The Wallingford Historical & Archaeological Society - TWHAS

04/05/2026

19/04/2026

May 13 (Weds) - – Ben Ford (Senior Project Manager, Oxford Archaeology): “Reflections on recent archaeological discoveries in Oxford”

Over the last 15 years Ben has principally focused on excavations in Oxford; his project at the Westgate won British Archaeology's 2016 Project of the Year.

Recent excavations by Oxford Archaeology at Oriel and Hertford Colleges in central Oxford will be discussed, showing how their results shed new light on the form of the earliest Anglo-Saxon burh defences. The main focus of the talk will be on very recent excavations at Old Buildings Quad, Hertford College, with evidence about Catte Street as a centre of medieval book production.

22/03/2026

April 8 (Weds) - Judy Dewey (Wallingford Museum Curator): “Agatha Christie 1890-1976: a Fiftieth Anniversary retrospective”
Agatha Christie was a very private person, but even 50 years after her death she is still inspiring film-makers, writers and readers with her plots, many of which began life at Winterbrook House on the boundary of Wallingford and Cholsey. Should Agatha Christie, ‘Queen of Crime’, now rightly be joining the ranks of royalty who have dominated Wallingford’s past? What potential does she still hold for us, and what is it that makes her so intriguing as our most renowned 20th century ‘local’?
Whether you love or avoid Agatha’s work, this talk will hopefully give you something to think about, now and for the future!

05/03/2026

March 11 (Weds) - Andy Hood: “On-going excavations at Winterbrook and New Barn Farm by Foundations Archaeology, with an update on the Cholsey Roman villa report”
Our speaker, Andy Hood has over 20 years experience in commercial archaeology, when he began working for Foundations Archaeology in 2000, whilst studying for an archaeology degree. Since 2005, he has managed numerous archaeological projects, including watching briefs, evaluations and excavations.
He will describe the ongoing excavations in Winterbrook (ie. south Wallingford) and at New Barn Farm gravel quarry (adjacent Wallingford bypass).
Andy was the project leader for Foundations Archaeology whilst working on a housing development in Cholsey in 2017, and he will update on the discovery of a Roman villa there.

01/02/2026

11 Feb (Weds) - Jonathan Stamp: "The Summer of '43"​
Jonathan Stamp, who lives in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, has a keen interest in Roman history and has for long been fascinated by the local presence of Romans.
His Talk will give the historical/political background to his hypothesis that the recently discovered Brightwell-cum-Sotwell Roman road was first used very early on in the Roman invasion, even in very first year of the Roman invasion in 43AD.
Come and hear the evidence, and decide for yourself!" It promises to be a very interesting evening.

28/12/2025

TWHAS Talk - Weds, 8pm, 14th Jan 2026 - Ed Caswell: "Bronze Age Oxfordshire - Was it the Wild West of its Day?"
Visitors very welcome (£5)

28/12/2025

TWHAS Talk - Weds, 8pm, 11th Feb 2026 - Jonathan Stamp: "The Summer of '43"​
Jonathan Stamp, who lives in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, has a keen interest in Roman history and has for long been fascinated by the local presence of Romans.
His Talk will give the historical/political background to his hypothesis that the recently discovered Brightwell-cum-Sotwell Roman road was first used very early on in the Roman invasion, even in very first year of the Roman invasion in 43AD.
Come and hear the evidence, and decide for yourself!" It promises to be a very interesting evening.
Visitors very welcome (£5)

11/10/2025

TWHAS Talk - at St Mary's Church, Wallingford. 8.00pm Weds 12th Nov
Visitors very welcome (£5)
Richard Oram: 'County archaeology roundup'
Richard is Lead Archaeologist at Oxfordshire County Council. He will be a contributor to the TWHAS forthcoming Wallingford test pits publication.
This talk will provide an update on recent archaeological discoveries from fieldwork undertaken as part of the planning process across the county and aim to provide some background to add context to this new information.

29/09/2025

TWHAS Talk - at St Mary's Church, Wallingford. 8.00pm Weds 8th Oct
Visitors very welcome (£5)
'The Abingdon Abbey Buildings: their history, their condition, and the enhancement plans.'
Our speaker, Godfrey Cole CBE, is a trustee of The Friends of Abingdon Abbey Buildings Trust – and formerly a Tribunal Judge and Head of Law School at the University of Westminster.
He will tell the story of how volunteers have rescued important historical buildings and turned them into much valued community assets.
The buildings are owned and maintained by the charity, The Friends of Abingdon Abbey Buildings Trust. The Abbey Buildings are the last remains of the great medieval Abbey of Abingdon, once the 6th richest abbey in England but mainly demolished in the Reformation of 1538. The charity saved the buildings from demolition in 1944 and have developed them into an important community asset containing the town centre’s only theatre, the Unicorn. The Abbey Buildings are used by a wide range of community groups, as well as hosting heritage visitors.