ALHA is the umbrella group for local history and archaeology societies in Bristol, Bath, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset.
We help member societies by compiling an annual list of recommended speakers, and by publicising societies’ activities through our newsletter and website. We organise a local history study day each year, and our AGM is accompanied by a lecture with a distinguished speaker.
Each year we publish 3-
We have strong links with the Regional History Centre at the University of the West of England, and with the libraries, archives, museums and other organisations in our area.
We offer both Society and individual membership, and further details can be found here..
Click on About Us for how to contact ALHA
Click on Publications for information about our publishing programme, and how you can contribute to the written history of our area.
Click on Events for details of the meetings, walks and other activities organised by our member societies.
Click on Groups for links to our member societies, and details of what they do and how you can contact them.
Click on Archive for back copies of ALHA publications “Quest” and “Avon Past”, and for issues of the Newsletter and monthly Update.
News and Forthcoming Events
End of March 2021 Newsletter now available
The Newsletter published on 31 March, is now available, and is packed with interesting news and opinion. It can be downloaded here.
Previous Newsletters, and monthly updates, and other ALHA publications over the past 44 years, are all available for download in the Archive section of the website.
Diary of Events
Some groups have started making arrangements for meetings after the end of the pandemic, and these can be found on the Events page.
If your group is a member of ALHA and you would like to see your events listed, please send them to the webmaster.
Forthcoming Online History Events which are Publicly Available
Click on the link below for more detail and registration instructions. The website of the organisation may also have details of talks later in the year.
12 -
This field school includes two online introductory sessions and a full day excavating at a Roman villa site in Doynton, South Gloucestershire with local archaeology company Archeoscan. Tickets cost vary £55 -
21 April 2021 BALH Digital Webinar : Creating Your Local History Website
Paul Carter
British Association for Local History
28 April 2021 Archaeology Online: What is missing from the Bayeux Tapestry?
Michael Lewis
29 April 2021 BALH Local History Hour: Women's Lives in Early Modern Documents
Dr Sarah-
British Association for Local History
5 May 2021 BALH Digital Webinar : The Pleasures and Pitfalls of Researching Disability History
Phillipa Vincent-
British Association for Local History
8 May 2021 BALH Digital Webinar : Archiving Your Local History Collection
Dr Ellie Pridgeon
British Association for Local History
12 May 2021 BALH Digital Webinar : How to Self-
John Chandler
British Association for Local History
12 May 2021 Unbuilt Bristol
Eugene Byrne
Bristol Historical Association
12 May 2021 Guilty Pleasures
Chris Bigg
e-
Blagdon Local History Society 7.30
Podcasts -
A series of local oral history podcasts made by Marcus Smith with BCfm, in partnership with Bristol24/7, Bristol Museums, Bristol Archives, UWE Bristol and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Available on Bristol 24/7 and elsewhere
New Publication from ALHA
Surgery in Eighteenth-
by Michael Whitfield.
This study sets sketches of half a dozen Bristol surgeons against the background of medical profession of the time. Technically surgeons ranked below physicians in status, but these men might enjoy great reputation as their apprentice lists and fees demonstrate. Nor was their work limited to surgical intervention; and the detailed and well-
To order a copy of this title, or any other ALHA publication, please go to Publications.
Free Downloads of ALHA publications
As ALHA publications go out of print, we are making them available as pdf files which can be downloaded free of charge. The first two titles are The Bristol Dock Company 1803-
Helping with ALHA
Avon Local History & Genealogy is always looking for volunteers to help with its activities and decision making. If you would likje to become a Trustee and join the executive committee, please contact the secretary.
ALHA - digitisation
As part of the ALHA Grants Programme, a sum of money has been allocated for the digitisation of local history books and other material, in support of the Bristol Record Society programme detailed below. We are therefore inviting suggestions of suitable items, which should be out of print and out of copyright. Ideas from ALHA groups and members should be sent to the Treasurer.
Bristol Record Society - digitisation programme
Since 2015, Bristol Record Society has been working on a programme of digitisation, in line with its core mission to make available materials needed for studying the history of our extraordinary city. While the Society began this initiative with the electronic publication of its own volumes, it has now moved on to other primary sources and scholarly works.
In association with the Bristol Branch of the Historical Association, the BRS digitised and e-
In the last year, the Society has also e-
Details of the items recently digitised are in the Archive section of the ALHA website, together with information about other digitisation initiative concerned with the history of our area.
Ian Bishop Books
Many people will know of the range of books written and published by local author Ian Bishop, particularly the volumes of old photographs of various Bristol suburbs, some of the villages on the fringes of the City and further out in South Glos., North Somerset and Bath & North-
Bristol & Avon Family History Society has sold these books for many years and following contact with his family about the remaining stock, are delighted to continue to be the main outlet for his many titles, some of which are now in short supply.
The picture books cover Pucklechurch; Marshfield; Warmley; Mangotsfield; Bitton; Saltford; Keynsham; Kingswood; Oldland; Staple Hill; Downend; Frenchay; Hambrook; Hanham; Harptree; Pensford; Yate & the Sodburys; Nailsea; Yatton; Winterbourne; Iron Acton; Frampton Cotterell; Timsbury; High Littleton; Hallatrow; Farrington Gurney; Clandown, Radstock & Kilmersdon; most include nearby settlements as well. There is also a volume on Trains -
His narrative books are more detailed, the histories of Longwell Green and Oldland Common with their surrounding parishes and ‘Stories from St Philip’s’. Finally there is the story of the Cock Road Gang (Caines family of Bitton and Oldland).
More details of these and how to buy copies – while limited stocks last – can be found in the shop section at www.bafhs.org.uk.
The Bristol & Gloucestershire Archaeological Society
The future BGAS programme can be found at www.bgas.org.uk. All meetings have now been postponed until further notice.
Grants
ALHA offers grants to assist local history research, publications, events, conservation and other projects which accord with its charitable objectives. The Committee has wide discretion over the kind of work to be assisted and the terms of the assistance. Recent grants include one to support the publication of volumes of the Victoria County History to cover parts of Gloucestershire.
Details of the conditions and how to apply can be had from the Treasurer.
What’s On at Bristol Museums & Archives
Click for details of the exhibitions, tours, walks and other activities taking place in Bristol in future weeks and months.
Heritage events in Bath
Click for details of the exhibitions, tours, and talks taking place in Bath.
The ALHA Summer Walk at Thornbury, August 2019
Follow ALHA on Facebook
Photos
The photo of Chipping Sodbury market was found on the Facebook page entitled Chipping Sodbury Photographs. The photo of Stanton Drew Stone Circle is by Michael Day and is taken from flickr. The photo of the Netham Lock in Bristol was taken by the webmaster. Click on each photo to see a full-
Avon Local History and Archaeology is a Registered Charity. No. 270930
This website was last updated on Monday, April 19, 2021. If you spot any errors or omissions, please advise the webmaster.
