CHANGE OF VENUE The Fitzharrys Manor Estate – from Medieval Knights to Atomic Spies

Church Room, Radley Church Road, Radley

Speaker: Mike Evans Mike presents the history of this part of north Abingdon from the time of Abingdon Abbey to its links with Klaus Fuchs and other atomic spies in the post-war period when the houses were built there for the families of scientists working at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment at Harwell.  Mike lives […]

CHANGE OF VENUE What a Liberty! Memorable moments along Oxford’s ancient boundaries

Church Room, Radley Church Road, Radley

Speaker: Mark Davies Mark presents dramatic and amusing incidents from five centuries of ceremonial circuits by Oxford's mayors of the city's boundaries which were mainly defined by its waterways. Although serious in intent, numerous pub stops often resulted in ‘high jinks’ and ‘irresponsible jollity’. Mark is an Oxford local historian, author, public speaker, guide, and […]

CHANGE OF VENUE: 2025 Annual General Meeting

Church Room, Radley Church Road, Radley

The 28th Annual General Meeting of Radley History Club This will be followed by a talk by Simon Wenham on the history of pleasure boating on the River Thames. Details of the talk Due to the ongoing building work at Radley Church, the AGM and the talk will be in the Church Room next to the […]

CHANGE OF VENUE: More than Three Men in a Boat: the rise and fall of pleasure boating on the Thames

Church Room, Radley Church Road, Radley

Speaker: Simon Wenham Simon looks at the changes in the use of the river Thames above London over the past 150 years and why its popularity for recreational boating grew dramatically and then declined. Simon is a member of the part-time tutor panel of Oxford University’s Continuing Education Department, where he teaches courses on the Victorian […]

‘Some may question its flavour, but none its potency’: a history of brewing in Oxford

Radley Church Church Road, Radley, Abingdon, Oxfordshire

Speaker: Liz Woolley Over the centuries, brewing in Oxford became big business. Liz’s talk examines how and why Oxford’s brewing trade flourished.  Liz is a local historian specialising in aspects of Oxford and Oxfordshire, with a particular interest in the city’s ‘town’ as opposed to ‘gown’. Visitors are very welcome to attend our meetings (suggested donation […]