Cirencester Day Trip
Jun 13, 2025 (Arrival Departure 9:10 am – Return Departure 4 pm)
Cirencester is one of the oldest charter markets in the country, having been mentioned as early as 1086 in the Domesday Book. It forms a vital part of the Town Council’s policy of fostering a thriving town centre and is in the Market Sq. in front of the Church of St. John the Baptist.
The award winning Corinium Museum is the must-see visitor attraction of the Cotswolds. The Corinium Museum has one of the finest and most extensive Roman collections in the country. Corinium, Roman Cirencester, was the second largest Roman town outside London and the major Roman administration centre for south-western Britain.
Milestones Museum
Jun 24, 2025 (Arrival Departure 8:30 am – Return Departure 4 pm)
From cobbled streets to a seaside pier, vintage vehicles, an operating pub, sweet shop and more, there is so much for everyone to see, do and enjoy at Milestones, Hampshire’s Museum of living history. Milestones tells the story of how people used to live, the things they used and the work they did. The maze of Victorian and 1930s streets is packed with shops, factories and houses, most based on original buildings from in and around Basingstoke.
Oakham Treasures
Jul 8, 2025 (Arrival Departure 9:10 am – Return Departure 4:30 pm)
Oakham Treasures is one of the largest privately owned museums of retail and farming history in the UK. It is the demonstration of one man’s passion for collecting memorabilia throughout his lifetime. The owner, Keith Sherrell, born in 1939, is a 5th generation West Country Farmer, and began collecting farm machinery in the 60’s as a sideline to his business of buying and selling used farm machinery.
If you’re into tractors and farm machinery, then you will love the tractor museum which houses around 150 old and vintage tractors. It also includes a recreated grocery store, sweet shop, an off-licence, hardware store and haberdashery shop.
Stourbridge 16 Locks
Jul 16, 2025 (Starts at 10:30 am) – Dave Galley
Dave will take us on a guided walk for about 2 hours through the Stourbridge 16, a flight of locks climbing 145 feet up the Western Boundary fault. 600 million years ago, the fault appeared with all its minerals including the much sort after coal seams, over time the distance in height was filled by the sands blown in by the prevailing winds from the west. The canal was engineered to link the coal fields to the Staffs and Worcester canal at Stourton.
Leicestershire Day Trip
Aug 6, 2025 (Arrival Departure 8:30 am)
This trip is being run with the co-operation of the Leicestershire Industrial History Society and Swannington Heritage Trust. We will visit the Hanoverian Glenfield tunnel, one of the earliest railway tunnels as part of the Railway 200 anniversary. We continue on to Swannington, rich in coal mining history dating back to 1204. It gained prominence in 1833 when Robert Stephenson’s Leicester & Swannington Railway, including the steep 1:17 inclined plane, reached the village preceding steam railways in cities like London and Birmingham. The Midland Railway acquired and extended the line by 1849. Swannington also has a legacy of windmills, influenced by Crusaders who brought windmill technology from the Holy Land. Post mills came first, followed by smock and brick tower mills.
Monmouth & Chepstow Day Trip
Aug 19, 2025 (Arrive 9:10 am – Depart 4:30 pm)
Well known for its iconic 13th century gatehouse bridge, Monmouth has a famous past with its connections to Henry V, Geoffrey of Monmouth. Make sure to visit its Georgian Shire Hall & Museum. After coffee we take a tour down the Wye Valley to Chepstow.
The town’s redevelopment, has added smart pedestrian areas decorated with stone walls and sculptures inspired by local legends. On Bridge Street, near the castle entrance and the Ti (& café), you’ll find the Georgian townhouse, the museum revealing the rich and varied past of this ancient town, once an important port and market centre. Alternatively, you will have time to visit the castle (CADW).