The Tewkesbury Historical Society

Welcome to our local History Society website

THS was formed in 1991 with the aim of researching and adding to our knowledge of the town of Tewkesbury. The Society meets monthly, usually on the third Thursday, at 7.45 pm in the Methodist Church at The Cross. At these meetings, which are open to non-members, invited speakers talk on some aspect of history. In addition, THS publishes books and an annual Bulletin of Research, to which contributions are invited. The Society also gives members the option of accessing online the Society's extensive Woodard Database of Local History data.

Bulletin 28

Our latest Bulletin for 2019 is now available for purchase. You can buy at discounted rates by contacting John Dixon on 01684 294262 president@tewkesburyhistory.org or purchase via our online Shop, Alison's Bookshop in Tewkesbury also have copies. for sale.

Contents and Information,

Two large scale maps of Tewkesbury from 1811 and 1880

We are proud to present two maps on our site using new zoom and pan technology.
We have the 1811 Enclosure Map of Tewkesbury and the huge 1:500 scale map of Tewkesbury created in the 1880s, both full of amazing detail. Use your mouse wheel to zoom and left mouse to drag.

Tewkesbury Weather

It is a great talking point but do our impressions agree with statistics? Each month John Dixon will update Rainfall and Temperature Statistics and offer his Monthly Reflections.

Even more Census Data

We are pleased to announce that the Tewkesbury Census Data for 1841 to 1891 has doubled in size. We now have 37,608 people spread over 9,575 property records. Take a look here.

Victoria County History

This newsletter contains information on the latest additions to Gloucestershire material in the series and details of forthcoming meetings.

THS February Meeting

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John Reid with Helen Carver at our February meeting. John gave an illustrated talk on "Funerary Monuments: Gloucestershire's Hidden Gems of World Class Sculpture".

New book by John Dixon: 'Tewkesbury's Two Forgotten Railways!'

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With the support of THS, John Dixon has published his labour of love – Tewkesbury’s Two Forgotten Railways! – along with a reissue of Roger Butwell's 2011 commemoration dvd.

Reviewd by David Aldred:

Social Evening

24 January 2019 at the Hop Pole - was a great success with an attendance of 40.

Gloucestershire Local History Association

The Gloucestershire Local History Association includes representatives from many local history societies in the county, the county archives and local studies centres, and meets quarterly to discuss matters relating to local history in Gloucestershire. Details of events organised by the Association and member organisations may be found on their website:

GLHA Website
Chairman's Report

The 1914-1915 Medal unveils the Rowley Family

The discovery of this medal on 'ebay' and its subsequent purchase by local enthusiasts for presentation to the Town’s Museum unveils some important aspects of World War I.

Friends of Glos. Archives

Archives & Friends
Digital Magazine (PDF)

November Meeting

John Dixon & Peter Dawson

THS Life President, John Dixon, with Peter Dawson who gave an interesting and well attended talk on 'Burgage Plots in Medieval Towns' at our 15 November meeting.

Woodard Award Winner 2018

John Dixon and Barbara Jones

Winners of 2018 Woodard Award are John Dixon and Barbara Jones for their jointly written article 'From Howell's to Hollams [and on to Canada]!'

The article was also shortlisted for the GLHA Jerrard Award

Next Events:

25 Apr2019Thursday7:45pm

Facebook Offline - The Good Old Days in Tewkesbury
- Richard Chatham

11 May2019Saturday11:00am

GLHA History Day

Remarkable Incidents Relative to Tewkesbury

On the 19^th day of July, 1587, being Friday, happened a very great and sudden inundation of the rivers Severn and Avon, insomuch that in two days time the meadows were all overflowed. The inhabitants of Tewkesbury and others going with carriages to fetch the hay out of the neighbouring meadows, were obliged to relinquish their design, and leave the carts loaded behind them. And in the meadows just above the town, the cocks of hay were swimming in such abundance down towards the long bridge, that the townsmen were constrained, with pike-forks and long poles, to stand on the bridge of wood to break the cocks, lest the bridge should be carried away by the force of them. Much grass was found unmowed the Bartholomew tide following, the greater part of which, with much hay, was used for thatch.