June 2025 Meeting: Industrial Archaeology in your attic, garage and shed by Bill King
A light-hearted examination of what the articles to be found around the average home tell us about the Industrial Archaeology of Britain.
As materials and technology advance, each era can be defined by its products and devices. They surround us in our everyday lives - but we don’t necessarily identify them as such or recognise the improvements they make to society.
May 2025 Meeting: Treasures of Upton House by Tony Mawbey
Lord and Lady Bearsted at Upton House were 1930s millionaires, earning their money through the family founding the Shell Oil Company. In addition to local philanthropic works, they spent their money on a magnificent collection of paintings and china for their weekend retreat. The artists collected ranged through Bruegel, El Greco, Canaletto, Hogarth, Stubbs and Gainsborough. The china collection is 18th century English porcelain from the Chelsea, Bow, Derby and Worcester factories, and from Vincennes and Sèvres in France.
Tonight Tony will show the highlights of his favourite pieces, tracing their history and their place in the collection. Upton House is now in the care of the National Trust.
April 2025 Meeting: John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough by Gill White
An illustrated talk by Dr Gillian White
John Churchill successfully navigated the torrid world of late Stuart politics, achieved huge success for his country on the battlefield, and was then toppled as the political sands shifted. We’ll meet a strategist who manoeuvred troops with confidence and audacity, a man of conscience who committed treason for his faith, and an ambitious gambler who played the game of court politics with flair and determination. We meet the women who helped and supported him: a sister, a lover, a wife and a queen.
A national hero but no saint
March 2025 Meeting: The History of the Double Bass by George Martin
Father-and-son team Thomas and George are known over the world as Thomas and George Violin Makers, with workshops in Williamscot. They have a long tradition of making, restoring and dealing in all things double bass. Tom is also an internationally renowned soloist and orchestral player. Together they reveal the traditions and techniques involved in this centuries-old and skilled craft. How do double basses work? Who made the best ones? What tools are used? How do different woods sound? Do different ways of making affect the sound?
February 2025 Meeting: The Notorious Culworth Gang of South Northamptonshire by Richard Blacklee
The true story of a vicious gang of eighteenth century highwaymen and robbers who terrorised south Northamptonshire and adjoining counties for an unprecedented period of fifteen to twenty years. Richard will introduce the leading members of the Culworth Gang and relate the circumstances of their downfall and ultimately what became of them.
He will also explain the location of Culworth in a historical context and identify where many of the recorded crimes took place. Could Cropredy have been one of their targets?
November 2024 Meeting
Gill White, Bess of Hardwick and Hardwick Hall.
Bess of Hardwick is one of the most fascinating women of the 16th century, and her most famous building, Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire, survives as a fine example of Elizabethan creativity, magnificence and pride. This talk outlines Bess’s remarkable life and then explores the architecture and contents of Hardwick Hall , surely her lasting monument.
Battle Weekend
380th Anniversary of the Battle of Cropredy Bridge. The Sealed Knot will return to Cropredy for a late summer Bank Holiday spectacular. An event that sees hundreds of reenactors take to the battlefield to commemorate and explore the events of 1644. An exhibition is also planned in Cropredy Village Hall. More details to follow.
June 2024 Meeting
Marie-Louise Kerr returns to compare and contrast the lives, works, businesses and legacy of the artist William Morris and the car manufacturer Willam Morris, Viscount Nuffield, and their shared links with Oxfordshire.