Westbury & District

History & Archaeology

Leader: Richard Woodroofe

The group meets on various Fridays, sometimes in URC hall, sometimes at other venues. The charge for indoor meetings is £3, including tea/coffee.

PAST EVENTS

In April the History/Archaeology group ended the winter 2022/23 series of talks with one from nationally renowned historian, Dr Nicola Tallis. Nicola spoke on the history of the Crown Jewels, a subject on which she is an expert having produced a book on this only last year. The talk was very timely in view of the forthcoming Coronation. Nicola, who has spoken to the group at least twice during the past decade, was at her usual best and illustrated it with photographs of some of the jewellery which will be used in the Coronation.

On a warm sunny afternoon in May 12 members of the group were given a walk around Frome guided by two local historians. We learnt about the arrival in the town of St Aldhelm in the 7th century, the use of its river for industry for centuries, the Singer sewing machine company which was based in Frome for over a century, the ornate rebuilding in the 19th century of the Medieval church, the excavations which have confirmed the existence of a Saxon church, and the multitude of pubs which opened on market day!

On a glorious June day 28 U3A members visited Hampton Court. Group members were able to wander around and explore the Palace as they wished. However for many the highlight of the day was the private tour led by a guide, who as the photograph shows, was in Tudor costume. She was a source of great knowledge about life at the Palace which she imparted in an amusing and entertaining way.

In July the group (see picture, right) were guided by local archaeologist Alan Soldat to part of the Eastern Wansdyke near Pewsey. The Wansdyke has eastern and western dykes, probably created for defensive purposes in the late Romano-British through to the mid- Saxon periods. The walk took in burial mounds such as Adam's Grave and Knap hill, the Alton Barnes White Horse cut in the 19th century, and Milk Hill, the highest point in Wiltshire from which panoramic views were spectacular.

In August, members of the group joined forces with U3A members from Bradford-on -Avon, Warminster, and Shaftesbury U3As in a joint visit to an archaeological dig at Teffont. Excavations there commenced a few years ago and are expected to continue for a few years more. The site is of a Roman temple and its associated buildings. This year the dig is unearthing what appears to be accommodation blocks areas for domestic staff and visitors to the temple which was located several hundred yards away. From the finds both this year and previously the buildings were constructed in the early years of the Roman conquest, probably before 100AD. A grave with human remains was discovered near a building likely to have been for accommodation but there were no grave goods which might have helped identify the resident skeleton!

In September, on a stiflingly hot afternoon, the group began its 2023-24 programme of events with a talk by Professor Russell Lavelle. Russell had been historical adviser to the several TV series of 'The Last Kingdom', the fictional but representative story of the conflict between the Saxons and Vikings in the late 9th and early 10th centuries. Russell talked to us about King Cnut who won the throne from Edmund Ironside in 1016 and united the kingdom of England as well as ruling large parts of Scandinavia.

The October speaker was Dr Katia Wright, an expert on medieval queens of England. Her topic was Isabella, a French princess who became the wife of King Edward II of England at the age of 12 and mother of Edward III at the age of 16. Because of her diplomatic skills, Isabella was sent to negotiate on behalf of England with the French royal court at a time of tension between the two countries. Katia explained that her personal and political relationship with her husband deteriorated and that she was complicit in his overthrow and replacement as king of her son Edward. Katia told us that there is no evidence that Edward II suffered the gruesome death which has become legendary. However, having sided with her son against her husband, Isabella herself became highly unpopular and was removed from court because of her relationship with Mortimer, regarded as an upstart and exercising excessive political influence, by the English aristocracy, the traditional political class. There were suggestions, but no evidence, that Mortimer was Isabella's lover, but it was a good story and led to their downfall.

