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Aldbourne Archive @aldbournearchive.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

The abandoned hamlet of Snap was reclaimed by woodland, but stories of the inhabitants and the history of the place have been gathered over the years. #ExploreYourArchive theme for September #Erased #OnePlaceWednesday

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Aldbourne Archive @aldbournearchive.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Walked into a beautiful misty early morning yesterday. Took a moment to reflect how quiet the village must have been when the service personnel left. The display at Aldbourne Heritage Centre shows the last chapters of the story. #OnePlaceWednesday aldbourneheritage.org.uk/ww2mem

Early morning mist over the football field in Aldbourne with the sun just above the rooftops. The Memorial Stone and Cecil Newton Memorial tree in the foreground.

The last section of a display at the Aldbourne Heritage Centre showing that the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment arrived on 16th September 1943, and departed for Market Garden on 16 September 1944. The 17th Ordnance Beach Detachment, Royal Army Ordnance Corps arrived 5 September 1944 and departed 21 May 1945. The 550th Glider Infantry Battalion arrived 10 December 1944 and departed 22 December 1944.

Close up of the memorial stone which reads as follows IN MEMORY OF THOSE SERVICE PERSONNEL STATIONED IN ALDBOURNE DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR WHO SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES FOR OUR FREEDOM. WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

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Society for One-Place Studies @oneplacestudies.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Welcome to #OnePlaceWednesday! Lots of #OnePlaceStudy goodies coming from us today – join in by adding the hashtag to your OPS-related posts, and share the love of places, their communities and their histories, along with your news, views, questions, suggestions, and general OPS chat.

#OnePlaceWednesday.
Image: Photo of the view across a narrow lake. In the foreground there is grass, with reeds at the water's edge. On the opposite shore are more reeds, and three large Oak trees standing at the bottom of a grassy field that occupies the sloping ground rising beyond the water. At the top of the slope, just visible on the left, is part of Fawsley Hall, and on the right, Fawsley St Mary's church with its tower. There are trees in the wide gap between those buildings. Above, a few fluffy clouds and a couple of contrails adorn a blue sky, the colour of which is reflected in the water of the lake.
One-Place Studies, where family history and local history unite.

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Society for One-Place Studies @oneplacestudies.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Welcome to #OnePlaceWednesday! Use the hashtag to share news, views, blog posts, pics, ideas or questions about #OnePlaceStudies, the brilliant blend of #FamilyHistory and #LocalHistory that we celebrate every Wednesday! About Us | What is a one-place study? | Registered Studies | Join Us

#OnePlaceWednesday.
Image: Photo of the view looking down over gently sloping, grassy fields sotted with mature Oak trees, to a sprawling country house (Fawsley Hall) in the middle distance, and more fields (pastoral and arable) and trees on undulating ground rising to the horizon beyond.
One-Place Studies, where family history and local history unite.

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Aldbourne Archive @aldbournearchive.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Jesse Williams Westall (1890-1921) Like so many others, Jesse died from TB contracted whilst serving during WWI. He is buried in St Michael's Churchyard and remembered on Aldbourne War Memorial Hall

Gravestone. Inscription reads In ever loving memory of Jesse the beloved husband of Eva Westall who died 31 March 1921 aged 30 years. Peace perfect peace.

Aldbourne War Memorial Hall opened in July 1922 and bearing the names of men from the parish who died in both world wars

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Aldbourne Archive @aldbournearchive.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

William Thomas Loveday (1864-1943) and the foundry in Lottage Road which later became Aldbourne Engineering. Photo: Accession number DZSWS:2008.7026 @wiltshiremuseum.bsky.social

black and white photograph showing 5 workmen standing beside sign W.T. Loveday, Iron and Brass Founder. Tangles of metal and agricultural machinery in the background. A shed in the middle ground and houses in the background. All helping to pin-point the location of the foundry along Lottage Road, Aldbourne.

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Aldbourne Archive @aldbournearchive.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Three names researched this week. Keeping busy! Model (Scale 1:4) of Thomas Chandler's patent seed and liquid manure bucket elevator drill and associated components 1847. Thomas Chandler (1811-1902) owned North Farm, Aldbourne at about the time he invented the drill #OnePlaceWednesday

collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk

Scale model of seed and liquid manure bucket elevator drill and components | Science Museum Group Collection

Model (Scale 1:4) of Chandler's patent seed and liquid manure bucket elevator drill and associated components 1847

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Society for One-Place Studies @oneplacestudies.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Welcome to #OnePlaceWednesday! Join us in using the hashtag to post about #OnePlaceStudies in all their forms, including #HouseHistory and #StreetStudies, or place-based #FamilyHistory research. What locations have you been focussing on? What news, views, links, pics or chat do you have to share?

