HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND GRANT FOR ABINGDON ARCHAEOLOGY PROJECT
The Abingdon Area Archaeological and Historical Society
The AAAHS was founded in 1968, and since then it has been the principal meeting point for all who have an interest in the past of Abingdon and its region.
The society organises monthly lectures by acknowledged authorities on topics related to history and archaeology and to those of Abingdon in particular. There is also, during each summer, a programme of visits to sites of particular significance. Members are encouraged to write for the Society's bi-annual newsletter, which is published on the website.
The society encourages its members to pursue their own research interests, either independently or within its special interest groups, and supports these financially so far as its means allow. Its archaeological group, the longest established, has carried out numerous excavations in and about Abingdon; many of these have been published while others are currently being prepared for publication. The local history group was established in 2000 and since then has taken a number of initiatives, notably including the Ock Street Heritage project of 2006-8 and the 'Abingdon Buildings and People' history website . The society provides guides and lecturers, and cooperates with other local organisations on projects of civic importance.
If you want to join the AAAHS, there's a membership form on this website, or you can contact any of the committee members. Visitors are very welcome to attend meetings at a cost of £3.
Next Talk:
Thursday 21st February 2019 at 7.45pm in the Northcourt Centre, Abingdon OX14 1NS
Abingdon managed with local water supplies until 1880, utilising its springs, streams and rivers. Although there had been at least one attempt to provide water to the richer inhabitants of the town, until the Council constructed its original reservoir and water main, there were no known attempts to create a public supply other than by providing stand pipes and wells. After 1880, there was a continuous search for more and more sources of clean water to meet an ever-growing demand, a search that did not really end until the formation of Water Boards. This talk looks at the efforts made through the years to provide Abingdon with the clean water it needed.
After an adventurous life, Ruth came to Abingdon 14 years ago and found an interesting town with a great historical group. Together with the help of some of these lovely people, she built up a little local knowledge and started researching the town’s story. Out of all this came the idea of the Abingdon Buildings & People project, now with more than 100 articles and still going strong. This talk is built on one of those articles that Ruth spent several years wrestling with.
- Find out what ice age Abingdon was like.
- Who were the first inhabitants?
- What was the Great Abbey of Abingdon like and why was it destroyed?
- Learn about the people that worked at the MG factory and hear about some of their stories.
The first three talks will take place on 16th February, 16th March and 20th April.
More details will be available on the Abingdon Museum website nearer the time.
Next Local History Group Meeting:
The next meeting will be on Tuesday 19th February 2019 starting at 7.45pm in the Pendarvis Room at 35 Ock Street, Abingdon OX14 5AG.
For security reasons the front door is kept locked, so ring the bell and you will be let in. Go up the stairs and the Pendarvis Room is on yur left.
For more information contact John Foreman, at local@aaahs.org.uk
AAAHS Local History Group Convenor
Please find further details in the Current Activities - Local History Group section on this site.