PURTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY

MEETING VENUE - PURTON METHODIST CHURCH, PLAY CLOSE (at the top of the lane by the Angel pub, limited parking). 

Regular meetings are free to members and £3 for non-members.


THURSAY 25TH MAY 2023, AT 7.30 PM
THE ROMAN INVASION, OCCUPATION AND COLONISATION OF BRITAIN
BILL KING
The talk outlines the reasons why the Romans chose to invade Britain and the strategies adopted in progressively subjugating the population of the British Isles. The progression from Invasion to Occupation and eventually to Colonisation led to a Roman presence lasting some 400 years. The influence of the Romans lasted longer than their physical occupation, the evidence of which can still be seen in the course of the major road networks and the names and locations of the principal towns. Bill King will explain the progress of Roman influence throughout Britain and how Britannia became the northernmost province of the Roman Empire extending from the Straits of Dover to the River Tay and how its population became citizens of Rome.

The talk is illustrated with maps and images and shows examples of the way in which the impact of the period of Roman influence can still be seen around us today.

SATURDAY 17TH JUNE 2023
DISCOVER MARLBOROUGH’S HISTORY – A TOUR OF MARLBOROUGH WITH NICK BAXTER

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Meet at St Peter's Church, 11.00

Notable for its diverse range of building styles: the prevalence of Georgian reflects Marlborough’s wealth during the golden age of coaching, which saw up to 44 changes of horses daily. Opposite the town hall, with its fancy stone facings, is Chandler’s Yard. The ancient, timber-framed buildings here connect us with the medieval town. We can almost smell Marlborough’s deep history. The 1653 great fire began in a tannery, now “The Wellington” inn, destroying most of the High Street. Marlborough had been sacked by a Royalist army in 1642 determined to teach Marlborough’s “notoriously discontented” people a lesson. It was thanks to the Protector Cromwell that it was rebuilt after the fire.

 

The walk finishes at St Peter’s Church (SN8 1HQ) notable for its 15th century perpendicular gothic, T H Wyatt’s restoration, and the place where Thomas Wolsey was ordained priest.  There will be an opportunity to climb the church tower.

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Non-members welcome.

To book a place, or for further details contact Marion Hobbs, 01793 770185, roy.marion@btinternet.com

 

SATURDAY 1st JULY 2023

BRADON BOUNDARY WALK with JOE WRIGHT

Meet at Cricklade Rugby Pitch Car Park 10.00am.

 

Keith Allsop

allsopk83@hotmail.com
 

 

MUSEUM NEWS

Our Purton at Leisure exhibition features a vast array of carnival memorabilia including some wonderful photographs of Carnival Queens and Princesses, Carnival Programmes and posters advertising a Generation Game, a Carnival Crier Competition and the Mile of Coins.  Visit the museum to read newspaper articles detailing carnival events as far back as 1964 and browse the extensive collection of carnival photographs taken by the late Roy A’ Court.

As featured in last month’s magazine, we have a display of Purton’s Coronation Festivities in 1937 and 1953 and a recently gifted a photograph of the Old Folks’ Lunch at the Red House Memorial Hall in 1953 which is a wonderful addition to our collection.

Purton Museum is open on Saturdays from 10.00-12.30pm and on Tuesday 2nd May from 3-6pm. The museum will be closed on Saturday 6th May.

 

Lucy Lewis
Museum Archivist