About

Churchdown Local History Society was formed in 2001 following an exhibition of photographs and documents of Old Churchdown which was put on by two Parish Council members and their wives in the summer of 2000 to celebrate the dawn of the new millennium. This had proved very popular, and was visited by a vast number of people, both locally and from afar. One of the questions raised by a visitor was "Is there a local history society in Churchdown?" The answer was there wasn't, but watch this space! Within a few months of the exhibition closing, a meeting had been called to gauge what interest there would be in forming such a society. Following an encouraging response to this meeting, a Committee was formed, a Constitution drawn up and before long, the fledgling Society was taking its first wobbly steps. And they were wobbly because for quite a few months we had no permanent home. Meetings took place in the Council Chamber of the Parish Council Offices which was far from ideal although we were very grateful for the venue at the time. Eventually the Churchdown Community Association were able to offer us a permanent venue at the Community Centre in Parton Road on the evening of the second Thursday of each month, except for August when we do not meet. We were home and dry and have remained there for the past 22 years. It's an excellent venue and has served us well. Our membership numbers are recovering well after the Pandemic when we were unable to meet for nearly two years and when so many other organisations were closing their doors for good. Everyone is welcome at our meetings and we try to make our topics as wide and varied as possible, while still keeping within a largely local, Gloucestershire, remit. The Society is flourishing and we hope to continue for many more years to come.