We are a very active society, with around 250 members and a regular attendance of 80 at our monthly talks. Our members have undertaken research projects on a variety of topics, some leading to publications such as ‘Campden: A New History’ (2005)
Talks
We have a varied programme of monthly talks, generally with an outside speaker, from September to April. Recent topics have included the Vikings, the Knights Templar, Archaeological finds in Gloucestershire, Migration patterns in the mediaeval period, the Campden Inclosure Acts and War Memorials of the Great War.
These talks take place in Campden Town Hall on Thursday evenings at 7.30pm.
Local and Family History
If you are interested in the history of the local area, your house and the families who lived there then LFH could be for you. We have a varied programme of informal presentations and exchange information and ideas for research. The majority of our talks are given by members, on a topic of local or family interest. If you have a story to contribute or a query about your family’s history, do get in touch or come along to a meeting. Many people with a local family connection come along to the meetings but even if there is no family connection, local residents with an interest in the history of their house and the people who lived there also take part in research and activities.
LFH meetings are normally held in The Court Room, Old Police Station on Tuesday evenings (January to May and September to November). All meetings start at 7.30pm. Everyone is welcome to attend. There is a small charge of £1 to cover the cost of tea/coffee.
Outings and events
In recent years outings to places of historical interest have been organised; as part of our Campden House research project we visited great houses built in the Jacobean period – Aston Hall, Apethorpe Palace and Hatfield House. Other events are occasionally planned to promote particular activities, such as the Heritage Open Day in 2018 in the grounds of old Campden House, or Coffee Mornings to promote an Exhibition.
Examples of activities undertaken by volunteers
- Translation of the WWII Diary of Klaus Behr, a German Prisoner of War at Springhill Camp by volunteers in England and Germany
- An archaeological excavation in the gardens of the Almshouses
- Developing a “Schools” project to create a community archive website for Campden (Grammar) School
- Transcribing Campden Wills and Inventories from 1550-1850
- Cleaning and scanning nearly 300 Jesse Taylor photographic plates
- Research into the history of houses in Broad Campden and Park Road in Campden
- Maintaining our website and social media
- Cataloguing items in the CCHS Archive
- Researching and writing and editing publications, such as our journal ‘Signpost’ and books and leaflets.
