Our next talk on Friday 25th April is Ralph Sheldon and his Wonderful Tapestry by a familiar contributor, Maggie Wood. The Sheldon tapestry map of Warwickshire, now on display in the Warwick Museum, was commissioned by Raph Sheldon in the late 16th century as one of four county maps to hang in his home at Weston, near Long Compton – Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Oxfordshire being the other three. Warwickshire is the only surviving complete one.
Were they made at his manor at Barcheston or at a larger centre? Tapestries were often very large as they were essentially wall coverings, and the Warwickshire map is no exception, being over 6 metres wide and 4 metres high. It underwent major restoration in 2014, and Maggie Wood will no doubt tell us what was found during that process as well as the history and context of these remarkable artefacts. Doors open 7.00pm, no teas or coffees this month, while committee considers whether the demand warrants continuing to supply them, but the all-important raffle will take place. The talk starts at 7.30pm.
Photo: Gill Stewart
The Archive. On 6th April the archive at The Mill in Mill Lane was formally opened by Councillor Chris Mills. After our Chair Rosemary Collier opened the proceedings, David Freke described the 20 year journey which has led to the collection and organisation of our previously dispersed archive into one accessible location. The requirement for an archive space was identified soon after the Group was formed, and various initiatives have been formulated over the years, with the support of previous Chairs and committee members. The archive is heavily dependent on the goodwill and enthusiasm of Gill Ashley-Smith, whose collection is a major component of the material, and thanks go to Mary Wheilden, the owner of the Mill where the archive is housed, to Colin Such who has meticulously catalogued the collection, and to Carol Clark who has undertaken the management of the digital archive. Our archivist Colin described the organisation of the archive and how to track down items in his catalogue, and he thanked Councillor Chris Mills for the County Council grant that has enabled vulnerable material to be protected in archive-standard storage boxes and sleeves. Councillor Mills then cut the ribbon to symbolically open the archive to our members. Many thanks are due to the committee members who provided refreshments on the day. Colin emphasised his keenness to receive more historic material from Kineton either as donations or for copying.
Forthcoming K&DLHG events
Our Summer Outings
Friday June 20th £10.00
Ettington Village.
Guided walk around Ettington led by local historian Robert Allsop. Our tour will be followed by refreshments at the Village Cafe (not included in the ticket price).
Meet at 6.00pm at the church lych gate, 3 Halford Rd, CV37 7TH. Parking in Halford Road.
Friday 18th July £10.00
Harbury Heritage Centre and Village Walk.
Visit to the Heritage Centre and guided tour of the village, with refreshments after the walk (included in the price) Meet at the Heritage Centre from 4.30pm,
for tour at 5.30pm
Saturday 9th August. £10.00
Burford Tolsey Museum and Town Tour. [NB start time 11.00am]
Led by Clendon Daukes, the visit and will start with a guided tour of the Tolsey Museum and then proceed to view the lower town, with its wealth of historic buildings. Meet at the Tolsey Museum, OX18 4QU, 11.00am
| Date | Speaker | Title |
| 25 Apr 2025 | Maggie Wood | Ralph Sheldon and his Wonderful Tapestry |
| 16 May 2025 | John Frearson | The History of the Kaye and Nelson Lime and Cement Works, Southam and Stockton |
| 20th June 2025 | 6:00-7:30pm | Ettington guided walk with Robert Allsop |
| 18th July 2025 | 4:30pm-7:00pm | Harbury heritage collection and guided village tour |
| 9th August 2025 | 11:00am-1:00pm | Burford Tolsey Museum and guided town tour |
| 19 Sept 2025 | Ginny Davis | The Mysterious Death of Amy Robsart, wife of Robert Dudley |
| 17 Oct 2025 | Jackie West | The Restoration of Ladbroke Church |
| 14 Nov 2025 | Bob Bearman | Stratford in 50 Buildings |
| 12 Dec 2025 | Members’ evening | Christmas Treats |
| 16 Jan 2026 | Travor Langley | Thomas Oken, Warwick’s Great benefactor |
| 20 Feb 2026 | Bob Booth | The Sweet Life in Bourneville: the Cadbury and Bourneville story from 1878 |
| 20 Mar 2026 | AGM & John Parnell | AGM followed by A History of the Circus |
Don’t miss:
Saturday 28th June K&DLHG archive display at Kineton Village Hall afternoon 28th June.
Please bring items for donation to the archive or loan for copying.
Other Organisations’ Events
Please check the Warwickshire Local History Society’s Other Societies’ Events page for a list of other
meetings of local history interest. You can access it here: Other Events (warwickshirehistory.org.uk)
12th May. Kenilworth History and Archaeology Society The Bloody Kenilworth: True Crimes 1780 to
the 1920s by Adam Wood. 7.30pm Senior Citizens’s Club, off Abbey End Car Park. Visitors £2.00
19th May Leamington History Group , What Happened Next: Christ Church Gardens by Alison
Chantrey. 7.30pm Oddfellows hall, New Street.
9th May Lighthorne History Society Lady Dorothie Feilding at War by Christie Cluley. 7.30 Village Hall
British Association for Local History. The Kineton Group is a Member of BALH and they run lectures
and talks which are open to our members. Contact: https://www.balh.org.uk for upcoming talks available
virtually.
Don’t forget to check our own website at: Kineton and District Local History Group
Membership
Membership for 2025 is £15. Visitor entrance will be £4.00 per meeting from January 2025. Cash or cheque payments can be made at any meeting. If you would like to become a Member of the group, our 2025 membership year starts in January. If you attend 4 or more of the 9 meetings we hold every year then Membership is the best option!
We would urge those who can to please pay by BACS to our bank business account:
name: Kineton and District Local History Group,
sort code: 40-43-19;
acc. no. 71281992.
Please include your full name so we can correctly attribute your payment.
Members note that if you pay by cheque make it payable to:
Kineton and District Local History Group, and send or delivered to:
Alec Hitchman, The Hills Farm, Pillerton Hersey, WARKS, CV35 0QQ
For queries contact Alec on alec.hitchman@btinternet.com
KDLHG Committee
| President: | Dr Robert Bearman MBE |
| Chairman | Professor Rosemary Collier |
| Vice-Chairman | Roger Gaunt |
| Secretary | Gill Stewart |
| Treasurer | Alec Hitchman |
| Outings Secretary | David Freke |
| Programme Secretary | Claire Roberts |
| Archive Data Manager / Membership Secretary | Carol Clark |
| Archivist | Colin Such |
The committee has fallen to skeleton crew numbers, and we are keen to recruit new people to help run the group, volunteers would be welcomed and can be co-opted at any time, so please consider joining us.
The next committee meeting is set for 28th May 2025 at 7.00pm, again to be hosted by Colin