Archives

PAST TALKS, VISITS, PLANNING FORUMS, OPEN MEETINGS and PLAQUES

2019
Jan:  New Year Party and Annual Awards
Mar: Talk on The archaeology of St Clements Churchyard – Steve Webster
Apr: Planning Forum: Tom Dobrashian and David Milton
Jun: AGM followed by a talk of General Pitt-Rivers by Adrian Green
Jun: Visit to the award winning house: Gold Hill in Tisbury
Jun: Civic Day: Workshop
Jul: Visit to Embley Park, home of Florence Nightingale
Aug: Walk:  Salisbury’s Hidden Art History led by David Richards
Sep: Heritage Open Days: Tours of The Odeon; The Haunch of Venison; Harnham Water Meadows and Wilton Council Chambers
Sep: Talk on Updating the Wiltshire Pevsner – Julian Orbach
Oct: Film Screening: Britain on Film: Protest!
Nov: Talk on The History of Theatre & Cinema in Salisbury – Frogg Moody
Nov: Open Meeting: Taking Salisbury Forward  with Tom Dobrashian, Wilts Council; Andy Wallis, Environment Agency; David Milton, Wilts Council

2018
Jan:  Annual Awards Scheme and New Year Party
Mar: Talk: The Quakers In Salisbury by Rosalind Johnson
Apr: Planning Forum: Pressure for more houses – a new settlement?
May: Visit to Tisbury
Jun:  Visit to Norrington Manor
Jun:  AGM followed by a talk on Suburban Salisbury by Hadrian Cook
Sep: Visit to Bristol
Sep:  Heritage Open Days
Sep: Talk on The History and Architecture of St Thomas’s Church – Tim Tatton-Brown
Oct: Walk: Pilgrimage in Medieval Salisbury led by David Richards
Nov: Talk on Repairing the Cathedral Spire – Rod Baillie-Grohman and Richard Deane
Nov: Film: Britain on Film Rural Life
Nov: Open Meeting: The Rivers of Salisbury & South Wiltshire

2017
Jan: Unveiling of Blue Plaque to Charlotte Cradock, wife of Henry Fielding at 14a The Close
Jan: Annual Awards Scheme and New Year Party
Mar: Talk by Steve Hobbs on ‘The Radnor Estate’
Mar: Visit to Longford Castle
Apr: Planning Forum:  ‘Conservation Areas’ Jocelyn Sage from Wiltshire Council and Chris Hooper from Milton Keynes
Jun: Visit to Norrington Manor
Jun: AGM followed by a talk by Richard Deane on the ‘Civic Society Awards Scheme’
Jun: CIVIC DAY opened by John Glen MP
Jul:  Mystery Visit to Brockenhurst
Aug: Visit to Norrington Manor
Aug:  Walk: Pugin’s Early Days in Salisbury
Sep:  Heritage Open Days: Salisbury’s Historic Pubs and Inns
Sep:  Unveiling of Blue Plaque to Agnes Bottenham, C14 founder of Trinity Hospital at the Rai d’Or
Sep:  Talk by Becky Twigg on ‘The Secret Garden’
Nov:  Talk by Ed Garman on ‘The Public Houses and Inns of Salisbury’
Nov:  Open Meeting: The Maltings Redevelopment

TALKS, PLANNING FORUMS, OPEN MEETINGS 2016
Mar: Talk by Mervyn Pannett, ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ Saintes and Salisbury
Apr: Planning Forum, ‘Recognising the Chequers’ with Ruth Newman, Wendy English, Barbara Evans & Richard Deane
Jun: AGM followed by a talk from Dr Alan Wadsworth from the Wiltshire Buildings Record on ‘The Farm Buildings of Wiltshire’
Sep: Talk by The Rev’d Simon Woodley on ‘A New Use for a Redundant Church’ The conversion of St John’s Church, Lower Bemerton, to community use
Nov: Open Meeting ‘Reclaiming the Vision for Salisbury and South Wiltshire’ with John Glen MP; Judy Rose, Devizes Town Council; Chris Callow, Roundway Parish Council; Nicola Lipscombe, Salisbury Area Greenspace Partnership; Peter Horwood, Salisbury Transition City
Nov: Talk by Julian Orbach on ‘Updating the Wiltshire Pevsner’
VISITS & PLAQUES 2016
Apr: Visit to the Bombay Sapphire Distillery at Whitchurch
Jun: Visit to Norrington Manor
Jun: Tour of The Old Manor Hospital Site, Wilton Road, Salisbury with Quantum Group
Jul: Mystery Visit to Minterne House, Dorset
Aug: Walk with David Richards ‘The Pitt Walk’ around Stratford-sub-Castle followed by a cream tea

