11 November, St Mary’s Church Hall, 7.30pm.
From Brycgstow to Bristol in 45 Bridges: a talk by Jeffrey Lucas.
Bristol has 45 bridges spanning its main waterways that can be crossed on foot. Each has a story to tell about the 1000-year history of the city, from its origin as the Anglo-Saxon settlement of Brycgstow (the ‘place of the bridge’) to the present day. Jeff Lucas will illuminate how historical events, trade, transport, communities, engineering and design have resulted in Bristol having so much water and so many bridges.
Jeff is a long-standing member of Bristol Civic Society and was their events organiser for several years. He is a keen amateur photographer and his talk will be illustrated with his own photos as well as archive images.
The Society’s 2025 AGM will be held at 7pm on 11 November in St Mary’s Church Hall, immediately before the talk by Jeff Lucas. As always we hope as many members will attend as possible as we reflect on the past year and look forward to the next.
We need more committee members to ensure that the monthly talks run smoothly. If you would like to help, please approach one of the committee at the AGM or at any meeting. We’re a friendly bunch, and more hands make light work!
Our first meeting of the 2025-26 season on 14 October attracted a full house for a talk on four hundred years of textile manufacture in the Stroud valleys from Ann Taylor and Ian Mackintosh.
Stan Morrissey’s report is here: 
The membership year runs from 1 October.
The subscription for the 2025-26 season is £12.00 or you can come as a visitor for a single meeting by paying £3.50 at the door. There is no reduction for joining part way through the membership year.
Existing members should have received a reminder of how to pay in the September and October issues of our email newsletter.
New members can join by contacting our treasurer through the online contact form , who will respond with bank transfer details. Or you can pay at the first meeting you attend.
Meetings are held at St Mary’s Church Hall, Eastbury Road, Thornbury on the second Tuesday of each month between October and May. They begin at 7.30pm and last about 90 minutes, usually with a break for free refreshments (tea/coffee and biscuits).
Forthcoming meetings in the season:
11th November 2025
AGM
From Brycgstow to Bristol in 45 bridges
Jeff Lucas
9 December 2025
Thornbury Workhouse
Tony Cherry
13 January 2026
Disaster waiting: the Severn Bridge disaster
Paul Barnett
10 February 2026
Princess Cariboo, Almondsbury’s Princess
Tom Sanday
10 March 2026
Edward Jenner and Smallpox
Gareth Williams
14 April 2026
“I predict a Riot”: the real story of the 1831 Bristol uprising
Garry Atterton
12 May 2026
From fortress to family home: Berkeley castle and the Berkeley family
Jane Handoll
This programme may be subject to change.
We have for decades prepared summaries of our talks, which have appeared in the Thornbury Magazine and elsewhere, and which collectively make up an informative and often witty record.
Those for the 2020 to 2025 seasons are now online. See the index here:
More than 80 reports of older meetings may be found on our page on myThornbury:
We were created just after the Second World War under the name of the Society of Thornbury Folk. Nearly 80 years and three changes of name later we’re still here. Read about our history:
These are the current committee members:
| Chair: | Gill Cox | |
| Secretary: | Ann Moore | |
| Treasurer: | John Brimacombe | |
| Members: | Viv Burney, Stan Morrissey. |
If you have any questions regarding the Society or want to become more involved, then please do not hesitate to send us a message through our online contact form:
Follow us on Facebook
See our page on MyThornbury
Some other sites you may find interesting:
Thornbury and District Museum
Thornbury Roots
Avon Local History and Archaeology
Gloucestershire Local History Association
British Association of Local History