The Summer 2024 programme is shown below
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]