The Society arranges a programme of excursions and lectures in Gloucester and Bristol
This list is updated as and when details of forthcoming events are available. However, until then details of immediate past events are displayed as an indication of our activities.
The Committee for Archaeology in Gloucestershire arranges an Annual Symposium
Annual General Meeting on Saturday 27 March 2010 at Gambier Parry Hall, Highnam, Gloucester. This will be followed by a guided tour of Highnam Church by Tom Fenton
All meetings will be held in the Apostle Room in the basement of Clifton Cathedral, Pembroke Road, Clifton, at 7.45 pm. £1 charge per visitor per meeting – to include coffee served at the conclusion of meetings. R H Jones is the Hon. Secretary for Bristol Tel: 0117 9830719 roberthjones@blueyonder.co.uk
Monday 28th September 2009
Westbury-on-Trym: Monastery, Minster and College c.700-1544. – Canon Professor Nicholas Orme, MA., DPhil., DLitt., DD., FRHistS., FSA., FMAA
Nicholas Orme and Jon Cannon have just completed a detailed new history of the church of Westbury-on-Trym up to the Reformation. This allows a re-examination of its origins, history, purposes and personnel – especially its second founder, Bishop Carpenter – which will be covered in the lecture.
Monday 19th October 2009
St Augustine’s Abbey, Bristol: Four Abbots and a Bishop – Dr Joseph Bettey, MA., PhD., FSA.
Dr. Bettey will talk about some aspects of the development of St. Augustine’s abbey, illustrated with slides of architectural features medieval estate buildings and some of the illuminated and decorated manuscripts.
Monday 23rd November 2009
Heaven on Earth: Building the new Jerusalem in 11th and 12th century Fancia – Michael D. Crosten, MA., PhD., DMS., FSA., FRHistS.
The spread of Romanesque architecture is closely linked to the reforms of the Church which took place between the mid-tenth century and c.1200. This talk will explore the connections between the great project to renew the Church as a spiritual institution and the renewal of its buildings and sacred spaces, as illustrated particularly in the surviving churches of France.
Monday 25th January 2010
Mud, mud, glorious mud. Emerging new ideas about the development of Bristol and its hinterland – Bob Jones, BA., FSA., MifA.
Bristol has seen exciting excavations taking place over the last 10 years as a result of major new development schemes. The results of this work are now beginning to be published and are allowing new thoughts about the development of the medieval and modern city, as well as shedding new light on pre-medieval settlement in the greater Bristol area. This lecture will look at some of these major discoveries and how they are transforming our understanding both of the city itself and the development of its archaeologically rich hinterland.
Monday 22nd February 2010
Mynster, Manor & Town: in search of Anglo-Saxon Berkeley – Dr Stuart Prior, Lecturer in Archaeological Practice, University of Bristol
The Berkeley Castle Project is a long-term archaeological research project run by the University of Bristol, which was launched in early 2005, with the castle as a locus of its fieldwork. The Project’s objective is to build up a detailed picture of the history and archaeology of the castle and the associated settlement of Berkeley. Over the last five years archaeological excavations have revealed a great deal about the Saxon Mynster at Berkeley, and the associated finds are unique and astoundingly rich, and the project has already added substantially to knowledge and understanding of the early medieval period (esp. for Mercia), and the subsequent changes in landscape and society with the coming of the Normans. So if Saxons, Normans, Mynsters, Monasteries, Castles and/or Nuns are of interest to you, don’t miss this talk!
Monday 22nd March 2010
The Battle of Sedgemoor – Peter Poyntz-Wright
The story of the rebellion of James, Duke of Monmouth from his arrival at Lyme Regis and his journey through Axminster, Taunton and Bristol and consequently south through Somerset to Westonzoyland and the ensuing battle with James II army.
All meetings will take place at Gloucestershire Archives, Clarence Row, Alvin Street, Gloucester at 7.30pm unless otherwise indicated. £1 charged per visitor per meeting. Miss Angela Newcombe is the Hon. Secretary for Gloucestershire Tel: 01452 859308 Email: newcombe@warrentwo.fsnet.co.uk
Wednesday 21st October 2009 at 2.30pm in the Parliament Room, Gloucester Cathedral
Hatchments: Achievements of Death – Anthony Ryan, Bath Heraldic Society
Hatchments are a familiar sight to all those who visit our parish churches. They are not only decorative, but of great interest to the herald, genealogist and local historian. The Bath Heraldic Society have recorded the Gloucestershire hatchments and Tony Ryan will show illustrations of many hatchments and describe their history”
Wednesday 18th November 2009
The Tribe of Witches - Dr Stephen Yeates, Research Fellow, Wolfson College, University of Oxford
Discusses religious practices of the Iron Age and Roman Dobunni, and the long-term development of the Hwicce prachiae
Wednesday 20th January 2010
Agnes Witts, The Lady of Rodborough – Alan Sutton, Editor and Publisher
Agnes Witts, the mother of the Cotswold Parson was a diarist in her own right. She maintained a diary from 1788 until her death in 1788, and the talk covers the Stroud years. 1790-1793.
Wednesday 17th February 2010
Cotswold Stone Barns – Dr T.C. Jordan, Author
The talk covers the design, construction methods and changing patterns of use of Cotswold barns from places of storage, shelter and work, together with their place in the rural economy and environment
Wednesday 17th March 2010
Ferries of the Lower Severn – Joan Tucker, Author
The talk with look at life before the Severn Bridge and will include Aust, New Passage, Newnham and the two lodes at Tewkesbury.
Spring Meeting 15 May 2010, North Somerset
A day visit by coach to Bridgewater and Cothay Manor. Details and booking forms will be included with the February Newsletter
Overseas Visit 7 to 13 June 2010, South Bohemia, Czech Republic
We will be flying to Prague from Bristol and then transfering to our hotel in Ceske Budejovice before exploring South Bohemia. South Bohemia had always been geographically and historically at the centre of Europe, until the 20th century, when fortunately for us, the destruction of industrial development and two world wars passed it by. This has meant that the area has a wonderfully preserved collection of historic sites – castles, abbeys, and historic towns – set in beautiful countryside. For booking forms please contact John Loosley, Stonehatch, Oakridge Lynch, Stroud GL6 7NR Tel 01285 760460. Email john@loosleyj.freeserve.co.uk For more information on South Bohemia contact Zoe Brooks, who is organising the visit, on zoe.brooks@googlemail.com She has put some photos of the places we will visit on the trip on http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/Zoe.Brooks/BGAS#
UK Residential Meeting 13 - 17 September 2010, Cornwall
Our British residential trip will explore some of the archaeology and history of western Cornwall. We will be looking at sites dating from the Neolithic to the 19th century - e.g. standing stones, houses, churches, gardens and industrial sites (including a brewery!). Further information and forms will be included with the February Newsletter Please contact Jinx Newley on peterandjinx@tiscali.co.uk for further information and to register your interest.
The President’s Autumn Meeting
Date and place to be arranged
Details will be sent out when they have been finalised, but if you require more information now please contact the Hon. Secretary, John Loosley