On 6 June 1997 a plaque, dedicated to the people of Tadley, hosts to the USAAF during WW II, was erected at Blake’s Lane, on the south wall of the Toucan Travel building. This plaque was initiated and designed by Gordon Timmins, MOD police dog handler and local […]

Henry Ludlow (1577 – 1639) who lived locally in Tadley Place, was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons [1] between 1601 and 1611.    During the Speaker’s address Henry let out a resounding fart. The House erupted in laughter. And then, so it seems, […]

As a local history society we are interested in local folklore that includes oral traditions such as tales, proverbs and even jokes passed down through the generations.  Family stories have been an interesting source of  local history information over the years, When we hear a new one we  […]

  Mike Grundy’s expertise centres on the architecture, art and history of London and the major capital cities of Europe. He has a CHE in the History of Art and Architecture from Birkbeck College, London. Enjoy this review of  successive British architectural styles, based on the example of […]

On  16th Sep 2020 Colin Oakes gave an online talk entitled “Never had it so good”   Colin Oakes is an archaeologist and a London guide who has significant knowledge of London’s history and  superb delivery skills. In the past he has talked about Dickens’ Childhood, The London […]

Tadley and District History Society provides monthly external talks on history related topics at 8 pm on the third Wednesday of the month.  This months online talk on Aug 19th 2020 was  by Rupert Mathews. Rupert had come up with what might seem a very strange slant on […]

Recent online meeting  17th June 2020 We were  very pleased to have John Percival Leighfield CBE provide our June  talk.  He has a passion for maps since his schooldays and discussed, in a highly illustrated talk, how maps have developed from the 14th century until the present day. […]

Medieval gold ring with a blue stone dating to the late C13th-early C14th This medieval gold ring with a blue stone dating to the late C13th-early C14th was found in Tadley (location unknown). The slender highly decorated hoop is divided into many facets creating lozenge fields into which […]

Settlements on the Burghclere and Kingsclere downs, beside east-west trade route, the Ridgeway. Local area is the centre of wool industry. Tumuli found at Wootton, and on south side of Wasing Wood.   Bronze and Iron Age OS Important trade and communications centre at Silchester, with pagan temple […]

Contents Introduction Ivan D Margary ‘Roman Roads in Britain’ published in 1955. Maps of Portway Roman Roads in Britain by Thomas Codrington Are Portway locations on the OS maps correct? Reading University at Silchester Alex Flahive  The Old Road LIDAR References Introduction The Portway  is a 58 km road […]