Next meeting
11 March, St Mary’s Church Hall, 7.30pm.
Coal Mining in the Bristol Area: a talk by Steve Grudgings.
Steve will give us an overview of the industry’s development locally from medieval times until 1949. He will explain where the mines were, who was responsible for them and how the industry was organised as well as the lifestyles of the miners and the influence of nonconformism. He will pay particular attention to the coal mines nearest to Thornbury.
Steve Grudgings is one of the co-founders of the South Gloucestershire Mines Research Group and is currently its chair. He has been researching this industry locally for 40 years.
Meeting report: February
Tony Comer’s talk on the history of the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal attracted a full house. Stan Morrissey has compiled an illustrated report, which we hope you will find as enjoyable. 
Meetings 2024-25 season
Meetings are held at St Mary’s Church Hall, Eastbury Road, Thornbury. They begin at 7.30pm and last about 90 minutes, usually with a break for free refreshments (tea/coffee and biscuits).
Forthcoming meetings in the season:
11 March 2025
Coal Mining in the Bristol Area
Steve Grudgings
8 April 2025
Utilities in Thornbury
Meg Wise
13 May 2025
Cider Making in Gloucestershire
Andy Meller
Your help needed
Because of recent retirements from the committee, we need more members to ensure that the monthly talks run smoothly.
If you would like to help, please tell the committee via our contact form or speak to one of us at the next meeting so we can tell you more about what we do.
We’re a friendly bunch, and more hands make light work!
Annual subscriptions
The membership subscription for the 2024-25 season is £12.00 or you can come as a visitor for a single meeting by paying £3.00 cash at the door.
There is no reduction for paying partway through a season.
To join and pay your subscription by bank transfer, contact our treasurer through the online contact form: . Or you can pay in cash at a meeting.
Committee
These are the current committee members:
| Chair: | Gill Cox | |
| Secretary: | Ann Moore | |
| Treasurer: | John Brimacombe | |
| Members: | Viv Burney, Stan Morrissey. |
Meeting reports
We have for decades prepared summaries of our talks, which have appeared in the Thornbury Magazine and elsewhere, and which collectively make up an informative and often witty record.
Those for the 2020 to 2025 seasons are now online. See the index here:
More than 80 reports of older meetings may be found on our page on myThornbury:
Our own history
We were created just after the Seond World War under the name of the Society of Thornbury Folk. Nearly 80 years and three changes of name later we’re still here. Read about our history:
Links
Follow us on Facebook
See our page on MyThornbury
Some other sites you may find interesting:
Thornbury and District Museum
Thornbury Roots
Avon Local History and Archaeology
Gloucestershire Local History Association
British Association of Local History
Keep in touch
If you have any questions regarding the Society or want to become more involved, then please do not hesitate to send us a message through our online contact form: