Category Archives: Book launch

Launch of Club’s latest book

Radley Manor and Village: a thousand year story

When: Saturday 30th November 11am to 4pm
Where: The Mansion, Radley College, Kennington Road, Radley, Abingdon OX14 2HR

Launch of 'Radley Manor and Village: a thousand year story' at The Mansion, Radley College, on 30 November 2019

A bright, sunny day and the historic Mansion at Radley College provided the ideal setting for the launch of Radley Manor and Village: a thousand year story. The Mansion was built by the Stonhouse family in the 1720s as their manor house.

Radley Women’s Institute served hot drinks and delicious cakes in the entrance hall. Displays included a timeline of 1000 years of national and local events, family trees of the Stonhouse and Bowyer families, photos and facts about Radley servants, and banners depicting the College grounds and their links with ‘Capability’ Brown. Also on display were artefacts belonging to Radley College, such as a laundry maid’s goffering kit from the mid-1800s, used to put fine pleats into the shirts of Radley ‘dons’.

Another photo taken at the launch

The book is a collaboration between Radley History Club and Radley College’s archivist. It uses first-hand and contemporary sources, and tells the story of Radley’s manor and its relationship with the village from around the time of the Norman Conquest to the present day. Employment, land ownership, and deference are recurring themes.

The final chapter includes episodes from the lives of Radley village couple David and Beryl Buckle and their relationships with Radley college. The book was partly funded by a legacy from David Buckle to Radley History Club, and so the Club was particularly pleased that his son Peter at the launch.

More about the book and how to buy a copy


Exhibition and launch of Club’s book about Radley Church

When: Saturday 1 October: 10.30 am to 5 pm and Sunday 2 October: 1.30 pm to 5 pm
Where: Radley Church, Church Road, Radley
About the book: The Story of a Village Church: St James the Great, Radley
Price: £12 plus P&P – available to buy online or at Radley Village Shop

Front cover of the Radley History Club book, 'The Story of a Village Church: St James the Great, Radley'

Carefully researched and recorded by various members of Radley History Club, the book tells us about the building itself, the church history which influenced it, and the people who were involved in it, right up to the present day.

Some 150 people visited the exhibition at Radley Parish Church over the two days/ The pews and chairs were cleared away to the sides of the church to create a welcoming space containing a series of displays based on various aspects of the Church and its history. Refreshments were kindly provided in the adjourning Church Room by Radley Women’s Institute.

‘Fascinating’, ‘excellent’, ‘informative’ and ‘very interesting’ are words that crop up time and time again in the comments in the visitors’ book at the exhibition.
Wonderful exhibition – so much we didn’t know. Thank you History Club.
What a fantastic display and I found out something I didn’t know about my grandfather.

View from the balcony of the church set up for the exhibition
View of the church set up for the exhibition

Topics covered by displays included:

  • Parish boundary
  • Origins and buildings
  • Patrons of Radley Church
  • Inside the Church
  • Clergy who have served Radley Church
  • The churchyard and cemeteries
  • The life of the Church today
  • Radley’s bells
  • Radley Church Choir

A timeline from 600 to 2016, which compared events in Radley with linked events in the wider world, attracted particular interest.

The exhibition was opened on the Saturday morning by Revd Pam McKellen who was presented by Club chairman, Richard Dudding, with a copy of the book signed by all the authors. On both days Radley Church’s bell-ringing team rang a short peal before the exhibition opened.

Richard Dudding and Revd Pam McKellan
Visitors study the display material

Floral arrangements around the Church illustrated key aspects of the life of a village church.

  • Floral arrangement - baptism
    Baptism
  • Floral arrangement - marriage
    Marriage
  • Floral arrangement - rembrancee
    Rembrance
  • Floral arrangement - harvest
    Harvest
  • Floral arrangement - memorial
    Memorial

Adding further colour were the Sunday School banner and banners dating back to the late 19th century belonging to the Mothers’ Union in Radley and the Girls’ Friendly Society.

  • Sunday School banner
    Sunday School
  • Mothers' Union banner
    Mothers’ Union
  • Girls' Friendly Society banner
    Girls’ Friendly Society

Exhibition: Radley People & the Railway

Over 300 people visited the Club’s exhibition in Radley Village Hall on 2nd and 3rd November 2013 about the railway in Radley, its history, the people who used it and the people who worked on it. They were also able to enjoy refreshments provided by Radley WI and to buy a copy of the Club’s new book,  Radley People & the Railway 1843-2013, written by Club chairman Christine Wootton with contributions from members and others.

Richard Tolley opens the railway exhibition (pictured alongside the master of ceremonies, Eric Blanks, and Club chairman, Christine Wootton

The exhibition was opened by Richard Tolley, a former engine driver on the branch line from Radley to Abingdon (affectionately known as ‘The Bunk’) who blew his whistle and waved his green flag in the railway’s traditional signal. Richard is pictured alongside the ‘stationmaster’ for the day, Eric Blanks, and Club chairman, Christine Wootton.

