WELCOME TO TWHAS!

The Wallingford Historical & Archaeological Society (TWHAS for short!) was founded in 1974, initially in response to an appeal by Oxfordshire archaeologists for local people to keep a watching brief on development in the town, there being no statutory protection for archaeological access in those days.

A well-attended public meeting decided to broaden the new Society's brief to include history and the desire to link documentary research with archaeological investigation has always been, and continues to be, a fundamental concept in our approach to research.

The backbone of the Society's activities is the yearly series of monthly of talks (click here for the current year's programme).

TWHAS meets (usually) on the second Friday of each month, except July and August, in the historic Town Hall in Wallingford, at 7.45 p.m. for 8.00pm. As well as a talk, there is a raffle and a second-hand book stall (contributions to which are always welcome). Visitors are always welcome at a cost of £2.00 per person.

Members receive TWHAS Now, the monthly (except for August) newsletter, delivered either by e-mail or as hard copy. This contains information on all the current and future meetings and events organised by the Society, on life-long learning courses which members may be interested in, and on the activities of Wallingford Museum (the Museum’s day-to-day management is undertaken by the combined Museum Board of Directors and TWHAS Committee).

Members are able to participate in various local history research groups, oral history, exhibition planning at the Museum, or 'digs'. Recently an exciting new project has provided lots of opportunities for TWHAS members to participate in digs and fieldwalking: the Burh to Borough Project - a major three-year research programme which has received a quarter-million pound grant. For details click here. Although the Project is due to finish at the end of the year, TWHAS Memembers will continue regular excavations as part of the ongoing Garden Archaeology Project.

The TWHAS Documents Group has been working for some years to transcribe and summarise key sources of information about Wallingford's long and rich history, now known as Sources for Wallingford's History (SWH). Click here to find out more about this and our new group designed to encourage more members to participate in serious documentary research.

If you would be interested in joining the Society, please contact the Membership Secretary, Jenny Carpenter, on 01491 826734 or by e-mail to jenacarpenter@hotmail.co.uk

Subscription Rates (per annum) March 2010 - February 2011*

Individual Member: £12.00

Additional Member at the same address: £11 each

Retired person: £11.00

In full time education: £5.00

(* Membership is 50% of the above for members joining between September and February)