Talks are held at the Ashcroft Church, Ashcroft Road, Cirencester GL7 1RA unless indicated otherwise. (See the red dot in the adjacent map.)
Talks start promptly at 7:30pm.
Lectures & Meetings Programme
Lectures are held at
Ashcroft Church, Ashcroft Road, Cirencester GL7 1RA unless indicated otherwise.
Lectures start promptly at 7.30pm.
Lectures are free to members and students in full-time education.
Non-members – £5
Visitors are always welcome.
membership@cirenhistory.org.uk
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Facebook.com/cirenhistory
Autumn 2026 – Summer 2027
Wednesday 23rd September 2026
RAF Brize Norton – Over 80 years of Flying Operations
Trevor Jackson
Trevor served in the RAF for 29 years, of which 17 years were served in the ranks, with a further 12 years as a Commissioned Officer. In this talk Trevor explores the history of RAF Brize Norton, from its first inception in the 1930s, through World War II, the Cold War and various modern conflicts up to the present day.
Wednesday 28th October 2026
Brunel, Cirencester and the Golden Age of Rail
Tim Bryan
PLEASE NOTE EARLIER START TIME of 7PM
A History Festival event sponsored by CAHS. 30 free places available for members – reserve by email cahs@cirenhistory.org.uk or go to Cirencester History Festival for ticket sales.
Tim Bryan, historian and former curator of STEAM and the Brunel Institute, tells the fascinating story of our branch line. Discover how Cirencester formed part of Brunel’s bold vision for a railway empire and follow the story of the line’s growth, decline and lasting impact on the town. A companion talk to last year’s Old Station Experience, to be followed by signings of Tim’s book, ‘Iron, Stone and Steam’.
Wednesday 25th November 2026
The Work of the MOD War Detectives
Alexia Clark
Alexia is a member of the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre team, based at Imjin Barracks, Gloucester. Her talk is about the work of the detectives who are tasked with identifying missing British Service Personnel from the two World Wars and the Korean War. The team conducts research and genealogy and facilitates DNA testing as part of their investigative work before rededicating graves or ensuring a dignified
burial.
Wednesday 27th January 2027
What is geoarchaeology?
Talk to be given by an Experienced Commercial
Geoarchaeologist
A joint meeting with Cirencester Science and Technology Society. A talk on the scientific background to geoarchaeology and how it can be used to reconstruct past environments and provide a better understanding of an archaeological landscape.
Wednesday 24th February 2027
The Annual Croome Lecture – PARISH CHURCH, 7.30pm
In Search of Caratacus: Great King of Britain
Dr Miles Russell FSA
Caratacus was an Iron Age British king who fought against Rome, organising resistance from the Thames estuary to the mountains of Snowdonia. Following his death, he was celebrated in literature and praise poems more than any other war leader. This talk reassesses the life and deeds of Caratacus, using archaeology to provide context for the king and his battles against Rome, explaining how his story became legend.
Wednesday 24th March 2027
Principles of Field Archaeology and the Poole Project
Phil Trim
Phil’s talk will detail the excavation into the ancient wetland environment at Arne, Dorset, and the evidence for Roman-British pottery production, as seen on BBC Digging For Britain. He will discuss a unique Bronze Age find and the results of experimental archaeology examining the Black Burnished Ware kiln technology discovered on site.
Wednesday 28th April 2027
‘þen hentes he þe healme’:
The Symbolic Significance of Medieval Armour
Robert W. Jones PhD, FRHistS
The armour of the knight could save his life, protecting him from sword, spear and arrow. But it was much more than that. In this talk, Dr Rob Jones, a medieval historian specialising in the social and cultural history of medieval warfare, considers how it also marked his identity and his status, and altered his psychology as he prepared to go to war.
Wednesday 26th May 2027
Annual General Meeting followed by
Tolkien and the Cotswolds – the shaping of Middle Earth
Andy Meller
When he discovered that Tolkien’s wife Edith was born in Arthur Street, Gloucester, Andy began to delve deeper and soon realised just how much Gloucestershire had played a part in Tolkien's personal and literary life. This talk examines the lives of Ronald and Edith Tolkien and will consider how Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds shaped their lives and those of Tolkien’s characters.
The Society is a registered charity – No 287289
CAHS Subscription Rates:
Single membership £11.00 (£10 by standing order)
Joint membership £17.00 (£15 by standing order)
Lectures are free to members and students in full-time education.
Non-members – £5
Visitors are always welcome.