The Newbury Society
Protecting the architecture and promoting the history of the market town Newbury for all who live there, work in it or visit it
A History of Newbury’s Breweries, from the earliest records to the final demise of the industry in the town. A lavishly illustrated talk piecing together the fascinating and often complicated history of the descent of these businesses large and small. Phil Wood, an enthusiastic local historian, is President of the Newbury District Field Club. For […]
The Draft Newbury Town Centre Area Appraisal and Management Plan (NTCCAAMP) was issued on 12 January. West Berkshire Council has opened the consultation phase to all residents, the community at large and stakeholders. The consultation period closes on 23 February 2023. This provides a very limited window of opportunity in which to submit any objections […]
A look at four characters of note from Penny's latest book - Georgian Newbury. Penny Stokes has lived in the Newbury area for 40 years, during which time she has researched, written and published on numerous places, people and events of West Berkshire. Twenty years ago she gained a MSc in English Local History from […]
The current Lord-Lieutenant will talk about what the role entails, the history of the office, how Lord-Lieutenants are appointed and his experiences in the role, the many high points and one low point. Mr Puxley was High Sheriff of the Royal County of Berkshire from 2000 to 2001. He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant in […]
The Berkshire Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) took over the management of West Berkshire Council's main countryside sites, including Snelsmore and Greenham commons and the Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre, at the beginning of 2014. Simon will be reviewing the way in which the management of the sites has evolved since then and highlighting some […]
A summer social event marking 50 years of the Newbury Society. Open to society members and their accompanied guests. Tickets are £10 per head. For further details contact Graham Smith at newburysoc.secretary@gmail.com
An illustrated talk which will look at the life and work of some local artists, as well as the depictions of local scenes by others. It will include fine and decorative art, with the emphasis on the former. Among the artists covered will be JMW Turner, Joseph Toomer (thrice Mayor of Newbury), William Gore, Fred […]
Dr David Peacock traces the history of Donnington Castle, from its manorial origins in 1287, the licence awarded to Richard Abberbury 'to crenellate and fortify' in 1386, through to the Civil War period and beyond.
“Road by Road books – Inspiration, Research and Publication” Roy Tubb R. B. Tubb is the author of seven local history books, several organised in a road-by-road format, and covering Thatcham, Cold Ash, Greenham, Shaw, Speen and Stockcross, as well as the distinctive publication Newbury Road by Road (2011). Roy Tubb is a retired mathematics […]
“The Craven story” Clive Williams 'This is the rags to riches to rags story of the Craven family. They came from nowhere in the C16th to become one of the richest families in the country in one generation. They then bought up England and then succeeded in losing virtually everything over the next 3 centuries. […]
Camp Hopson was founded in 1921 with the merger of two businesses: a furniture business owned by Joseph Hopson and Camp’s Drapery Bazaar owned by Alfred Camp. The talk will trace the origins of these two family businesses and their amalgamation, resulting in the cherished department store at 6-12 Northbrook Street.