The Summer 2024 programme has now complete. However it remains here until next year’s programme is published as an indication of the type of visits that are arranged.
We also have a Winter Lecture Programme
Saturday 20 April 2024
Visit to the Jet Age Museum, Staverton
The Museum celebrates the aviation history of Gloucestershire and the dawn of the jet age. The Society last visited in 2014 shortly after the Museum opened at its present permanent location. The last ten years have seen significant enlargement of the Museum, additional exhibits, improved displays, exhibitions, workshop space, shop, café and a Lecture Theatre Area. The Museum will be open to the public (and GSIA Members) from 10am till 4pm.
At 2pm, GSIA Members are invited to attend the Museum’s Lecture Theatre Area for ‘welcoming’ and a short talk by a representative of the Museum on their progress and plans. There will be time after the talk to further explore the Museum.
The Museum is at Meteor Business Park, Staverton off Cheltenham Road East (the B4063), Gloucester, GL2 9QL, on the north side of Gloucestershire Airport. Look for the traffic lights between the large white Safran building and the Ontic building. At the traffic lights turn off the main road into Meteor Business Park and the Museum’s blue gates will be on your right. There is car parking.
There is no admission charge although GSIA will make a suitable donation towards the Museum’s funds. Members may also wish to make a personal donation to help support the Museum’s ongoing work.
Sunday 19 May 2024
Afternoon Walk: Nailsworth walk – Part 2
Following last year’s very successful walk around Nailsworth, Tony Burton and Brian Mundy will be
hosting Part 2 which will visit six mill sites.
We will gather at 1.45 pm at the town centre ‘Mortimer Gardens’ for a brief town and road history, then make our way along Fountain Street to Old Cattle Market site, Spring Hill, followed by Day’s Mill and filled-in pond, now car park/bus station. We will then pass the Library/Brutons ironmongers on new cut road to Chestnut Hill where Miry Brook joins the Horsley Stream. Then comes a fairly long walk to Newmarket past Prices Mill (GP Surgery), Hulkhay Mill site, Engineering works and site of old Bacon Factory, to Shortwood over collapsed Lot Mill Dam and road – via graveyard to Shortwood Green.
Finally, will make our way to Lock’s Mill and swimming pool/pond, Brewery Lane, and town clock, ending about 4-4.30 at the town centre. There are several car parks and road parking in the vicinity of Old Market (GL6 0DU) in Nailsworth. ‘Mortimer Gardens’ is on the lefthand side of Old Market when coming from Stroud, between the bus station and St George’s Church [Map]. We will assemble for a briefing at 1.45, ready to leave at 2 pm.
Sunday 15 June 2024
GSIA 60th Anniversary Celebration – Gloucester
This will be held at the Dunrossil Centre at Gloucestershire Archives in the afternoon.
Full dedails to follow
The three talks that will form part of the event have been confirmed as:
– Stephen Mills – A Curious Journey from the Bristol Channel to Eastington
– Ray Wilson – GSIA at Work and Play for 60 Years
– Mike Smith – The Fulling Stocks at St John’s Mill
Wednesday 3 July 2024
Morning Visit to Spirax Group, Cheltenham
As part of our regular programme, we try to include an occasional visit to a ‘modern’ industrial site. Although we share a common interest in industrial archaeology, it’s always fascinating to see how technology has progressed over the years. Spirax Group have invited us to visit their Runnings Road factory in Cheltenham on the morning of 3rd July. The company specialises in steam systems and components, used in a wide range of industries that include brewing and distilling, municipal solid waste, oil and gas, power generation, and waste water. They have 1300 steam experts spread across 62 countries.
Our visit will start with an introduction to the company, followed by a site tour, then a light buffet lunch, kindly provided by our hosts. However, there is a limit of 25 visitors, so bookings will be taken on a first-come-first-served basis. The site tour will take around 1.5 hours and will involve quite a few steps in some areas, so visitors will need to be reasonably fit/mobile.
We will need to wear appropriate safety equipment (provided by our hosts) and provide them with our individual shoe size – safety shoes will also be provided. If anyone has a pacemaker, electrical device, or is pregnant, there is one area (welding, in Engineered Systems) that would be off limits.
If you would like to take part in what will be a very interesting programme, please let Sue Brown know, and make sure to include your shoe size (download booking form).
Please note that parking is limited, so where possible, please car share. We will arrive on site for a 10 am start. The location is: Spirax Group Limited, Runnings Road, Kingsditch Trading Estate, Cheltenham GL51 9NQ [Map]
Sunday 18 August 2024
Afternoon Visit: Gunns Mill, Forest of Dean
Details will be sent direct to Members
Sunday 15 September 2024
Afternoon Walk: Guided walk around Tetbury
Tetbury resident, Jane Haines will be our guide. We shall be looking at some pre-industrial sites and areas of the town that have been used to make/process items in the past. Despite the town being mainly 18th century, there are some sites from around that time including 3- 4 breweries and a malthouse!
We will gather at the Old Station Yard, Cirencester Road, Tetbury GL8 8EY at 1.45 for a 2 pm start. [Map]
Sunday 13 October 2024
Afternoon Walk: Sharpness New Docks
This year marks the 150th anniversary of the opening of Sharpness New Docks, so it is appropriate that our final visit of the season is a return visit to this fascinating area, led by Ray Wilson.
On previous visits we have tended to take a walk around the Old Dock and then travel to the entrance of the New Docks for a quick look there. This time we are reversing that plan and we will start at the entrance to the New Docks and explore the area more thoroughly than before. This will include the former Coastguard station, the industrial housing (Great Western Road and Severn Road), and the church, later school. Sadly, today our view of the entrance piers and gates, tidal basin and entrance lock now has to be from behind the security fence. However, we are able to walk to different locations and get a good view of the various features and well as looking into the main basin.
We will then do a car-share (to ease the parking situation) to Dock Road, where we have more company housing, the 1976 concrete gain silo and the workshops that are currently the home of the Vale of Berkeley Railway. This will also give us a good view of whatever is in the dry dock. The “tall ship” SV Tenacious is likely to still be here as her owners the Jubilee Sailing Trust, ceased operations last year. We will then return to the area of the Sharpness Hotel (now the Dockers club for a look at the High and Low level bridges and the sites of The Shant, the hotel near the old coal tip and the barracks, a hostel for sailors. This will mark the formal end of the visit, but if anyone has not visited the Old Dock and wishes to, we can add on a optional very quick tour.
Details: Meet after 1-45pm for a prompt start at 2-00pm at the Sharpness Picnic Site car park near, the entrance piers for the New Docks. [map] SO 6678 0211, Postcode use GL13 9UF.
Take the B4066 to the roundabout at the entrance to the Sharpness Docks estate. Then take the first exit, towards the terrace of houses known as Great Western Road. After 260 yards turn right just before the houses and proceed to the car park. If the car park if full, please park considerately on the road between the roundabout and the houses (but not in the vicinity of the houses). We will walk a total distance of about 1.5 miles on easy terrain. Stout shoes advisable and warm clothing might be needed as we are by the river.