Oxfordshire Past 2023
(please note the new URL:
oahs.org.uk/oxpast)
If you would like to be a host, offer a talk or bring a stall for your organisation to Oxfordshire Past, please contact Becky Peacock
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Oxfordshire Past this year will take place at
Abingdon Guildhall in the Council Chamber and Abbey Rooms on Saturday 17th June and will include the
2023 OAHS AGM (click for details of the agenda). The day will involve a diverse programme of talks (see below for the full programme - which is subject to change). There will be a range of stalls and exhibits to visit throughout the day. If you would like to have a stall or advertise please contact Becky Peacock . You can download the poster, advert and logo to publicise OxPast from our
media download page
Abingdon is one of the oldest towns in Britain with many cafes and pleasant riverside walks. The museum is housed in the County Hall built by stonemason Christopher Kempster, who worked with Sir Christopher Wren on rebuilding churches in London after the Great Fire of 1666. Originally used as a courtroom for the Berkshire Assizes, since 1761 it has been the venue for the traditional 'bun throwing' to commemorate royal events, most recently the coronation.
Tickets cost £10 and include tea/coffee during the breaks and may be
purchased in advance from this website or on the day (there is a limit to the number of places so book early to avoid disappointment). Online payments are preferred but you may send a cheque made payable to OAHS along with your name and full address to Becky Peacock, Oxfordshire Past, Janus House, Osney Mead, Oxford OX2 0ES.
Refreshments
There will be two refreshment breaks of 30 minutes in the event with complimentary tea and coffee included in the ticket price. There is a 1 hour lunch break where catering is not provided. However there are places across the town to enjoy a light lunch or there are plenty of places along the river and in the town centre to enjoy a picnic.
There are accessible toilets at the venue and refreshments will be served in the same room as the event. As the venue is large with multiple function rooms, time has been allowed for movement around the building at break times.
Access
If you have any queries about accessibility at the venue please get in touch with Becky Peacock ( or call
07584 501610) to discuss your requirements and to avoid disappointment. The limited disabled car parking spaces at the venue will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
An upgraded disabled toilet is available in the Abingdon Guildhall. The facility can be accessed through the door to the old Police Cells, under the arch between the Guildhall and St Nicolas Church in Abbey Close using a standard RADAR key and there are two accessible toilets: one on the ground floor by the other toilets, and one in the far right hand corner of the auditorium.
For speakers needing to drop off equipment and/or boxes for the event - please see the map on
the PDF (click to view)
Click to jump to booking
Time | Talk | Speaker |
9.45 | Registration | |
10.00 | Introduction | Geoffrey Tyack, OAHS Chairman |
10.05 | OAHS AGM 2023 | All Members Welcome |
10.30 | Welcome to Oxfordshire Past 2023 | Geoffrey Tyack, OAHS Chairman |
10.35 | Recent archaeological work in the city of Oxford | David Radford, Oxford City Archaeologist |
10.55 | Coffee break | |
11.25 | Oxfordshire Buildings Record activity in 2022 | David Clark, Oxfordshire Buildings Record |
11.50 | Gozzards Ford and the Turnpike Road, Marcham | Simon Blackmore, Marcham Society |
12.15 | Recent archaeological work in Oxfordshire | Vicky Green, Planning Archaeologist, Oxfordshire County Council |
12.40 | Lunch break | |
2.00 | Welcome by AAAHS | Roger Thomas, Chair, AAAHS |
2.05 | Abingdon Map Project | Roger Thomas, Chair, AAAHS |
2.25 | Update on the work of the Victoria County History | Simon Townley and Simon Draper, Victoria County History |
2.45 | Tea break | |
3.15 | Oxford Archaeology at 50: Abingdon Vineyards | Tim Allen, Oxford Archaeology |
3.40 | Is this Walter Giffard's Mill Pond | Paul Sayers, Hanney History Group |
4.00 | Closing address | Geoffrey Tyack, OAHS Chairman |
There may be amendments to the programme at short notice
Getting to Abingdon
By public transport: There are plenty of buses that connect Oxford, Didcot, Wantage, Witney and surrounding towns and villages run by three bus companies. For more information visit the Abingdon Town Council website
https://www.abingdon.gov.uk/shop-eat-drink/getting-here/by-bus-to-abingdon-on-thames.
By road: Abingdon is located close to the A34 with links to the A40 and M40 to the north and to the M4 to the south.
