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”.
News and Forthcoming Events
End of October Newsletter now available
The end of October Newsletter is now available, and can be downloaded here.
Previous Newsletters, and monthly updates, are all available for download in the Archive section of the website.
Diary of Events
The ALHA Diary of Events now appears in a different format. The three website pages showing the diary by date, society and speaker have been replaced by three downloadable pdf files. The files can be easily downloaded and printed, but unfortunately no longer include a clickable hyperlink to the website of the organising society. The three new files are:
Events arranged by name of society
Events arranged by name of speaker
Click on the file you want.
If your group is a member of ALHA and you would like to see events listed, please send them to the webmaster.
Three New Books Published by ALHA
Each title costs £3.50 (plus 65p for p & p). Click for an order form. You can also order and pay online from GENfair.
The Butlers and the Coal-Tar Distillery at 
Crew’s Hole
by Brian Vincent and Raymond Holland
The Crew’s Hole coal-
Brian Vincent, PhD, Dsc, FRSC is emeritus professor and senior research fellow in chemistry at the University of Bristol. To date he has published more than 300 original research papers, review articles and books including ALHA titles (no.18) The Herapaths of Bristol and (no.21) Chemistry in Bristol into the Early Twentieth Century.
Raymond Holland, B.Sc., Vincent’s long-
ALHA No.29
The Surgeons and the Bristol 
School of Artists, by Michael Whitfield
The cover pictures show portraits of John King as Surgeon with a skull, and as artist with sketch pad and brush. For he, like several other surgeons, was also a prolific artist, one of what has been called the Bristol School as it flourished in the period 1800 – 1840. Here Michael Whitfield (author of many other ALHA booklets) tells their story.
This book is shorter than our usual volumes, but it contains a dozen fine re-
ALHA No 28
Taking the pledge: the Temperance 
Movement in Bristol, 1830 – 1914,
by Alan Clarke
This picture of the Bedminster Temperance Hall and Free Library, built in 1853, well brings out the strong religious tone and affiliations of the temperance movement in Bristol.
Here Alan Clarke gives a fully documented account of the movement and the opposition to it – not only from the drinks industry. Although never quite achieving its aims, at the level of individual conviction or of national legislation, it spread temperance hotels and coffee houses all over the townscape – and remnants are still to be seen today.
ALHA No 30
Out of Print ALHA Publications
Because our print runs are short, ALHA publications can become unavailable quite quickly. Some of our publications are already out of print, while stocks of others are very limited. Others which were formerly unavailable have recently been reprinted. If you wish to order copies, please bear this in mind. Full details of availability can be seen on our Publications page and on the order form.
Getting About - 2019 Local History Day
If you were unable to get to the Local History Day, were unable to hear or see some of the talks, or just want to refresh your memory, the text of four of the five talks can be downloaded here.
UWE and “M” Shed - Autumn Seminar Programme
The November seminar will be on Thursday 21 November when the speaker will be Louise Rutland-
The Bristol & Gloucestershire Archaeological Society
“They Have Different Ways of Doing Things': Cemeteries, Diversity and Local Place Attachment” is the title of the talk which will be given at the next BGAS meeting by Katie McClymont. The talk is at 7.45 on Monday 25 November at the Apostle Room, Clifton Cathedral. Detals of the future BGAS programme can be found at www.bgas.org.uk.
Bristol Historical Association
The local branch of the Historical Association was reformed in 2017, and has now joined ALHA. It offers an interesting and varied programme of talks and events. Details are in our Events calendar, and for more information you can access their website here.
Coach Trips with Bristol & Avon Family History Society
On Thursday 26 March, there will be a coach to Kew for The National Archives and/or Kew Gardens. On Thursday 21 May, there will be a coach trip to Leicester to visit three Richard III sites. Each trip will cost £20. Further details are available here.
Searchlights over South Gloucestershire
‘Searchlights Over South Gloucestershire’ is a Twitter story created by Adrian Harris, Brassworks Theatre and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
It is a dramatic interpretation of real-
If you use Twitter, please follow the story and share and spread the word amongst friends and colleagues. Also, have a look at the web site.
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-
The photo of the summer walk is by Jan Packer.
Avon Local History and Archaeology is a Registered Charity. No. 270930
This website was last updated on Wednesday, November 13, 2019. If you spot any errors or omissions, please advise the webmaster.
