u3a

South Solihull

Local History (Group 1)

Status:Active, open to new members
Coordinator:
Coordinator:
When: Monthly

We have 36 enthusiastic and friendly members who visit a variety of places of interest in the area during the Summer months, each organised by one of our members.  During the winter we have a series of monthly talks on a Friday afternoon at St Swithin's, Barston; given by invited speakers or members of the group.  We enjoy an annual group meal, which is held each January.

As examples of our activities, click here for a summary of our events over the last 12 months
MonthDateEvent
JanuaryTuesday 9th 12.00 for 12.30Annual Meal at the Wilson’s
FebruaryFriday 23rd 2.00pmExhibition on Ada Lovelace at Knowle Library & Talk
FebruaryFriday 9th 2pmBarston Talk Tony Taylor ‘Elizabeth Cadbury’  
MarchFriday 1st 2.00pmExhibition on Ada Lovelace at Knowle Library Talk
MarchFriday 15th 2pmBarston Talk  Sheila Woolf  ‘Here Come the Girls’
AprilWednesday 24thVisit to Glassworks Museum in Stourbridge (public transport)
MayFriday 17th 1.30pmGuided walk around Stoneleigh Village with Sheila Woolfe
JuneFriday 21stBirmingham Centre Guided Walk
JulyWednesday 24thLord Leycester Hospital
August  
SeptemberMonday 30thWarwick Words History Talk   Aaron Manning  ‘Guy of Warwick’
OctoberFriday 18th 2pm  Barston Talk Patricia Hayes  ‘My journey with Refugees’
NovemberFriday 8th 2pmBarston Talk Helen George ‘The Spirit of Knowle: Life in a Warwickshire Village 1939-45’
DecemberFriday 6th 2pmBarston Festive Meeting Photo Quiz and Planning for 2025

Full details of all our past events are listed below.

In past years, we have tried to get together with Local History Group 2 to undertake a visit further afield.

Annually, we plan a programme of events and different members volunteer to organise each one (this has proved to be a very successful system since the group was established). 

Our events frequently incorporate tea and cake, which proves popular with our members!

We use public transport, whenever possible, or car-share on other occasions.

Thoughts For Future Events

The members of our group never run out of ideas for new places to visit, events to attend and talks to listen to.  Future ideas include

  • Maxstoke Castle
  • Arbury Hall
  • Birmingham Oratory
  • A tour of medieval Coventry
  • Nuneaton Museum and Church
  • Bus trip to visit Herbert Art Gallery
  • Aston Hall at Christmas
  • Kenilworth Walk to include Abbey Fields
  • A visit to Oscott College

Forthcoming Meetings

Past Meetings

  • This was our festive Members meeting, with a picture quiz and planning discussion for our 2024 spring and summer programme of trips.

  • Visit with a talk: Robert Dudley's Warwickshire by Tim Clark (Church Historian of St Mary's)

  • Members of the Science Group and Local History Group 1 visited this heritage railway.  (Pictures courtesy of Brian Jones).

  • A group of 11 visited the Forge Mill Needle Museum for a guided tour.  This museum is an unusual and fascinating place to visit, illustrating the rich heritage of the needle and fishing tackle industries.  Models and recreated scenes provided a vivid illustration of how needles were once made, and how Redditch once produced 90% of the…

  • 19 of us were treated to a fascinating talk about Lady Byron from one of our members, Marjorie Stubbs. The talk was held in the upper room at Knowle Library where Marjorie had put together the Knowle Society display about Lady Byron’s life.  Marjorie had done extensive research over many years on Lady Byron and…