#OnePlaceWednesday.
Image: Photo of a view down across a grassy field of green and gold in August, with more fields, plus hedges and trees, cloaking the gently undulating landscape further away. Nearby, on the right, a tall Beech tree stands in the field, and above is a blue sky with lots of white, fluffy clouds.
One-Place Studies, where family history and local history unite.

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Oscar Lozada @oz-of-the-ancients.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

#FindsFriday A Roman copper brooch with enamel decoration, dating to c.150AD Found near Aldbourne, Wiltshire , in southern England Now in the Aldbourne Heritage Centre 📸 Mine #archaeology

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Aldbourne Archive @aldbournearchive.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

In 1851 there were six families in the hamlet of Snap, plus the farm owner and his household. All the cottagers were in receipt of parish relief, at school or worked the land - except for Mrs Ann Grant, the schoolmistress. By 1914 Snap was deserted and derelict. #OnePlaceWednesday #OnePlaceLabourers

Photo shows a large triangular sarsen and a small engraved memorial stone. The small stone has an inscription that reads in memory of the people of Snap Toothill School 5th August 1991. So exactly 35 years ago today the children at Toothill School in Swindon celebrated their project to trace the history of Snap by placing a memorial stone on the site of the deserted hamlet

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Society for One-Place Studies @oneplacestudies.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

A warm #OnePlaceStudies welcome to #OnePlaceWednesday! Have you been researching a place and/or its people and history? Do you have OPS-related news, pictures, blog posts or other resources or updates to share? Questions to ask or general OPS chat? Post away, with the hashtag, at any time today!

#OnePlaceWednesday.
Image: Photo looking towards a grassy field, a tall laurel hedge (with benches at its base) beyond, and the roof (topped with a small clock tower) of a building behind it. In the foreground is a tarmacced lane curving round to the right and out of sight; the view is framed by the foliage of trees (including Sycamore, Cherry and Beech) on the left and right, reaching over the lane to almost touch at the top of the image.
One-Place Studies, where family history and local history unite.

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Aldbourne Archive @aldbournearchive.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

A snapshot of church and chapels for Sunday 30 March 1851. Really useful this morning when studying the agricultural labour force in and about Aldbourne ready for #OnePlaceWednesday

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Aldbourne Archive @aldbournearchive.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

There will be some stories here for #OnePlaceLabourers! Including the 'Singing Ploughboy' who left working on the land in Aldbourne for the Railway Works in Swindon aldbournearchive.wordpress.com/2023/05/14/j...

aldbournearchive.wordpress.com

James Lambdin – The Singing Ploughboy

Reblogged on WordPress.com

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Liz @willsmanonename.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

We went on a behind the scenes tour of the Wiltshire Museum in Devizes at the weekend. They have an extensive archive of different places in Wiltshire. The #Aldbourne boxes caught my eye, & I was treated to a glimpse inside one of the boxes @aldbournearchive.bsky.social #OnePlaceWednesday

The contents list inside one of the Aldbourne boxes

The contents of one of the Aldbourne boxes

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Aldbourne Archive @aldbournearchive.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

One of my favourite boxes for one of my favourite village characters. Pleased you had the opportunity to see inside. The behind the scenes tours are great. I started my own journey with @wiltshiremuseum.bsky.social by attending one, way back in 2011.

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Aldbourne Archive @aldbournearchive.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

In 2003 John 'Jack' Agnew ("Filthy 13") came to Aldbourne, and is pictured here with fellow veterans and with the late Harry Alexander, who stood with the guard of honour formed by re-enactors on that day. #OnePlaceWednesday #BandOfBrothers

Three American army veterans that were based in the Kennet Valley during WWII. Jack Agnew centre. The other two gents are Earl McClung and Paul Rogers. I think Paul Rogers is on the right.

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Aldbourne Archive @aldbournearchive.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

A yellow Carnival Dabchick badge has been reported from America as kept for a memento of village life.

