts and minds of those who pass by on a daily basis.
Although earth-bound (literally), the allotments seem to embody a joyful spirit and offer a feast for the eyes as well as the plate.
This new exhibition, curated by local resident and allotment-holder Nick Large, with the help of museum researcher Meg Wise, will answer questions you might have about the allotments:
What’s their history? How old are they? Who was Daggs?
Who works the plots now?
Discover more about this vital part of Thornbury’s heritage.
Entry is free, to this and all other parts of the museum.
For more details, click below.
Alveston Methodist Church
Alveston Local History Society: The Purton Hulks
7.30pm, Alveston Methodist Church
With Paul Barnett.
Purton Hulks Tour
2pm, 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.
Edward Jenner Museum
Come and meet some rescued hedgehogs with Avon & South Gloucestershire Hedgehog Rescue! Included in standard admission price.
Winterbourne Medieval Barn
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.
South Gloucestershire Mines Research Group Outing
Afternoon Walk: Charterhouse (Mendip) led by Steve Tofts. For more information, please click below.
Thornbury and District Museum
Meet outside Thornbury & District Museum, 6.20pm
Walks are free (but donations are welcomed). Tickets must be obtained in advance from the museum or by phoning 01454 885230.
The walks are suitable for adults and children of ten and over. They are generally on level ground but may include footpaths. Suitable clothing and shoes are advised.
Winterbourne Medieval Barn
Gates open from 11am to 5pm, entrance fee £3, Winterbourne Medieval Barn, Court Farm, Church Lane, Winterbourne BS36 1SE
To all the living in the lands of the chantry and wardenship of what is now called Saint Michael the archangel, that what used to be called Saint Mary’s, that of the parish church of Winterbourne Manorial estate, and including the good people of the Greater Bristol area and all other lands surrounding this, even that which is beyond the seas: The Winterbourne Medieval Barn activities Group, along with The Company of Chivalry, requests your attendance to the “Annual Winterbourne Medieval Fayre” and there to make merriment.
Yet again we are fortunate enough to be entertained by “The Company of Chivalry”, who re-enact the time of the then King Edward 3rd, and one of his sons, John of Gaunt, of which Lord Thomas Hungerford was a vassal.
It is hoped that my Lord and Lady de Bradeston will be able to attend the Medieval Fayre this year, if he is not away... Read more >>
Purton Hulks Tour
2pm, 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.
9.30am-3pm
Unsure whether to volunteer? Join Thornbury Volunteer Centre on a volunteering taster day designed to give people of all ages the chance to try a variety of different volunteering opportunities at various organisations, whilst under the support of workers from the Volunteer Centre.
The group will spend some time throughout the day at local organisations, enabling them to try their hand at magazine collating, charity shop work and an environmental challenge. Members of each organisation will talk about their organisations and then let each potential volunteer “have a go!” A Packed Lunch will be provided. The day is free of charge.
To book please contact Kim Webb, Thornbury Volunteer Centre, The Town Hall, 35, High Street, Thornbury, South Glos. BS35 2AR or email below by Wednesday June 13th.
Email:
Purton Hulks Tour
2pm, 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.
Thornbury and District Museum
Meet outside Thornbury & District Museum, 6.20pm
Walks are free (but donations are welcomed). Tickets must be obtained in advance from the museum or by phoning 01454 885230.
The walks are suitable for adults and children of ten and over. They are generally on level ground but may include footpaths. Suitable clothing and shoes are advised.
