This talk tells the story of how the people of Oxfordshire responded to the Spanish Civil War. More than thirty went to Spain to fight or as doctors and nurses, whilst thousands more joined in fundraising and awareness-raising campaigns at home. Still others welcomed and housed hundreds of Basque refugees who had fled to Britain to escape the fighting. These events accompanied profound political changes, in Oxford in particular, and the uniting of ‘town’ and ‘gown’ in a popular front never seen before (and perhaps since) in the city.

Liz Woolley is a freelance local historian, researcher, and guide specialising in Oxford and Oxfordshire. Liz is highly regarded for her focus on "town" history as opposed to "gown," with particular interests in industrial, social, and working-class history. Her expertise spans the history of local pubs, cinemas, women's history, and Oxfordshire during the World Wars.

8 Oct 2026

In centuries past drovers took cattle, sheep and ponies from the far reaches of West Wales to London and the South East, passing through Oxfordshire on the way. This talk tells of the wilderness paths which they followed to avoid paying fees toll gates, with the dangers of harsh weather and highway robbery.  It also describes drovers’ lives, their favoured inns and the tell-tale marks which they left on the landscape including Banbury and its surrounds.

Tim Healey is a freelance writer and broadcaster who has presented many programmes on BBC Radio 3 & Radio 4, including a feature on Britain’s drove roads. A frequent contributor to the Oxford Times, he has also written for the paper on the drovers’ paths through Oxfordshire.

12 Nov 2026

‘Bedlam’, or more properly The Priory of St Mary of Bethlehem, was established in 1247 and is the oldest psychiatric hospital in the world. It is now the Bethlem Royal Hospital, and over the centuries it has treated many noteworthy patients and inspired artists, from Hogarth to Stravinsky. The talk also reflects the attitudes towards, and treatments for, mental illness over seven and three quarter centuries.

Stuart Bell was Chief Executive of Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust from 2012 - 2020. Before that he was Chief Executive of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust for thirteen years. He read Modern History at the University of Oxford and is Honorary Treasurer of the Northamptonshire Record Society.

10 Dec 2026

Hillforts are the most obvious legacy of the Iron Age. This talk will explore the characteristics and differences of these impressive monuments, their ramparts, gateways and interiors and also try to understand why they were built and how they were used within Iron Age society.

Professor Lock is an Emeritus Professor of Archaeology at Oxford University where he has taught and researched later prehistory for many years. His specialism is hillforts having excavated and published five in England and Wales. He was co-director of the Atlas of Hillforts of Britain and Ireland project.

14 Jan 2027

Oxford college staff have usually been depicted as uniquely resistant to trade union organisation. My research offers a different perspective, using new archival sources to show that during the interwar period, through trade unionisation, college staff negotiated wage increases and drew sustained attention to working conditions.

Dr Crossley is an economic and social historian working on 19th and early 20th century labour history. She is also an archivist at Trinity College, Oxford.

11 Feb 2027

This talk will show how the current appearance of our wonderful Anglican parish churches is very largely that determined in the 19th century. We see what our Victorian forebears have allowed us to see, through their editing, adapting and creating on what had gone before – in general to our good fortune!

Dr Roberts studied the history of art at Cambridge and was awarded his doctorate by Oxford University in 2024. He is a retired senior publishing executive with a life-long interest in ecclesiastical architecture, particularly the fitting out and decoration of parish churches.

11 Mar 2027

This lecture examines medieval women’s experiences of healthcare - both as potential practitioners of care and as recipients of it - in order to explore the wider ‘healthscape’ beyond the world of learned (and costly) physicians. A selection of primary sources will form the core of the investigation, allowing for a consideration of the dynamics of domestic care as well as the role of cure‑seeking pilgrimages within women’s lived experiences of sickness and health.  

Dr Salter is a lecturer in medieval history at the University of Reading. Her research focuses on high-medieval experiences of health, ill health and healing, with a particular interest in the records of healing miracles and healthcare beyond the work of the great, learned physicians.

15 Apr 2027

Banbury’s Bygone Memories, Joseph Ashby Gillett & colourised historical photographs of Banbury

This session will focus on Banbury’s Bygone Group’s inception, history and function as a portal for the social history of Banbury; also the Gillett family, especially Joseph Ashby Gillett, and his contributions to the town we enjoy today. Some other colourised images from the Facebook page will also be shown.

Tabba Hassan &  Steve Kilsby

Tabba is a native Banburian, who always had a keen interest in the history of Banburyshire. He currently runs a blinds business in Banbury and has previously worked in finance and civil engineering. He began administering Banbury’s Bygones Memories Facebook group in 2015 after the founder decided to retire.

Steve is a native Banburian and member of the BHS committee. He gives guided 'History Walks' in the town regularly. He is a former Councillor and Town Mayor.