This talk was given on 26 July 2021. Oxford University’s Botanic Garden, the oldest in Britain, was founded in July 1621. Jacob Bobart, the ‘German Prince of Plants’, was the first keeper, famed both for his horticultural skill and his eccentricities. Some of the important visitors and events associated with the Garden will also be featured, including Ashmole, apes, aeronauts and ‘Alice’.
On 12 December 2022 via Zoom: Main theme “Who would you invite to Christmas Dinner and Why? However, if you have other topics you want to discuss e.g. Tips and strategies for searching for people; how you have proven/disproven the family "stories"; leasons learnt over the time you've been researching your family history; strange things found during your research or anything related to Family History you want advice on.
In this talk, delivered on 22 November 2021, Tim Healey created a vibrant portrait of Christmas in a turbulent age, describing Lords of Misrule, Twelfth Night revels, wassails, Boar’s Head feasts, frost fairs on the frozen Thames – and the Puritan ban on Christmas itself.
A review of the talk given by David Annal on Myddelton Street in London on 22 March 2021
Recording of the talk: "A Gentleman would not like it:" The History of Restraint in Mental Health Care by Sarah Chaney given to the society on 25 January 2021.
This was a Hybrid meeting held on 25 March 2024, Speaker: Liz Woolley - In this talk Liz talked about the history of Brewing in the city of Oxford both in the colleges and the town. She examined how & why, dispite Temperance efforts, Oxford's brewing trade flourished.
On 7 September 2020 at a members' show and tell meeting Iain Fraser told us the story of two Williams and the family estate and Scottish castle, and includes the family involvement with the West Indian sugar plantations.
On 9 August John Vigar took us on a virtual tour of some of Oxfordshire Churches and discuss their architecture and furnishings.
24 June 2024 - Hybrid Meeting - AGM followed by Charles Eldridge talking about the fire of Warwick. Charles recently found out about the Great Fire of Warwick in 1694 as part of his family history investigations. This talk will look at why fires started and how town planners changed the design of towns to avoid further fires. It was also look at how those affected by the fire received compensation.
On 13 September 2021 Ian Waller talked to us about the life and work of Agricultural Labourers.
This talk on the 27 September 2021 explored this extraordinary organisation from past to present with reference to the sites and casualties cared for across the world. It began by discussing the conception of the CWGC by its founder and the principles put into place at that time that continue to define what and how they do it.
A Zoom meeting on 10 June 2024 - Where Janet Few will using a series of case studies look at those who may have found themselves on the margins of society and the sources that we can use to trace their stories. The examples used will vary but may include the sick, prostitutes, those accused of crimes, those in asylums, the poor, the illegitimate and others who were stigmatised by society.
On 9 May 2022, this step-by-step guide took us through how to best utilise the tools and facilities provided by Ancestry DNA to improve your techniques to find 3rd and 4th cousins and beyond. These techniques do not require an Ancestry subscription but will be enhanced with a subscription.
Given On 8 August via Zoom: Annoying Ancestors was an anecdotal story of how to search for your ancestors, highlighting the challenges they may knowingly or unknowingly have put in your way. New and experienced researchers will find this talk features obstacles to consider when tracing your ancestors. She hopes that her presentation, Annoying Ancestors, will inspire you to begin or will help reinvigorate your family history journey.
This fully illustrated talk, given on 25 October 2021, looks at the impact of the First World War Armistice and the legacy of the war in local communities. It looks at how the Armistice was celebrated, what happened when soldier returned home and how families managed in the immediate aftermath.
This talk, given on 10 January 2022, examined the village of Bletchingdon(ton) under the Annesley family from approximately 1750 to 1948 through records left in various archives. It showed how manorial, parish, tithe and land records can be integrated with village stories into a more rounded picture of an Oxfordshire village in the 19th century.
24 July 2024 - Hybrid (Exeter Hall & Zoom). This talk will went through the 10 steps to develop an One Place Study with examples and explanations based on the speakers study of Bletchington. Various stories relating to events in the village will be retold. Each One Place Study is unique, but the principles can be applied to any study.
Iain takes us through how with a bit of help from members of OFHS at a previous Zoom meeting he was able to finally solve the problem of who Richard Scarlett, his 3x great grandfather was and where he came from, given to OFHS on 24 August 2020.
The hybrid talk by Trevor Jackson covers the history of Oxford’s cemeteries, how they came about, where they were located and how they came to fill up so quickly early on.
Monday 9 January 2023 - Via Zoom: A look at the program "Charting Companion" and how it can be used to tell your family history with great and original charts.
This is a Hybrid meeting on 23 September 2024 with the talk starting at 8pm (UK Time). Speaker: Simon Townley of the VCH. The talk will look at new work on a swathe of west Oxfordshire parishes stretching from Chastleton on the Gloucestershire border through to Spelsbury and Enstone, via Churchill, Sarsden, and Chadlington.
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The VCH Oxfordshire team is currently researching Chipping Norton and its immediate area, for the next volume in the Oxfordshire series. In this illustrated talk Simon Townley will explore different aspects of Chippy's history, encompassing its medieval origins and castle, the famous Bliss tweed mill, and 19th-century struggles with sewage - along with some long-lasting family names.
On 7 December 2020 following the AGM Simon Fowler and Sylvia Levi told us about some of the food and drink historically linked to the Christmas period.