Our speaker on August 2 was Rose Hewlett whose subject was "A Village Through Time." She gave us a chronology of her home village of Frampton-on-Severn in Gloucestershire from the Jurassic Age to date. As a historian she was able to put the massive changes to the village in perspective with reference to the Celts, Romans, Anglo Saxons and the manorial system introduced by the Normans. The weekly market and three day fair were introduced in the thirteenth century to foster trade. Farming methods were explained together with the effect of the Enclosure Acts of 1815. The River Severn was important for trade until replaced by the Gloucester & Berkeley Canal which, after a long delay, opened in 1827. Originally planned to run through the centre of the village, the route was diverted after objections from the large landowners. A major development was the establishment by Cadburys of a plant on the canal at Frampton using milk from local farms and later chocolate crumb transported to Bournville by canal. The firm was a benevolent employer, building houses and sports facilities for the workforce. It was perhaps a surprise to town dwellers to learn how late electricity and mains water came to the village.

The only famous person mentioned as originating in the village was "Fair Rosamund", the favourite mistress of Henry II. This was an illuminating picture of how one village evolved over the years and demonstrated that history is not just kings and queens but the everyday life carried on in towns and villages across the country.

We meet at 10am every Thursday at The Boathouse, Evesham Rowing Club. Our speaker on August 9th is Angela Hugman with Tales of the Unexpected and on August 16th we have Amy Woolacott whose subject is If Only the Stones Could Speak.

Full details can be found on our website www.eveshamprobus.co.uk

ALAN SMITH