Gloucestershire Family History Society

22/01/2026

Last week we looked at what our searchroom looked like in 2005, so lets look back even further to c.1963! Does anyone recognise the painting in the background?

(Photograph reference: GPS/154/32)

17/01/2026

The next Open Day at the Hub is called Love, Laughter, and Ever After, aligning with Valentine's day, and is all about records relating to love and romance.

The event will run from 13:00 - 15:00, featuring a talk at 13:30, for which booking is essential.

https://www.heritagehub.org.uk/events/love-laughter-and-ever-after/

The Family History Centre will be open for research from 10am to 4pm that day
Our secondhand book stall will be available

An event all about records relating to love and romance within collections at Gloucestershire Archives.

15/01/2026

Check out our latest blog post written by one of our volunteers. In the blog she talks about the work she and other volunteers are doing to transcribe the diaries of Emily, Mary and William Blathwayt.

Read more: https://orlo.uk/V58zF

15/01/2026

Want to spend some time in nature? Come along to the Heritage Hub Community Garden for Soil and Soup Saturdays! 🌳

Every third Saturday of the month, Project Grow is delivering a warm, welcoming series where we learn simple growing skills, meet new neighbours, and enjoy a hearty bowl of soup together to celebrate our efforts.

The next get-together will be on Saturday 17th January from 10:00-13:30.

This workshop will focus on taste and nutrient density testing in vegetables. Can our taste buds tell us what good food tastes like? A science experiment will be conducted to measure and explore. Plus—time to clear winter out of the garden and prepare for warmer days! And not to forget eating soup too! 🥣

Please come and join, tell a friend, learn some skills, share time in nature and drink tea.

Save the date for all upcoming sessions: 17th January, 21st February and 21st March.

12/01/2026

Our next online event will be a talk by Sean Callery, called 'A Cotswold Cornucopia', a whirlwind tour of 10 famous Cotswold Town and Villages.

https://gfhs.org.uk/event/a-cotswold-cornucopia-sean-callery/

(the image is of Edwards Collge, in South Cerney)

11/01/2026

One for the diary.....

23/12/2025

Meysey Hampton - continued

In the National Gazetteer of 1868, there were not one, but two village schools. The British School, established in by the Baptists, and the National School.

22/12/2025

📜 Interested in family history? John Putley will be joining us at The Tuesday Club for an introduction to Gloucestershire Archives and the records available.

📍Stow-on-the-Wold Library
📅 Tuesday 27 January | 11am - 12pm
🎫 Tickets are free, but please book ahead where possible

https://gloslibraries.uk/event/stow-wold-library-tuesday-club-gloucestershire-archives-special-27-01-2026

From February 2026, The Tuesday Club will be meeting on the first and third Tuesday of the month, and you can come along as as often as you choose for a coffee, chat and a warm welcome.

21/12/2025

Meysey Hampton - continued

The interest of Local History (to me, anyway) is the sudden discovery of fascinating glimpses of the past, where one least expects it.

The Baptist chapel, built by William Thomas of Fairford, is a case in point. His wife, Eliza Anne Thomas, was the daughter of a celebrated Baptist missionary who worked in India. His daughter, Sarah, married Captain Thomas Milbourne, who was closely involved in (Baptist missionary work in Africa). His first marriage was to Catherine Knibb, the daughter of the celebrated abolitionist, William Knibb.

Sarah's diary was found long after her death, and was transcribed and published by a member of Fairford Local History Society, June R Lewis.

The image of the only pub in the parish - the Masons Arms.