The membership year begins on 1 October. Existing and new members can renew or join any time from 1 September.
The membership 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 newsletter issue. 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.
14 October, St Mary’s Church Hall, 7.30pm.
Four Hundred Years of Stroudwater Mills: a talk by Ann Taylor.
The Stroud area has for centuries been a centre for the woollen industry, not least because of the fast-flowing streams that provided power for mills. It was once famous for military uniforms and quality Saville Row material and is still a dominant force in the world markets for tennis and snooker cloth.
Ann Taylor will explain the processes involved in producing fine woollen cloth and trace the changes in the mills resulting from the Industrial Revolution and the introduction of synthetic fibres.
Ann is a retired Education Officer from Stroud Museum and a busy volunteer and Trustee of the Textile Trust. She was also one of the organisers of the beautiful walled garden at Stroud Museum.
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:
14th October 2025
400 Years of Stroudwater Mills
Ann Taylor
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.
Following a talk about Acton Court last autumn, the Society's summer visit this year aimed to give members a closer view of this important Tudor building. Stan Morrissey’s report is here:
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. |
Because of recent retirements from the committee, we need more members to ensure that the monthly talks run smoothly.
If you would like to help, please tell the committee via our contact form or speak to one of us at the next meeting so we can tell you more about what we do.
We’re a friendly bunch, and more hands make light work!
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