Abingdon Area Archaeology and History Society
Online Resources
AAAHS Guide to Online Resources for Archaeology and Local History
There is now a vast array of online resources for archaeology and local history. In fact, there is so much that it can be hard to know where to start. Below are links to what we think are some of the most useful webpages and resources, with a brief summary of what each contains.
All the sites listed are essentially free to access, although in some cases you will have to pay for additional services or access to some materials.
If you are an AAAHS member, then you can join the private AAAHS Facebook Group.
We also have a public Facebook Page and an Instagram channel.
AAAHS resources
The AAAHS website https://www.aaahs.org.uk itself holds a lot of useful information.
The Research Archive https://www.aaahs.org.uk/research-archive contains information on past projects undertaken by Society members.
Our past Newsletters https://www.aaahs.org.uk/newsletters are also available on the website.
There is a downloadable index https://www.aaahs.org.uk/index-to-archives to the Research Archive and Newsletters, with links to specific articles.
Two other important resources were created by AAAHS, but are hosted on the Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council website.
The Abingdon Buildings & People webpage https://www.abingdon.gov.uk/history/bingdon-buildings-and-people-glossary now has around 150 articles on Abingdon’s historic buildings, streets and places, and notable Abingdon people. The page is continually being added to. The Abingdon Buildings & People group would welcome new members.
The AAAHS online interactive map https://aaahsmap.abingdon.gov.uk/ allows you to explore Abingdon archaeology and historic buildings. Information can be displayed on the map by period and type of discovery, and viewed over different maps bases, including historic maps.
Searchable databases covering archaeology and historic buildings
There is a number of very large online searchable databases of archaeology and historic buildings in England. Some of the most important are listed here.
A huge collection of archaeological record, publications, unpublished reports and project archives.
Allows simultaneous searching of over a hundred archaeological and databases, including the Oxfordshire Historic Environment Record (record archaeological sites, monuments and finds in the county).
Historic England holds a huge collection of archives on archaeological sites, ancient monuments and historic buildings and places in England.
Search Oxfordshire’s county museum collections, History Centre holdings and Historic Environment Record. A map-based search is available https://heritagesearch.oxfordshire.gov.uk/mapping.
National Heritage List for England
The official list of scheduled monuments, listed buildings and other protected heritage features and areas in England.
A database of over 1.8 million artefacts, many found by detectorists. Many of the database entries have images of the objects.
A searchable database of the Ashmolean Museum’s collections, including local archaeological and historical material
A searchable database of the British Museum’s collections, including local archaeological and historical material.
Publications
Many important printed archaeological and historical publications are now also available online.
Berkshire Archaeological Journal Access to all back numbers of this journal, going back to 1878. The journal includes many articles and notes on Abingdon topics.
A very wide range of printed books, images and maps, including the Victoria County History volumes for Oxfordshire and Berkshire.
Academic journal, published annually, with articles on a wide range of Oxfordshire archaeological, architectural and historical topics in Oxfordshire. Access to all back numbers, going back to 1936 (although the most recent five issues are only available online to members of Oxford Architectural and Historical Society).
Annual round-up of archaeological work in Oxfordshire Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire, especially ‘development-led’ archaeology. Access to all back numbers, going back to 1971, except the most recent one or two.
Archaeological Reports
Much of the archaeological work carried out in connection with new development is not formally published. Instead, they are made available online. Some reports can be found on the websites of the major archaeological companies, which have searchable databases of their past reports. The following companies have all worked extensively in Abingdon and the surrounding area.
This includes downloadable versions of many of oxford Archaeology’s printed reports, including ones on a number of important Abingdon excavation.
Thames Valley Archaeological Services
Reports produced by other companies can be found on the Archaeology Data Service website.
Historic maps and aerial photographs
In addition to general mapping and satellite photography resources such as Google Maps and Google Earth, there is a number of key websites which have large archives of historic mapping and aerial photographs.
Historic England Aerial Photo Explorer
Access to Historic England’s large collection of aerial photographs
Digital images from the huge ‘Aerofilms’ collections of aerial photographs from the 1920s to the 1960s.
An introduction to ‘enclosure’ (the process of enclosing the former open fields and commons) and digital images of (pre-1974) Berkshire enclosue maps and awards of the 18th and 19th centuries.
Berkshire Tithe maps [http://ww2.berkshirenclosure.org.uk/CalmView/TreeBrowse.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&field=RefNo&key=DD1] – maps from the mid-19th century when the system of tithes (payments to the church, based on land) was being reformed. Includes high-quality images of the maps from many (pre-1974) Berkshire parishes.
Cambridge University Collection of Aerial Photography
Collection of aerial photographs, many of archaeological and historic sites, taken in the second half of the 20th century, and including local sites.
National Collection of Aerial Photographs
Digitised vertical aerial photographs from the 1940s to the 2000s. Free to view and search, but access to high-quality versions needs a subscription.
