Sundials: a field guide to the notable dials in Berkshire, their history, uses and (some) geometry

Parish Room, St. John’s Church St. John’s Road, Newbury, Berkshire, United Kingdom

The talk will include an examination of sundials in Lockinge (which was in Berkshire until 1974), Bucklebury, Stockcross, Reading, Newbury, Avington (near Hungerford) and Crowthorne. Notable local makers include John Blagrave of Reading, David Pawley and John Singleton (all of Newbury) and David Harber of Blewbury. To that list of sundial inventors and makers can […]

Lord Falkland, his life, times, death and memorial

Parish Room, St. John’s Church St. John’s Road, Newbury, Berkshire, United Kingdom

There must be many people in West Berkshire who pass the massive granite obelisk at the top of ‘Wash Hill’ and have little or no idea of its origins, the man it was named after or even any connection with the Falkland Islands. Having become immersed in the story of the First Battle of Newbury […]

The Town and Manor of Hungerford

Parish Room, St. John’s Church St. John’s Road, Newbury, Berkshire, United Kingdom

The Town and Manor of Hungerford and Liberty of Sanden Fee is a charity (formed in 1908) that protects the local countryside and a wonderful ancient set of rights, for the Commoners and people of Hungerford. The modern estate managed by the Trustees comprises 423 acres (171 hectares) of land including Hungerford Common, Freeman’s Marsh […]

A brief history of Thatcham

Parish Room, St. John’s Church St. John’s Road, Newbury, Berkshire, United Kingdom

The talk will look at the history of the parish from evidence of early humans in the Palaeolithic, through the birth of the modern town to the present. Important events that shaped the development of Thatcham will be discussed, key buildings will be looked at and the origin of the name. The talk will give […]

Reflections on a Museum Career

Parish Room, St. John’s Church St. John’s Road, Newbury, Berkshire, United Kingdom

Eric Turner will give a brief overview of his career as an art historian, firstly as a porter in Sotheby’s, followed by his career as a curator in the Victoria and Albert Museum. His talk will focus on how both these institutions have responded to changing tastes and markets over the last 50 years. Eric […]

My journey in sculpture: Johannes Von Stumm

Parish Room, St. John’s Church St. John’s Road, Newbury, Berkshire, United Kingdom

A talk by sculptor Johannes von Stumm, which relates the journey of how his work developed. He started making sculptures combining glass, stone and metal; but in trying to create larger pieces of glass he had to accept the technical limitations. Replacing glass with empty space led him in the early years of the 21st […]

Visit to the police museum at Sulhamstead

Thames Valley Police Museum 3 North Drive, Sulhamstead, Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom

The Society is restricted to 25 places for this guided tour. There is a nominal charge of £3 per head. Further details to follow.

A history of milling in 30 objects

Parish Room, St. John’s Church St. John’s Road, Newbury, Berkshire, United Kingdom

Nathanael Hodge is from the Reading-based Mills Archive Trust, the national repository for the documentary and photographic records of traditional and contemporary mills and milling.

The Newbury Society Annual General Meeting and review of Newbury in 2024-25

Parish Room, St. John’s Church St. John’s Road, Newbury, Berkshire, United Kingdom

Newbury Society chairman David Peacock will be reviewing the past year, talking about Newbury today, highlighting some of the town's attractions, and discussing the range of challenges it faces.

Action for the River Kennet (ARK) – its work and campaigns

Parish Room, St. John’s Church St. John’s Road, Newbury, Berkshire, United Kingdom

Charlotte Hitchmough  is the director of the Marlborough-based charity which works to conserve, protect, rehabilitate and improve the rivers and other waterbodies of the Kennet and Pang catchments.

Investigations along Ermin Street and the Road to Bath in Roman West Berkshire

Parish Room, St. John’s Church St. John’s Road, Newbury, Berkshire, United Kingdom

The Berkshire Archaeological Society (BAS) has undertaken a number of geophysics surveys along the routes of these two major Roman roads across West Berkshire. Most notably in the area of Wickham, where the Roman Road to Bath is believed to intersect with Ermin Street which connects Silchester to Cirencester. Use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) […]