The Historical Society
We are an informal group of like minded individuals who share responsibility for running, hosting, and organising events for ourselves. In this way we can keep costs to a minimum and many of our of events are FREE to members. Should we wish to ‘buy in’ expertise or join other fee-paying events then costs will be divided amongst participants.
Membership of the society is £10.00 per annum or, for individual meetings we charge: Visitors £3.00, Junior visitors £1.50 per session (These prices includes Light Refreshments).
Meetings start at 7.30 p.m. and will all be at The Owl in the Oak, Mendip View Farm, Yeo Bank Lane, BS21 6XH.
For more information about the Historical Society, please phone Jane on 01934 877322 or Anne on 01934 833888
Forthcoming Events – Spring 2026
Tuesday January 27th 2026
Speaker: Clive Burlton “History writing and Publishing – How did I get here”
Tuesday February 24th 2026
Speaker: Kate Bell “Crafting a Viking persona”
This talk discusses the textile finds from the dig at Coppergate, York and their influence on creating a persona for Viking re-enactment, focussing on nalbinding, tablet weaving and natural dying.
Tuesday March 31st 2026
Speaker: Jane Hill “Ghost Stories of North Somerset”
Jane will be linking the stories to the history of the buildings and countryside of North Somerset
Tuesday April 28th 2026
AGM and Social
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Previous Talks & Events
Paul Barnett – Solomon’s Might
Steve Price – Three Channels Price
Sarah Harris – Spinning Weal – The Story of the shop
Jane Hill – Mysterious North Somerset
John Harris – the Cape to Cairo Dream
Katherine Bell – Ancient Textiles from the stone age to the Romans
Sarah Harris – Mare Antoinette’s Guide to Farming
Robert Foster – Bon Accord
Paul Barnett – Rout on the Riviera
Jane Hill – A History of pools and swimming in Weston
Katherine Bell – Viking Attire
Clive Burlton – NHS 70 A picture of Health
Steve Sparks – The Geology of Clevedon Beach
Phil Curme – “The Story of Clevedon Pier”
Paul Barnett, – “Titanic Effort”, A desperate dash to a stricken Liner”
John Harris & Vince Russett – The archaeology of Cadbury Hill
Clive Burlton – Bristol’s “White City”
Clive Brain – Pyronaut and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant
Kate Bell – Clothed in Nature – Textile Construction History
Phil Curme – Fooling the Luftwaffe – Decoy Sites in North Somerset
Jane Bell – Kingston Seymour to Berrycreek and return
Jane Hill – Weston Museum Past & present
Jane Bell – I only count the sunny hours
Dr Amy Frost – Victorian Architecture
Clive Burlton – The Life and Times of Harry Dolman
Jim Ruston – Operation Pied Piper
Dr Amy Frost – Repairing War Torn Bath
Clive Burlton – A Night at the Cinema
Jane Bell – Roman Kingston Seymour
John Penny – Out and About in Bristol 1914 to 1918
Battle’s Over – A Nations’ Tribute – Exhibitions & history trails
Melvin Wood – Lost Rivers of Bristol
Julian Marsh – The Life and Times of George Muller
Bryan Smith – The Smyth – Pigotts of Brockley
Trevor Bowen – Coates Cider , Nailsea – illustrated with many archive photos
Chris Sperring- When Beavers Roamed the Marshes
Dr Amy Frost- Planning for Peace, Redesigning Bath in the First World War
Clive Burlton- A pot-pourri of archive films