Large collection of digitised historic Ordnance Survey and other maps, and some vertical aerial photography. Many are viewable over modern base maps, to allow ‘then and now’ comparisons.
Access to a wide collection of historic maps and aerial photographs, some viewable over a modern map base.
Local history records
Much local history material is available online. Some of it, such as census records, is on ‘paid for’ sites such as The Genealogist. However, some of these can be accessed without payment from computers in Oxfordshire County Libraries. A small selection of free sites is listed below.
Vast collection of historic archives. The search engine allows you to search across many other archives and record offices, as well as the National Archives themselves, in a single search
Formerly the Berkshire Record Office, the county record office for pre-1974 Berkshire (so includes large holdings of Abingdon and ‘North Berkshire’ records).
The county record office for Oxfordshire. Includes records for post-1974 Abingdon, and other material relating to parts of Oxfordshire formerly in Berkshire.
History of Ock Street in Abingdon.
An archive of material from the AAAHS ‘Ock Street Remembered’ exhibition held in 2006.
Historic photos and other images
There are many online sources of images (historic and modern photographs, prints, paintings and so on), including many Facebook pages. Two major sources of historic images are:
This is the searchable database of images held by the Oxfordshire History Centre.
This links to a searchable database of images held by Historic England. On this page, there are also links to specific parts of the collection, such as aerial photographs.
Organisations
The webs sites of organisations often contain much useful information, and should also include contact details for queries. A selection of Abingdon, local, regional and national organisations are listed below.
Abingdon
Abingdon Branch of the Berkshire Family History Society
(select Abingdon Branch)
Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council
Information about the Town Council, local organisations and forthcoming events. The website also includes History pages, created by AAAHS.
Information about visiting the Museum, current and forthcoming exhibitions and event
A charitable organisation which supports Abingdon Museum
Friends of Abingdon Civic Society
Abingdon’s civic society, founded in 1944.
The charity which looks after Abingdon’s medieval Abbey Buildings
Archaeological and historical societies in and around Abingdon
There is a number of archaeological and historical societies in nearby villages and towns. These vary in size, activity and permanence. Some of the best-known ones are listed here. For details of what individual organisation do, see the home page of ‘About Us’ for each organisation
Didcot and District Archaeological and Historical Society
Sutton Courtenay Local History Society
The Wallingford Historical and Archaeological Society
County and regional organisations
Berkshire Archaeological Society
Berkshire Industrial Archaeology Group
Berkshire Local History Association
Council for British Archaeology South Midlands Group
Oxford Architectural and Historical Society
Oxfordshire Local History Association
National organisations
Council for British Archaeology
A national voice for archaeology, with a strong emphasis on supporting the voluntary sector
The government body with statutory responsibility for ancient monuments, historic buildings and historc places in England
The Trust cares for many archaeological sites, historic buildings and historic landscapes
Abingdon-related web-based resources
The Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council
A website including information on organisations and events.
A long-running chronicle of local happenings.
Detailed walks, information and picture gallery.
Friends of Abingdon Civic Society
Abingdon’s civic society, founded in 1944.
A searchable database of Abingdon men who served in the First World War.
This pack is produced by Wessex Archaeology
Charters of Abingdon Abbey in the time of Faritius
What you get when you are obstetrician to the king’s wife and mistresses!
Oxfordshire historian and writer Julie Ann Godson covers the Abingdon area. She has a Facebook Page and a website.
Abingdon Buildings & People
Abingdon Buildings and People is the name of the History Section of the Abingdon Town Council website. It was created and is managed by a group of AAAHS members for the Council and involves original research and writing, mostly by the group but also by outside specialists. Since its start in 2013 it has expanded into a comprehensive resource for anyone interested in Abingdon’s heritage and history. These pages present the history of the town through short articles on individual buildings and important figures from Abingdon’s past. In 2021 it reached over 200 articles. Find it on http://www.abingdon.gov.uk/partners/history
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
Each walk gives you the route with direct links to articles on some of the buildings you will see and the people associated with them.
Walk 1) Bridge Street and Abingdon Bridge
Walk 2) The Guildhall and the Abbey
Walk 3) East St Helen Street and St Helen’s Wharf
Walk 4) St Helen’s Churchyard and West St Helen Street
Walk 5) Stert Street, Our Lady and St Edmund’s and Barton Court
Walk 6) The High Street, the Square and Ock Street
Walk 7) The Albert Park Area
You can access a map of Abingdon here.
We’d welcome your comments on these walks. Please give your feedback here.
Related societies in and around Abingdon
Related Societies in and around Abingdon
Abingdon Branch of the Berkshire Family History Society
(Select the Abingdon Branch)
A charitable organisation which supports Abingdon Museum.
Didcot and District Archaeological and Historical Society (DDAHS)
Sutton Courtenay Local History Society
The Wallingford Historical and Archaeological Society (TWHAS)
Book reviews
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