TALKS,  PLANNING FORUMS, OPEN MEETINGS 2015
Mar: Lecture by John Winders on Salisbury’s Trees
Jun: AGM followed by a talk from Steve Hannath entitled ‘Chalk & Cheese’ Wiltshire’s rocks and their impact on the natural and cultural landscapes
Sep: Historic Open Days ‘Go West – Award Winners & Hospital Sites’ covering the Western side of Salisbury around Fisherton Street and Wilton Road
Sep: Talk by Dr Tony Phillips on ‘The Fovant Badges’ origin, rescue and current maintenance
Sep: Michael Drury ‘Salisbury Cathedral and the Major Repair Programme’
Nov: Open Meeting ‘Making the Most of our City’ Public Art and Forgotten Corners
VISITS & PLAQUES 2015
Jul: Mystery Visit to the Royal Signals Museum, Blandford, then Wimborne Minster and its chained library                                Sep: Unveiling of Blue Plaque identifying a garage in Castle Street used for the manufacture of Spitfires from 1941 until 1947

TALKS,  PLANNING FORUMS, OPEN MEETINGS 2014
Mar: Robert Key ‘Our Magna Carta’: Salisbury Cathedral’s 1215 Magna Carta and 800th Anniversary Celebrations.
Apr: Planning Forum, Listed Building – Why, and What does it mean?
Jun: AGM followed by Lecture by David Andrews of Visit Wiltshire, The role of  ‘Visit Wiltshire’ in attracting visitors to Salisbury & South Wiltshire.
Sep: Tom Beaumont James, former professor of archaeology, Winchester University,’Clarendon — From Royal Palace to Georgian Mansion’
Nov: David Richards, Blue Badge Tourist Guide, ‘Religion, Politics & Witchcraft in 17C Salisbury’
Nov: Open Meeting – Do we need Green Spaces?
VISITS & PLAQUES 2014 
Apr: Visit to Amesbury Church, Museum & Abbey. A talk, then a visit to an ancient Mesotlithic spring near Blick Mead.
May: Unveiling of Plaque at Leehurst-Swan School
May: Dinton Visit – Guided visit by David Richards, Blue Badge Guide.
Jul: Tour of Salisbury Cathedral library
Jul: Mystery Visit to the Hawk Conservancy, near Andover

2013
Feb: Planning Forum ‘For the Common Good – Looking After our Public Spaces’
Mar: Frogg Moody & Richard Nash, Local Historians – Haunted Salisbury
Jun: AGM followed by Lecture by Loraine Knowles, Stonehenge Director, English Heritage – Stonehenge: A New Dawn
Oct: Ruth Newman & Jane Howells, Local Historians – A working man’s Samuel Pepys? William Small’s unique memoirs of Victorian Salisbury
Nov: Arthur Millie, Playhouse Archivist – From the Chapel to the Beehive – the story of Salisbury Playhouse and its people
Nov: Open Meeting – Traffic Management – Shared Space

2012
Feb: Planning Forum – Localism and related topics, including neighbourhood plans
Mar: John Elliott, Architectural Historian- Pugin in Salisbury
Jun: AGM followed by Lecture Margaret Smith, Blue Badge Guide- John Constable & Regency Salisbury
Sep: Lecture, George Fleming, local historian, founder of History at Large – Murder in Meadow Road
Nov: Lecture, Norman Thorne, local author & historian, Winterslow- Major Robert Poore & the Winterslow Land Court
Nov: Open Meeting – Good Design Issue

2011
Feb: Planning Forum to discuss the Salisbury Vision
Mar: Open Meeting Mending People Mending Places – the Past & Future of the Old Manor Hospital Site
Mar: George Fleming, Local Historian, Founder of History at Large“Unsung Heroes” –The Great Salisbury Train Disaster of 1906
Jun: Annual General Meeting followed by Lecture Chris Riley, Reserves Officer, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust
Developments at Langford Lakes Nature Reserve
Sep: John Cox, Retired Head of English Bishop Wordsworth’s School “William Golding”
Nov: Jane Pelly, retired teacher, spoke about her grandfather, Bishop John Wordsworth, who died a hundred years ago.
Nov: Open Meeting in Guildhall “Heritage and Commerce: Conflict or Partnership?”

