Welcome to our history website!
You have reached the Longworth & District History Society website.
The purpose of this site is threefold: to publicise the events and annual outings organised by the Society, to promote our in-house publications and, last but not least, to provide a portal for our history society so that interested parties have a link for information and contact details.
The Society was formed in 1995 and exists to promote the understanding and study of the parish and villages of Longworth, Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor, Hinton Waldrist and the surrounding area.
Area of The Golden Ridge where our villages are situated.
Although we are now situated in Oxfordshire, England, these villages were once situated in North Berkshire, and were moved into Oxfordshire as a result of Local Government Reorganisation in 1974.
Unlocking the Past
The people, history, archaeology, folklore, flora, fauna and geology of the area are all possible areas of activity, which may take the form of meetings, walking tours, talks, education and publication.
On this site, we hope to bring you photographs and our latest news and publications.
Please browse the site to find out what we are about . If you are seeking information on a particular locality or subject, why not use the site search facility or the Community Forum?
When & where we meet
We meet each month. Indoor meetings are usually at 7.30pm on the third Wednesday of the month in Longworth Village Hall or the third Thursday in Southmoor Village Hall.
Our Varied Meetings
We have two different kinds of open evenings to which everyone is welcome. There are evenings with an invited speaker, who generally talks on a topic of very local interest, usually illustrating the talk with slides.
Meetings also include theme evenings hosted by members who have researched a local topic associated with the local villages (Kingston Bagpuize, Southmoor, Longworth and Hinton Waldrist).
Often the material used is from our own growing archive of material - much of which has been gained from about two hundred interviews with local people.
We always welcome new members to the Society - whether Visitors, Individual, Family or Overseas. Membership benefits include free entry to our meetings, and access to our outings and other events. See the Downloadable Application form for details on how to become a member.
Or why not just turn up? You will be made very welcome.
£2 visitors, £7 annual membership (£10 family). Refreshments provided.
Chair: Janet Keene
Secretary: Pam Woodward 01865 820500
Treasurer: Ken Houlton
Publications: Peter Keene