OAHS

All the outings are guided walks within public open space with, in a few cases, access into a church or other public building, and this element may have to be omitted if the rules do not allow it. Outings will be limited to 20 people. The walks are being led by past and present members of the OAHS Committee, who are not charging for their time. For access into buildings, if allowed, we may ask for a donation on the day and also, if refreshments can be offered, the cost of these will also be payable on the day.

When we are able to confirm that the guided walk will take place, we will email all OAHS members for whom we have email addresses to notify you that registration is open on this website, with no costs incurred at this stage. After the first 25 people have booked, the list will be automatically closed, with the last five being held in reserve.

If you need to cancel, please email excursions@oahs.org.uk

Please watch for announcements on the website, and make sure that we have your email address - you can check the details we hold for you by logging in. There will not be a paper booking form this year.

More excursions may be added in August/September.

If you have any queries please contact the Excursion Secretary: excursions@oahs.org.uk. Postal enquiries should be sent to:

Michael Heaton, Excursions Secretary
48 High Street, Wheatley, Oxford, OX33 1XX

Disability Policy
Members with limited mobility must contact the Excursions Secretary, Michael Heaton (tel: 01865 425909 or email: excursions@oahs.org.uk) before booking an excursion to discuss whether special access arrangements can be made to buildings or locations. The Society will do its best to accommodate special needs, but reserves the right to refuse access to its events where, in the judgement of the Committee, the safety of an individual or of other participants is put at risk.

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Bookings for these events will open nearer the time

Witney Wednesday 7th July 2021 at 2pm led by Jill Hind
OAHS Secretary Jill Hind carried out an intensive study of the historic town of Witney while working for Oxford Archaeology. This afternoon walk will focus on two key periods: its medieval links to the Bishop of Lincoln and the development, and demise, of its blanket industry. The tour will start in the south at the parish church of St Mary and move northwards towards the former Early's Blanket Mill on the River Windrush. The intention is to include the ruins of the Bishop's Palace and conclude with a tour and tea (payable on the day) at the Blanket Hall, but this will depend on their Covid-19 reopening plans.

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Chipping Norton Sunday 18 July at 2.30pm led by Adrienne Rosen
Join us to explore the historic centre of the market town of Chipping Norton on a Sunday afternoon, guided by Adrienne Rosen (OAHS Lectures Secretary), John Marshall and Jan Cliffe, members of the Chipping Norton Oxfordshire Buildings Recordgroup that has recently discovered much surviving early fabric in the town. Around the large medieval market place we will see a medieval inn, several unassuming houses hiding 15th century roof-beams, the 16th century Guildhall, and much18th century gentrification influenced by nearby stately homes. Side streets offer 17th century almshouses, the 11th century castle earthworks, and evidence of the hillside springs that supplied Chipping Norton's water. We will end our tour in the beautiful medieval parish church, where tea will be available (donation requested).

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Abingdon Saturday 31 July at 11.00am led by David Clark
This walk around the central area of Abingdon will focus on its rich legacy of historic ironwork, recently catalogued by walk leader David Clark (https://www.abingdon.gov.uk/feature-articles/historic-ironwork). Starting at the County Hall, we shall get a broad impression of the remarkable diversity of examples in both wrought and cast iron that have adorned the town over the years - from bollards to drainpipes and from fanlights to weathervanes. We shall then explore in more detail examples of eighteenth-century railings and lamps, Georgian balconies, Victorian street furniture, Art Nouveau boot scrapers, a cast iron bridge and what remains of one of Abingdon's iron foundries. There will be plenty of scope for personal observation and discussion - some of what we shall see is not quite what it seems to be!