Welcome to the Warwickshire Local History Society

Christine Hodgetts (1946-2024)

Christine died at home on September 11 with John, her husband, and children beside her, following a struggle with cancer.

She was a member of WLHS for many years. She was our Treasurer 1979-2004 and served on our Executive Committee thereafter until her death.

Christine gained a PhD in Byzantine studies at Royal Holloway College, London University in 1974: ‘The colonies of Coron and Modon under Venetian administration, 1204-1400’. She had moved to Warwick with her husband John in 1972 and began to use Warwickshire County Record Office shortly thereafter, initially as a record searcher, and later as a tutor in local history in association with the Adult Education Department of the University of Warwick, teaching classes jointly with Nat Alcock. A group of their students went on to found the Friends of the Warwickshire County Record Office. The local knowledge she gained was put to use in leading WLHS visits and socials held in lesser-known houses in the county. She also gave us lectures on many aspects of her research. Our cumulative bibliography gives some idea of her published work.

In later years, she specialised in garden history and became a driving force in the foundation of Warwickshire Gardens Trust in 1991 with the aim of recording and preserving the county’s significant parks and gardens. She was frequently commissioned to undertake research on parks and gardens, both locally and nationally. Christine also served as the Gardens Trust’s representative on the Warwickshire Conservation Action Forum. She was an active member of several other local groups including the Warwick Society, and the Friends of Warwickshire Record Office.

Christine’s interest in safe−guarding local historical sites led to her becoming active in local politics: she was a Warwick Town Councillor and then Warwick Mayor 1995-6, and a Warwick District Councillor. She was a leader in the campaign to build a bridge over the river Avon (Millennium Bridge) to create a safe walking and cycle way through St Nicholas’s Park from Emscote to Myton Road. This also led to the development of the Kingfisher Pools. She was also involved in saving Hill Close Gardens from housing development, and making it into the unique visitor attraction it now is.

Warwickshire and Solihull Community and Voluntary Action Volunteer Day

WLHS are pleased to be supporting the Warwickshire and Solihull Community and Voluntary Action (CAVA) Volunteer Day, which will be held at Market Hall Museum, Market Square, Warwick on Wednesday 5th June from 12.30 pm to 4 pm.  Come and support us as we join with lots of other local organisations to promote what we do and attract new volunteers to our society.  We already have a dedicated team of volunteers who manage our membership subscriptions, plan evening talks and outings, edit our award winning journal and much more. 

We are always looking for more people to help share the work.  Interested?  We currently have vacancies for a secretary, a Chair, a Treasurer and for people with an expertise in marketing (including social media).  Or if you don't have a particular role in mind, you can join our committee and get involved on a more ad-hoc basis. Come along to the Volunteer Day on Wednesday 5th June or get in touch by emailing info@warwickshirehistory.org.uk

Summer Bulletin 2024

Our Summer Bulletin is now available to read.  Click here to download a copy: Summer 2024 Bulletin.  Or visit our Publications Page.

WLHS has a new Programme Secretary (Lectures)

Following Jim Ranahan's successful tenure of this post, we are pleased to announce that we have a new Programmes Secretary (Lectures).  Dr Ruth Barbour will be building on her existing experience as our very capable secretary to plan our programme of evening lectures into the 2023/24 season.  We are excited to sample her new programme, further details of which can be found on our events page, together with information on when and where we meet.

Join the Warwickshire Local History Society

Would you like to join the Warwickshire Local History Society? Visit our Members Page for a summary of the benefits, and to apply.

Publications: A new cumulative Warwickshire Bibliography is now available. See link on our Publications page;  please let us know of any errors or omissions.

Forthcoming events

See our WLHS EVENTS page for further details on past and future talks..

Other information from around the County

Events Run by Other Local History Societies.  Go to our OTHER EVENTS page for more information on what events our affiliated socieities are running across the county.  

 

The winter lectures are free to WLHS members and members of affiliated Local History Societies. We now charge non-members £3.00 -- refundable on the night when joining the Society

For enquiries and bookings for forthcoming events, contact Rowan Fisher (Outings) at rowanfisher367@gmail.com or Ruth Barbour (Talks) at info@warwickshirehistory.org  





 

Meetings from October to April 7.30pm,
with coffee from 7.00pm,
Aylesford School, Tapping Way, Warwick,
CV34 6XR 

Click here for directions

For the Society's programme see our WLHS Events page.

The Society's twice-yearly news bulletin includes contains society news and details of forthcoming local history lectures.
Read the latest Bulletin