Local Clubs

Appleton with Eaton History Group (AwEHG) The parish of Appleton with Eaton has a long and rich history. Flint tools and remains of Iron Age round houses show that it has been home to humans for thousands of years.  The History Group, formed in 2009, was set up to explore and document that long heritage. We enjoy doing research individually or in small groups, and we share our discoveries at informal meetings. Our interests range from small curiosities and local artefacts to the impact on the community of momentous events of English history: the Conquest, medieval agriculture practices, charities and poor relief, the Civil War, enclosure, and the two World Wars. We love to hear from anyone who has memories of Appleton and Eaton in past times, or old photos and documents to share with us. One of our future goals is to build a photographic collection of people who have lived in the village since photography began, to go alongside our existing collection of local documents.

Meetings

We meet on the first Thursday of the month at 7.30pm in the Village Hall, with Zoom available for those further away or preferring not to meet in person. Do come along or, if you wish to join in online, email Helen Stedman (helen_stedman@yahoo.co.uk) who will send you a Zoom invitation.  Our meetings cover research activities, and  our plans for work and publication, and we often end the evening with a show-and-tell presentation of an interesting document or historical artefact related to the village.

In the summer, the Group goes an evening history walk. In 2015 we walked part of the Medieval Parish boundary; in 2016 we had a guided tour of the building stones of the village led by local geologist Philip Powell; the following year we visited the Badswell and discussed its history. In 2019 we explored the site of the old Besselsleigh Manor prior to that year’s archaeological excavations, and in 2021 we had a tour of the farmhouses of Eaton. We also try to hold one or more public lectures during the year and have had some excellent speakers. In 2022, for example, we heard an informed and well-illustrated talk on the upper Thames during the War.

We have about twenty members but are always looking for new recruits. No previous experience is necessary. We are all learning as we go. Why not come along to one of our meetings? If then you decide you’d like to join us, we have a £5 annual subscription to cover costs.  For further information, contact the chairman David Hine (01865 861931; david.hine@chch.ox.ac.uk) or secretary Roger Gilkes (awehg1@gmail.com).

Forthcoming dates:

2024

Thursday 7th November

Thursday 6th December

2025

Thursday 2nd January

Thursday 6th February

Thursday 6th March

Thursday 3rd April

Thursday 1st May (+ AGM)

Publishing our findings

Each December we produce a new issue of AwEsome Histories, an eclectic mixture of articles written by group members, villagers and guest authors. We have also published two special issues, on the Appleton War Memorial and on the Appleton Church Bells. Copies can be purchased in the Appleton Community Shop.

You can see the contents of all issues of AwEsome Histories here [link to AwEHG Publications.pdf], where you can also find out how to mail-order copies, and how to contribute to future issues. You can also see a list of some of the short articles published by members of the History Group in the Appleton Advertiser and details of how to obtain copies.

Storing our documents

This is a challenge for all local history groups, but important for the work of future historians, be they academic scholars or schoolchildren doing projects on their local community. We have amassed a large amount of digital and physical material and we are currently exploring, with advice from the Centre for Oxfordshire History, the best ways in which it can be stored for future access. Many of the digital materials are of course in copyright, so can only be reproduced with the permission of their original creators or owners, but the chair or secretary will always be happy to advise on who best to approach for particular documents. Our records cover compilations of baptisms, marriages and deaths, census returns, land tax records, Enclosure acts and maps, Tithe Commutation books and maps, Globe Terriers of the C16th-18^th, Vestry papers, Parish Council records, a variety of old maps, indenture documents, oral history records, and so on. We are adding to the collection all the time.

The Appleton Area Archaeological Project (AAARP)

The Appleton Area Archaeological Research Project (AAARP), launched in 2016, has become a highlight among History Group activities. It is a partnership between professional archaeologists Trevor Rowley and Jane Harrison of the Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford; a team of experienced volunteers led by Leigh and Gillian Mellor; enthusiastic rookie archaeologists from the Appleton with Eaton History Group, and specialist researchers in areas such as placename research, historic buildings, and geophysical surveying.

We are working together to investigate the archaeology and history of the parishes of Appleton with Eaton, Besselsleigh, and Fyfield with Tubney. Each year, test pits, geophysical surveys and field walking have given us new insights into how our area used to be in past centuries. All kinds of finds from stone age tools and medieval pottery to Georgian and Victorian ceramics and glass have been found in test pits, 1m square carefully excavated holes that reveal how the ground below us has been worked and disturbed over many generations. We are very grateful to all the villagers and landowners who hosted test pit digs in gardens and fields all around the research area.

Large scale excavations in 2018 and 2019 were held in Broadmoor field near the centre of Appleton, and revealed the site of an Iron Age community, with roundhouses, ditches, and storage pits. Excavations in 2020, 2021 and 2022 took place in Besselsleigh, investigating the site of the medieval manor, home of the Speaker of the House of Commons William Lenthall in the 17^th century, that was demolished in the mid-18^th century. This is a community project, and everyone gets the chance to join in, learning archaeology fieldwork skills with students from the University. The AAARP team have shared their discoveries with us through public lectures and articles in AwEsome Histories.

History Group Gallery

Take a look at our gallery of photos [link to AwEHG Gallery.pdf] from History Group meetings, excavations and events.