Congresbury
History Group
Congresbury History Group
was formed in September 1982 to increase and stimulate interest in
local history, and to encourage the conservation of documents and
artefacts of local historical interest. Anyone who shares these
interests and supports these aims is welcome to join us .
We hold
monthly meetings in Congresbury from September to April, and
guided outdoor walks and expeditions from May to July. The
illustrated talks at our meetings range over a wide variety of
subjects of local, or more general, historical interest.
Congresbury is the reputed burial-place of St Congar, and we
celebrate St Congar’s Day, 27 November, with a St Congar’s
Dinner.
We have
published many illustrated books on Congresbury: about its
trades, its pubs, its railway, its floods, its wartime experience,
etc, etc, although they are so popular that not many copies are
left in stock.
At the 2005 Village Fete we launched our latest book, Stand & Deliver, The History of Congresbury Crime. from 1242 to date. A4 fully illustrated, 50 pages, £3, obtainable from Day Lewis, the pharmacy, and from Mendip Art, both in Broad Street, Congresbury. Or it can be ordered by post from Mike Bedingfield, The Barn, Silver Street, Congresbury BS49 5EY for £3.70 including p&p. (Cheques payable to Congresbury History Group please.
Still
available also are:
Arthur’s
Village (122
pages £5)
Guided
Walk Round Historic Congresbury (free
leaflet)
Congresbury as ‘twas (44 pages
£3)
The
Refectory, Congresbury (12 pages
60p) (published for The Friends of St Andrews
Church)
Stand & Deliver
A History of Congresbury Crime (44 pages £3)
Congresbury Memories, by Ivor Standen
(48 pages, well illustrated, £4)
We have a
growing collection of documents, photographs, and artefacts about
Congresbury, and a number of films, now on video, of Congresbury
in recent decades, taken by the late Ray Attwell. Our
occasional film shows are very popular.
Have you got any old
photographs of Congresbury that might be suitable for one of
our books? We should be grateful to borrow and copy them, whether for a book, an exhibition, or our archives. We welcome the loan,
or gift, of any photos of Congresbury at any time.
Please phone the Vice-Chairman,
Gill Bedingfield (see
below).
Anyone with an
enquiry about Congresbury history may email us care of
rogerhards@parkhyde.go-plus.net
or
chriscongar@hotmail.com
but we don’t
know everything! and we can’t guarantee to be able to help. The
Group is run by unpaid volunteers, all busy people, and if much
local research is necessary to provide an answer, or any expense
likely to be involved, we must ask for an agreed advance payment
to the Group please. Note also that we are a local history
group, not a family history group, and family research is outside
our scope.
Watch
this space for our programmes; here is the current one:
Summer Walks Programme 2008
Members free. £1 per event for non-members.
Wednesday 14 May
A walk
round Bedminster with Anton Bantock
meet 6.30pm at Congresbury Cross
or 7pm outside London Inn, at junction of West St & East St,
Bedminster.
|
Wednesday 18 June
A
visit to Arnos Vale
meet 5.45pm at the Congresbury Cross (to leave at 5.50)
or
promptly at 6.30 at Arnos Vale main gate£3
per head. The full heritage tour lasts for about 2 hours.
Some paths have uphill sections & can be muddy depending upon
the weather (even in June!).
There is no protection from the weather during the tour - wear
outdoor clothing appropriate for the weather on the day
including sensible footwear.
There are no public toilets in the Cemetery (there will be
when the restoration programme is complete!). The nearest
toilets are in the Bocabar bar/cafe which is about 100yds
along the Bath Road (towards Bristol) on the opposite side of
the road from the cemetery gates.... a good place to go for
refreshment perhaps after the tour at about 9.30?
The
restoration programme is due to be in full swing by June 2008
- this will mean that parking within the cemetery may be
significantly restricted.
It is necessary to lock the cemetery gates during the evening
tour - unannounced late arrivals will not be able to get in!
|
|
Wednesday 16 July
Taylor’s Wood with Chris Richard
meet 6.45pm at the Cross or 7pm at the Congresbury end of
Wrington Road (where it meets the A370)
Taylors Wood is full of surprises, from Roman remains, to
floral delights.
Involves a climb up one hill. Stout footwear recommended.
Everyone welcome
|
Everyone
welcome
Membership £6 a year beginning September,
or £1 per meeting.
So that we can send as many programmes as possible by email in future
please send your email address to rogerhards@parkhyde.go-plus.net
Congresbury
History Group
| Chairman: |
Chris
Short |
(01934)
833764 |
| Vice-Chairman: |
Gill
Bedingfield |
(01934)
876009 |
| Secretaries: |
Anne Dimmock |
(01934)
838891 |
|
Ann Gunner |
(01934)
852701 |
| Treasurer: |
Roger
Hards |
(01934)
834780 |
| Publications: |
Mike
Bedingfield |
(01934)
876009 |