On the eve of the 50th anniversary of the 3 day week introduced in the winter of 1973-74 by the Heath Government the group received a talk on the life and career of Edward Heath. The speaker was Michael McManus, a former senior civil servant, who worked in Heath's private office and has written a biography of him. Michael talked about Heath's early life and military experiences which helped form his political and moral values, about his rise from relatively humble origins to leadership of the Tory party, about the main events of his Premiership, and about his relationship with Margaret Thatcher. Michael has written a play about that relationship which goes on national tour in 2024, including a run at Salisbury Playhouse. Michael's talk has stimulated a number of group members to go and see it.

In December John Girvan gave us a talk about nursery rhymes. Many nursery rhymes have a historical basis and John talked about the origins of some of the best loved and most recited.

Having, over the years, had talks and walks on Roman Bath, Georgian Bath, Nelson's Bath and Jane Austen's Bath, the group opened its 2024 programme with a talk on Saxon Bath. The speaker was Steve Prat, a Lord Mayor of Bath's official guide. Steve explained that for large periods of the so-called Dark Ages, Bath relatively flourished as a political and religious centre, and a town which avoided attack by the Vikings. The most compelling evidence of its political importance came in 973 with the Coronation in Bath Abbey of King Edgar. Steve also made the point that part of the Roman Baths complex remained in use for much of the period, mainly by the residents of the local monasteries!

In February, the group was given a talk on the early life and first voyage to Australasia of Captain James Cook. Cook did not come from a seafaring family but worked on the coal barges going up and down the east coast of England. This developed in Cook a desire to travel, especially to little known areas of the world. He joined the Royal Navy and took command as a Lieutenant of HM Barque Endeavour, a redundant flat bottomed coal barge. Cook was a keen mathematician and scientist and agreed, as part of an experiment to calculate the size of the solar system, to sail to the southern sea. His route took him across the Atlantic to Patagonia and then around Cape Horn into the Pacific. Despite the lack of maps, by his skilful use of a sextant Cook reached Tahiti and then New Zealand and Australia. During the voyage a botanist, Joseph Bankes, who had helped sponsor the voyage, examined and recorded the flora and fauna of wherever they landed and artist Parkinson drew and painted the specimens, many of which are in the Natural History Museum. This round the world voyage took about two and a half years.

For further details contact History & Archaeology.

Dates for your Diary
Fri Mar 22nd 2.00pm - The archaeologist Julian Richards, who is well-known to many group members, will give a talk entitled 'A Potted History of Britain'.
'Julian, archaeologist, broadcaster and self-confessed pottery addict will chart the 6,000 year history of ceramics in Britain, from the first hand-made vessels of the early Neolithic to the high-tech applications of the 21st century. Julian will show changes in technology, in society and in style. As well as the talk, there will be an opportunity to examine pots from pre-history to the present'.
Fri Apr 26th Visit to the English Heritage store at Temple Cloud at which artefacts and objects from EH sites across the south west but not on display in situ are stored and displayed.
Fri May 10th Walk through and around the ancient and historic village of Wellow. The walk will be guided by local historian and Wellow resident Jane Rees.
Fri Jul 5th 2.00pm - a visit to the 'Avalon Archaeology Centre' at Glastonbury.
Fri Sep 27th We will have a guided tour of Trowbridge Museum, which has reopened in the past year following major refurbishment.
Fri Oct 25th 2.00pm - Talk by Ruth Butler on 'Sir Christopher Wren'. Wren was a local lad, born near Warminster, who went on to great things - such as designing St Paul's Cathedral.
Fri Nov 15th Talk on Highwaymen.
Fri Dec 6th TBA
Fri Jan 17th Talk on the History of Bath Abbey.
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More Group Pages
"Something Snappy" Photography Art - Painting for Pleasure
Art Appreciation Bird Watching
Book Club Book Club 2
Canasta Computing
Creative Textiles Creative Yarn Group
French Conversation Gardening
History & Archaeology Mahjong
Music Lovers Natural History
Photography Pilates
Strollers Table Tennis
Travel Buddies Yoga