The displays were put together by Club members, Rita and Brian Ford. The collection of railway memorabilia included the ‘Radley’ nameplate normally on show at the shop at Radley College.

Display of Radley railway memorabilia
Display of Radley railway memorabilia
'Radley' train nameplate
‘Radley’ train nameplate

A highlight of the exhibition was the working model of the Abingdon Branch layout built and operated by members of Abingdon and District Model Railway Club. The model shows what Abingdon station looked like before it closed to passenger traffic in 1963 and before Waitrose arrived.

Abingdon branch layout by Abingdon and District Railway Club
Abingdon branch layout by Abingdon and District Railway Club
The full layout of the Abingdon Branch line
The full layout of the Abingdon Branch line

The exhibition was based primarily on photographs and other material from the Club’s archives, Club members and local railway enthusiasts. One series of photographs showed the impressive array of buildings at Radley Station in 1957 – now all long since gone – and another the stages in the replacement of the bridge over the railway carrying the road to Lower Radley in November 1983.

DIsplay of photographs of Radley Station in 1957
Display of photographs of Radley Station in 1957
Display of photographs showing the replacement of the bridge to Lower Radley in November 1983idge in
Display of photographs showing the replacement of the bridge to Lower Radley in November 1983
Visitors were greeted by a team of Club members dressed for the part - from left to right: Eric Blanks (stationmaster), Brian Ford (porter), Tony Rogerson (engine driver) and Denis Standen (Isambard Kingdom Brunel).

Visitors were greeted by a team of Club members dressed for the part. Left to right: Eric Blanks (stationmaster), Brian Ford (porter), Tony Rogerson (engine driver) and Denis Standen (Isambard Kingdom Brunel).

Oxford Mail article on the railways book – the book featured on the centre pages of the Oxford Mail of 11 August 2014 in a spread entitled ‘Trains, plain-clothes men and royal visitors’.

Exhibition: Radley Farms and Families 1600-2011

The exhibition in Radley Village Hall on 16-17 July 2011 told the story of Radley’s farms and families, past and present. Radley once had at least 17 farms, now it has just two – Peach Croft Farm and Lower Farm. The Club’s new book, Radley Farms and Families 1600-2011, charts the story of Radley’s farms and families over more than four centuries.

Display of old farming implements at the exhibition

The displays featured material from the Club archives on various farms (Walsh’s, Minchin’s, Wick, Pumney, Neat Home, Peach Croft, Park End, Church, Sugworth, Gooseacre, Home, Thrupp), the Stonhouse family, Radley people, farmhouses in the village, farming methods through the ages and aerial photographs of Radley. Rita and Brian Ford brought along many items from their collection of agricultural implements and memorabilia.

Display board about Gooseacre Farm
Display board about Church Farm

Over 300 people visited the exhibition during the course of the two days.
“A very interesting exhibition which has brought back some lovely memories”
“Very professional – an excellent farming history”

Corn grinder
Display of horse brasses

Exhibition: History of Radley Primary School

Reunions and memories were the order of the day for many of the several hundred visitors who came to Radley History Club’s exhibition on 12/13 July 2008 on the history of Radley Church of England Primary School. The School has been part of the village of Radley for over 150 years and its history is typical of that of many rural schools in the area.

Enlarged section of Ordnance Survey Map 1875 showing the layout of the school area at that time

Held in the Old School Building (first built in 1872 and extended in 1892), the exhibition used maps, photos, copies of old documents, press cuttings and extracts from the school’s log books to move through the ages from the school’s development in the 19th century, the early years of the 20th century, the 1940s/1950s, and 1960s onwards to the present day.

Display board about the early years of the school
Display board about the early years of the school

The pupils of today featured in a film made as part of the Club’s two-year project with Radley Primary School.

Visitors to the exhibition could experience a Victorian classroom complete with lamp, stove, maps and cane; children and adults could sit in an old school desk and try writing with an old-fashioned dip pen and ink well. Or ring the old school bell. Club members set the scene by dressing up in Victorian costume to greet visitors.

The exhibition saw the launch of a new book, The History of Radley C E Primary School, by Christine Wootton. The book describes how the school buildings changed over the years but concentrates on the people who worked and studied at Radley Primary School between 1851 and 2007. One visitor to the exhibition, Gerald Jeacock, was thrilled to find the book recorded his achievement in 1935 of winning the Bishop’s prize.

The exhibition was opened by the current headteacher, Frances Lockwood, who was presented with a copy of the book for the school by Tony Rogerson in his guise as the Rev. John Ratcliffe, the vicar of Radley at the time the school began.

From left-to-right: Tony Rogerson, Joan Gibbs, Frances Lockwood (head teacher), Christine Wootton (chairman),
Chris Gasson (Clerk of the Green Cloth), Rita Ford and Eric Blanks