It is possible to reach Abingdon by boat along the River Thames and there are public moorings for boats on the Thames not far from the Guildhall - see the Vale website for more details:
https://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/vale-of-white-horse-district-council/about-the-council/property-and-council-land/moorings/
Unfortunately there is no railway station at Abingdon, but there are stations near by (Oxford and Didcot) that have bus services that regularly serve Abingdon.
Car parks
There are car parks in the centre of the town. Please be aware these can become very busy, especially on a Saturday, and it is best to arrive early to ensure there are spaces. The car parks are all well signposted.
Rye Farm car-park is the closest car park just over Abingdon Bridge, so only a few minutes' walk from the venue, and is £4.60 for up to 6 hours parking.
Link for further information:
https://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/vale-of-white-horse-district-council/parking-roads-and-streets/parking/car-parks/abingdon-car-parks/rye-farm-car-park-abingdon/
There are two disabled parking spaces at the rear of the building and drop off points outside the front of the building.
There are electric car charging points available at the Waitrose Car Park on Abbey Close, OX14 3JD (follow the road signs for Information and Theatre).
Oxfordshire Past 2024!
Are you and your society or organisation interested in partnering with us for next year's event? This year we found it difficult securing a venue which meant we could not advertise a date for the event early enough in the year. We hope that by starting now, we can avoid this issue for next year's event. Why not come along to OxPast in Abingdon and we can have a chat about next year!

Date: 17 June 2023
Time: 10:00
Lecturer: Various
Location: Abingdon Guildhall, Abbey Close, Abingdon OX14 3JD
Cost: £10.00
No of Places: 80
Closing Date for Bookings: 17 June 2023
The booking for this event is now closed.
Oxfordshire Past this year will take place at Abingdon Guildhall on 17th June with a full programme of speakers and stalls, and will include the 2023 OAHS AGM.
The day will involve a diverse programme of talks and there will be a range of stalls and exhibits to visit throughout the day. See below for the timetable.
Tickets cost £10 per head and entitle you to join all the talks and are inclusive of tea/coffee at two breaks but exclusive of lunch.
This enjoyable annual event in the Oxfordshire calendar is for anyone interested in local history, buildings and archaeology.
Previous Oxfordshire Past events, locations and their co-hosts
If you would like to be a host or bring a stall for your organisation to Oxfordshire Past, please contact Becky Peacock
17th June 2023 | Abingdon | Abingdon Guildhall | Programme |
9th July 2022 | Banbury | Banbury Museum and Gallery | Programme |
12th June 2021 | Online | | Programme |
13th June 2020 | Banbury | Banbury Museum and Gallery | CANCELLED |
8th June 2019 | Witney | The Corn Exchange | Programme |
17th June 2018 | Deddington | St Peter and St Paul Church | Programme |
17th June 2017 | Thame | Barns Centre | Programme |
7th June 2016 | Abingdon | AAAHS, Northcourt Centre | |
4th June 2015 | Chipping Norton | Chipping Norton History Society and Museum | |
31st May 2014 | Woodstock Community Centre | Oxfordshire Museum, Woodstock | |
1st June 2013 | Kidlington, Exeter Hall | Kidlington Historical Society | Programme |
9th June 2012 | Henley, d:two Centre | Henley on Thames A&HG | |
4th June 2011 | Witney | W&DH&AS | |
5th June 2010 | Benson, Village Hall | The Bensington Society | Programme |
30th May 2009 | Wallingford, Centre 70 | TWHAS | Programme |
7th June 2008 | Blewbury | Blewbury Village Society | Programme |
19th May 2007 | Thame, Barns Centre | Thame Local History Society | |
3rd June 2006 | Bicester, Courtyard Centre | Bicester LHS | Programme |
7th May 2005 | Eynsham, Village Hall | Eynsham HS | Programme |
22nd May 2004 | Deddington, Windmill Centre | Deddington & District HS | |
10th May 2003 | Wallingford, Baptist Hall | TWHAS | |
13th April 2002 | Abingdon, Northcourt Centre | AAAHS | |
12th May 2001 | Benson, Village Hall | The Bensington Society | |
29th April 2000 | Witney, Congregational Church | WHAS | |
8th May 1999 | Shipton under Wychwood | Wychwoods LHS, New Beaconsfield Hall | |
18th April 1998 | Goring-on-Thames, Village Hall | SOAG | |
12th April 1997 | Abingdon, Northcourt Centre | AAAHS | |
1996 | Wallingford, Centre 70 | TWHAS | |
13th May 1995 | Kidlington, Exeter Hall | Kidlington Historical Society | |