2010
Feb: Planning Forum: Traffic issues in Salisbury
Mar: The Living River Project – Addressing the Threats Facing the River Avon
Jun: AGM & The Mary Rose – Past, Present and Future
Sep: “Salisbury in Detail”
Nov: Endless Beat – Popular Music in Salisbury 1945 to 1999

2009
Feb: Planning Forum: Wiltshire Council – Planning, Conservation & You’
Mar: History of Methodism in Salisbury
Apr/May: Five Spring Lectures: Georgian Salisbury
……A First Great Revolution: Agriculture & the Water Meadows
……The Romantic Villa & Salisbury
……Transport: Roads, Canals, Railways & Coaches
……Church Music & the Rise of Dissent
……Romanticism, Architecture, Landscape Gardens & Salisbury
Jun: AGM & The Studio Theatre: the Phoenix Rises
Sep: Cathedral Rocks
Nov: Colourful Characters of the Nadder Valley
Dec: Open Meeting – Housing Estates

2008
Jan: Planning Forum to discuss Conservation Areas
Feb: History of the Woodfalls Band
May: The Two Great Ladies of Wilton
Jun: The Development of Salisbury Market Place
Sep: Ponies & People of the New Forest
Nov: Ham Hill Stone in Salisbury

2007
Feb: Planning Forum to discuss the Salisbury Vision
Feb/Mar: Five Spring Lectures: Aspects of Heritage
……Cathedral Vault Paintings
……Chantry Chapels in Salisbury
……Harold Peto and his Gardens
……Wandering Architects
……The Sarum Use
Apr: We mustn’t frighten the readers: Salisbury in the age of Cholera
Jun: Palaces, Patronage & Pills
Sep: Women’s Suffrage in South Wilts
Nov: Where was Old Sarum?
Nov: Open Meeting: World Heritage Sites

2006
Jan: Launch of Society’s Streetscape Survey
Feb: The Longford Estates
Mar/Apr: Five Spring Lectures : Aspects of Heritage
…..Too Many Churches in Salisbury?
…..The Cathedral Choir Stalls
…..Conservation of the West Front
…..Licensed to Sell
…..The Cathedral Stained Glass
Jun: Music & Entertainment throughout the Ages
Sep: The Issues of providing a Rural Bus Service
Oct: Sewerage
Nov: Open Meeting: Saving the Planet without Costing the Earth

2005
Feb: Beyond the Playhouse Footlights
Mar: Planning Forum – Vision for Salisbury
Apr: The Fovant Badges
Jun: AGM & Talk: Plague, Pestilence & Poverty
Oct: The Economic Benefits of Restoring Historic Buildings
Nov: Open Meeting: Water, Water, Everywhere?

2004
Feb: Wyatt, Pugin, and the Gothic Revival
Mar: Planning Forum – “A Vision for the Future” – Magna Carta Centre, Salisbury Cathedral
Apr: Thatch and Thatching
Jun: AGM & Talk: Ghosts in Salisbury
Oct: The Work of the Historic Houses Association
Nov: Open meeting – “Streets for All”

2003
Feb: Landscape Design
Jun: Mompesson House
Oct: Waste and Waste Management
Nov: Oxford Traffic Forum

2002
Feb: Palladian Architecture Around Salisbury
May: Salisbury Markets
Jun: Policing Wiltshire
Oct: Trees in Salisbury

2001
Feb: Salisbury /Saintes Twinning Association
March: A Stone Mason’s 23 years of repairing Historic Buildings
May: Flood Protection Schemes
Jun: Redundant Churches in the Salisbury Area and Beyond
Oct: Managing Salisbury. City Centre Management Board

2000
Feb: Editing the Salisbury Journal
May: Stonehenge World Heritage Site management Plans
Jun: Barrows Pits and Ancestors – Martin Green
A History of Almshouses

1999
Mar: Members’ Planning Forum: Salisbury City Centre – the Future
Apr: Talking with Music. Music in Salisbury
May: History and Topography of the Water meadows at Harnham
Jun: AGM + History and Restoration of the Kennet and Avon Canal

1998
Jan: Use of Lime in Historic Buildings
Feb: The Future of National Trust
Mar: The Hazards of Managing Household Waste
May: AGM + The Theatre in Salisbury
Oct: Financial Management of the Cathedral
Nov: The Civil War in Wiltshire

1997
Jan: Wren hall – past and present
Feb: Rural Development Commission
Mar: Restoration of Wilton House
Apr: Farming Around Salisbury for the last Forty Years
Dec: Salisbury Industrial Heritage

1996
Jan: Running the Salisbury Festival
Feb: Textile Conservation – Sharon Manitta
Mar: Excavations of medieval Salisbury
Apr: History of the Post Office
Oct: Updating Pevsner in New Forest, Romsey and Avon Valley
Nov: Old and New Buildings in Salisbury

VISITS & PLAQUES from 1996 – 2016 

2013
Apr: Visits to the Cathedral Library
Jul: Mystery Visit to Houghton Lodge

2012
Apr: Visit to Tisbury with Rex Sawyer Local Historian
May: Becketts Vineyard, West Lavington Talk, Tour, Tasting & Nibbles
Jun: Development Committee Mystery Visit to Wilbury House
Sep: Visit to Romsey with Romsey Local History Society (cancelled)

2011
Apr: Visit to Southampton (cancelled)
May: Visit/Walk relating to Constable Exhibition at Salisbury & South Wilts Museum
Jun: Visit to Cathedral Flower Festival (cancelled)
Jul: Michael Hallam’s Mystery Visit with a pub lunch
Sep: Visit to Langford Lakes

2010
Apr: Housing Development & Airfield at Old Sarum
May: Visit to Guildford
Jul: Charles Villiers Mystery Visit and Supper
Sep: Liminality Exhibition Salisbury Cathedral
Oct: Embley Park, childhood home of Florence Nightingale & East Wellow Church

2009
Mar: Studio Theatre “Afterwards”
Jun: Special Access Visit to Stonehenge plus breakfast
Jul: Walk ‘Turner in Salisbury’
Jul: Don & Judi Cross Mystery Visit & Supper
Aug: Higher Stavordale Farm

2008
Apr: Visit to Devizes
Jun, Jul & Aug: Themed Walks in the Close Area – Artists, Literature, Architecture
Jun: Visit to Cathedral Flower Festival
Jul: Chairman General Purposes Committee’s Mystery Visit to Milton Abbey
Aug: Stonehenge Project Excavations

2007
May: Weald & Downland Museum
Jun: Ginger Piggery at Boyton Farm,
Jul: Chairman’s Mystery Visit to Norrington Manor & St Mary Church Alvediston
Aug: Wilton House – parts of Gardens not normally open to the public
Oct: Royal Holloway, University of London (cancelled)

2006
Apr: Kennet & Avon Canal
May: Longford Castle
Jun: Poole as Guests of Poole Men’s Society
Jul: Vice-Chairman’s Mystery Visit to Langford Church & Manor
Sep: Behind the Scenes at the Museum

2005
Apr: Downton Moot
Apr: Behind the Scenes Salisbury Playhouse
May: Kennet & Avon Canal
Jun: Southampton
Jul: Secretary’s visit to Roche Court
Sep: Solstice Park

2004
Apr: Portsmouth
May: Christchurch (postponed)
Jun: Farley Village
Jul: President’s visit to the Chalke Valley
Sep: Rockbourne Roman Villa

2003
March: Waitrose Supermarket
April: Dorchester – guests of Dorchester Civic Society
June: Breamore Village
July: Tollard Royal
Sept: Old Manor Hospital
October: Wessex Archaeology
Chapel Night Club / former Elim Church

2002
May: Ebbleswade Courtyard and Harpsichord Workshop
June: Salisbury Racecourse
July: 11 Redundant Churches in the Wylye Valley.
Sept: Medieval and 17th Century Frome

2001
May: Winchester
Jun: Salisbury Close
Jul: Whitchurch Silk Mill and Wooldings Vineyard

2000
May: Poundbury Village, Dorchester
Jun: Houses of the Cathedral Close – four
Jul: Martin Green’s Museum – archaeological and geological
Sep: Romsey – guests of Romsey and District Civic Society

1999
Mar: BBC Radio Solent in Southampton
Jun: Defence Evaluation and Research Agency – Boscombe Down
Jul: Kennet and Avon Canal
Oct: Salisbury College

1998
Apr: Trafalgar Park on St George’s Day
May: Downton Tannery and the Moot
Jun: Porton Down – archaeological sites
Jul: Bryanston School and Blandford with Blandford Civic Society

1997
May: Ordnance Survey Headquarters
Jun: Cathedral’s West Front and Workshops
Jul: Walk in Broad Chalke
Oct: Marks and Spencer – behind the scenes

1996
May: Sherborne Abbey, Almshouse and Castle
Jul: Wilton Carpet Factory and Lord Congleton’s garden
Jul: Nature Walk in New forest
Aug: Longford Castle
Sep: Houses in St Ann Street – four private houses opened