The Local History Group usually meets in the afternoon of the 2nd  Wednesday of the month. This might change if the meeting is a guided
walk or talk in a different location Our normal meeting place when we have a visiting speaker, or, when members of the group do short presentations to the rest of the group, is Stockbridge Town Hall.

We have an annual planning meeting and in 2024 we chose several themes of local interest to explore further. These were Entertainment, Art &
Architecture and Crime & Punishment. Following these themes, we set our programme for 2024, and this led to a varied but very interesting series of talks by guest speakers, by our group members and to guided tours in our
area, or nearby:

For 2025 we continued with these themes, with the addition of Notable People from this area or close by. Our meetings have been diverse but all very interesting! Erica Tinsley a local Historian got the year off at a gallop with a talk on the History of Andover’s Coaching Inns: this was Architecture, Entertainment, Crime & Punishment all in one talk with a history of the development of the local road networks as well. It was fascinating! Then Hampshire Wardrobe came to visit us in Stockbridge and in the special year for Jane Austen they bought some Regency Costumes to talk about – but it was much more than just history – the presentation was also about how these costumes can be used to help children in our community with social and learning difficulties, and the very important work that is carried out in this area by the staff of this little known part of the Hampshire Cultural Trust. Members have produced presentations for the group – a local member
talked about his career in the legal profession. Other members produced a talk about the family of Jane Austen and what was involved in becoming a published writer in her lifetime. We are going to finish the year with more group presentations on the career of a local Test Pilot from Chilbolton, a world-renowned surgeon who lived in Goodworth Clatford and the GP from Broughton who created a unique archive of life in the village at that time.

Our visits have focused on Art and Architecture this year. As a group we have been to Eling Tide Mill. One, of only two working tide mills left in the UK, we were given a very detailed guided talk. Our next tour was a guided walk in Salisbury around the Cathedral and the Close in the footsteps of John Constable RA, who spent many years visiting and painting in this area.

Our last tour was to Salisbury Cathedral again to visit two specialist areas who have maintained the art and the architecture of the Cathedral for hundreds of years with current workers still following many traditional practices going back over time - the Stonemason’s Yard and the Stained-Glass Workshop.

We look forward to more interesting talks, visits and member’s
presentations in 2026.
Please contact Di Lane if you would like to join the group.