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We are closely following the latest government advice from https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public and we will keep you informed of any changes we make. Some of these changes may be at short notice so do check the web site before attending meetings.

In the meantime you may be interested in some virtual archaeology. Details are available under the Links tab.

You can now view the panels from the AAAHS 50th Anniversary exhibition held in Abingdon Museum in 2018.

Take a self-guided walk through Abingdon’s history. Choose one of seven walks that take you to more than 40 buildings. Each walk gives you direct weblinks to articles on the buildings and the people associated with them.

SEVEN WALKS LOOKING AT ABINGDON'S BUILDINGS

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 AAAHS Constitution can be viewed here.

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.

You can follow us on Twitter - click to go there.

If you are a Member of the AAAHS then you can follow us on the AAAHS FaceBook Group

Next AAAHS Talk:

Thursday 20th May 2021

This online Zoom presentation is available to our members. It will take about 50 minutes. Invitations will be sent to members the day before, do look out for them. Please make sure we have your latest email.

We will start letting members in from the waiting room at 7.40 p.m. and the meeting will start at 7.45 p.m.

Liz Woolley: "The coming of the Railway to Oxford"

The railway arrived relatively late in Oxford, partly due to the objections of the university, which feared for the morals of its students. When it did come, however, it had profound effects on the city physically, economically and socially. This talk includes the story of how a house made of paper almost delayed the building of Oxford’s first line; of the station erected by the engineers of Crystal Palace; and of how the railway affected the coaching, river and canal trades, industries like brewing and marmalade-making, and the development of Oxford’s “base and brickish skirt”.

Liz Wooley

Liz has lived in Oxford since 1984. She completed an MSc in English Local History (with Distinction) at the University of Oxford’s Department for Continuing Education in 2009, having gained a Diploma (also with Distinction) in the same subject in 2007. She is an experienced speaker, guide, tutor, researcher and writer who is keen to help individuals and groups to enjoy finding out about the history of their local area.

Next Local History Group (LHG) Meeting:

The next LHG meeting for 2021 will be on the following date:

Tuesday 18th May 2021 at 19.45 on Zoom, people being admitted after 19.30. Do make a note of this date.

Zoom invitations will go out the day before. Click on the link and wait to be admitted..

Following meetings will continue on the third Tuesday of the month on Zoom.

We usually talk informally on a range of local history subjects and are always interested in any new insight or question brought along. It is a completely informal event where little stories can be shared with others. There will be some fascinating discussions on aspects of local history which you've never even thought about.

Each meeting, in addition to the questions or reports of research done by the attendees, has a Group Theme. The theme of this particular meeting is Inscribed Dates. What does the date mean and say about the structure - its date of construction, or a later phase? A number of Abingdon dates are 'false' - they were added at a later date, so if people can identify these, that would be useful, too. Memorials to people who lived there are excluded.

David Clark is compiling a list of these so he will appreciate any that you can add, so the more obscure the better. Take a picture if you can.

The topic is decided upon at the previous meeting by those there and people will do some research and talk about it at the next LHG meeting.

All are welcome.

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.