Here is our programme for the new season, which surely offers something of interest to everyone through the year.
Meetings are 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).
13 October 2026
The Americans in Bristol in WWII
Oliver Davey
10 November 2026
Gloucester and the slave trade
Tony Condor
8 December 2026
A history of this Society
Meg Wise
12 January 2027
Die Hard in Spain: Hector Maclaine
Ben Mallett
9 February 2027
Woodchester Mansion – an unfinished masterpiece
Liz Davenport
9 March 2027
Update on the Alveston Archaeological dig and other local discoveries
Aaron Girdlestone
13 April 2027
The Cotswold Canal Trust
Louise Nicholson
11 May 2027
A Blue Plaque tour of Gloucestershire
Andy Mellor
Please note this programme may be subject to change.
Subscriptions are now due for the 2026-27 season. We are very pleased to have been able to keep the fee at £12.00. Or you can come as a visitor for a single meeting by paying £3.50 at the door. There is no reduction for joining part way through the membership year.
Existing members receive a reminder by email. New members can join by contacting our treasurer through the online contact form 
, who will respond with bank transfer details. Or you can pay at the first meeting you attend.
We were created just after the Second World War under the name of the Society of Thornbury Folk. Eighty years and three changes of name later we’re still here. We will be celebrating the anniversary with Meg Wise’s talk about our history at the December meeting. She will greatly enlarge the story we tell here:
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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
Berkeley castle and the Berkeley family
A dramatic story: royal visits and seizures, a king’s imprisonment (and possible murder), the last private battle on English soil, Civil War deals that saved the castle, and a Georgian scandal over a questionable marriage.
Stan Morrissey’s report is here:
The 1831 Bristol uprising
The 1831 Bristol riots resulted in great loss of life and the destruction of many historical buildings. Garry Atterton questioned the view that the riots were caused by a drunken mob, arguing that at root they were an uprising by oppressed Bristol people against the ruling classes of the city.
Stan Morrissey’s report is here:
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:
The members are Chair: Gill Cox; Secretary: Ann Moore; Treasurer: John Brimacombe; Members: Viv Burney, Stan Morrissey and Liz Roberts.
We would like more committee members to ensure that the monthly talks run smoothly. If you would like to help, please tell us via the contact form or speak to one of us at the next meeting.
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: