The Fownhope Local History Group was formed in 2005, and currently has a membership of about 50. It organises a programme of indoor talks, held in the New Memorial Hall, on a very wide range of local history topics, and outdoor events in the summer. Details of this year’s programme are given elsewhere in the Calendar.
In May 2022, in co-operation with Fownhope Parish Council, and to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the Group organised and funded an event celebrating the restoration of the memorial to Tom Spring, the undefeated bareknuckle boxing champion of all England in the early 1800s, who was born in Fownhope. A new parish walk, the Tom Spring walk, was inaugurated as part of the Jubilee celebrations, culminating at the memorial site with speeches, and a rendering of traditional and freshly composed ballads by the local folk singing group, the Bushelbag Carollers.
The Group has published books and booklets covering general histories of Fownhope, and is currently working on a history of Common Hill.
The History Group’s oral history archive has recordings of the memories of local residents, some dating from as far back as the 1920s. The recordings have been digitised and many of them are available on the parish council website at https://fownhopeparishcouncil.gov.uk/oral-histories/.
The 2026 membership fees are £15 for family membership, and £10 for individuals. Everyone is welcome to attend our indoor events, which are free to members and £5 entry for non-members.
We are currently looking for someone with word processing skills to assist in producing our six-monthly newsletter. Can you spare 3-4 hours every 6 months?
Committee:
Janet Jones, Secretary and Events: 01432 860319, janetcjones00@hotmail.com
Ian Jones, Treasurer 01432 860319, jonesians43@yahoo.co.uk
Sue Gough, suegough09@btinternet.com, 01432 860563
Local historian, Yvonne Chapman, will talk on Nicholas Patteshall, a Herefordshire man, who circumnavigated the globe in the early 1800s, retired as an admiral in 1816, and went on to...
Ralph Barber, chair of the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal Trust, will talk on the history of the canal and the ongoing restoration project The meeting is open to members and non-members. Admission to the talk, at which refreshments will be available is free to members and £5 on the door for non-members.
Heather Hurley will give a talk based on the research for her latest book, The Railways of Herefordshire and the Southern Marches, published by Logaston Press. The meeting is open to members and non-members. Admission to the talk, at which refreshments will be available is free to members and £5 on the door for non-members.