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Aldbourne Archive @aldbournearchive.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Thank you - @oneplacestudies.bsky.social I shall gather my information on Aldbourne Feast ready for #OnePlaceSaints one day 🙂

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Aldbourne Archive @aldbournearchive.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Aldbourne Parish Church was re-dedicated to St Michael in 1460. But despite that, the Aldbourne Feast Fair depends on a previous dedication. 22 July is the Feast of St Mary Magdalen. Aldbourne Feast starts on "the first Monday after the first Sunday after Mary Magdalene Day" #OnePlaceWednesday

1906 photo showing stalls and the crowd gathered for Aldbourne Feast

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Aldbourne Archive @aldbournearchive.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

I should explain that 'Dabchick' is the proud nick-name claimed by natives of Aldbourne, Wiltshire. Representations of the Little Grebe appear as logos for village groups and The Aldbourne Band aldbournearchive.wordpress.com/2022/04/26/t...

aldbournearchive.wordpress.com

The Bard and A Dabchick

1970 Aldbourne Village Festival On Shakespeare’s Birthday, celebrated around the world on the 23 April, I have tended to think about flowers mentioned in plays and sonnets – most recent…

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Aldbourne Archive @aldbournearchive.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Tony Gilligan ordered about 500 of these for the village carnival around 1970. Since finding the first yellow badge, I've heard of two more blue pin badges kept as mementos. Are there any other colours? Any more out there? How far has this Dabchick flown? #DabchicksAbroad #OnePlaceWednesday

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Society for One-Place Studies @oneplacestudies.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Welcome to #OnePlaceWednesday! As always, please use the hashtag to share anything and everything relating to #OnePlaceStudies, where #FamilyHistory and #LocalHistory unite. News and views, questions and suggestions, pics and links, and general OPS chat – all are welcome, at any time today.

#OnePlaceWednesday.
Image: Photo showing the trunk (on the right) and lower branches (spreading out across the image, to the left side) in a sheep pasture with lots of dry grass and a couple of sheep. On the far side of the field, visible below the oak tree's branches, is a large country house consisting of several parts built at differnt times over several centuries.
One-Place Studies, where family history and local history unite.

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Aldbourne Archive @aldbournearchive.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Getting ready to track down Flora & Fauna this weekend. We will enjoy a stroll round the village looking out for clues. Organised by the Aldbourne Community Heritage Group aldbourneheritage.org.uk #OnePlaceWednesday 🌼🐎

Poster for the Flora and Fauna summer quiz which will take place for Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th July. Prize is a Family Day out at Bowood Park. Pick up Quiz sheets at the Heritage Centre from 10am on Saturday 18th and return them by 5pm on Sunday 19th July. Entry is free but donations are welcome.

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Society of Genealogists @sogorg.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

📢 Thanks to everyone who submitted a speaker proposal for #AATP2027. Speakers will be hearing from us today and tomorrow about the outcome of their submissions. The standard was incredibly high. Thank you for helping us shape another exciting programme!

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Society for One-Place Studies @oneplacestudies.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Places on the National Library of Scotland’s online presentation Researching your House’s History are going fast! This opportunity to learn about #HouseHistory resources takes place next Wednesday, July 15th, from 3pm to 4.15pm UK time. Free, but booking essential. #OnePlaceWednesday

eventbrite.co.uk

Researching your House's History

Learn about the resources available that can help you to research your house's past.

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Society for One-Place Studies @oneplacestudies.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Recycling this image from Fawsley #OnePlaceStudy to kick off #OnePlaceWednesday! Use the hashtag to share OPS-related news, updates, info, pics, questions & more, anytime today. Steve is still training his camera on Butterflies & other wildlife in Wales, so Liz is posting for the Society once more.

#OnePlaceWednesday.
Image: Photo of two Butterflies (on the left a Gatekeeper or Hedge Brown, on the right a Marbled White) nectaring on Thistle flowerheads.
One-Place Studies, where family history and local history unite.

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Society for One-Place Studies @oneplacestudies.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Welcome to what promises to be a very hot #OnePlaceWednesday for many of us! Liz is once again in charge of Society posts today while Steve continues to seek out Welsh wildlife. Use the hashtag to add your own #OnePlaceStudies posts to the mix, at any time today!

#OnePlaceWednesday.
Image: Photo of the view across a lake, with the sun rising behind trees on the far side. The sky is various shades of pink and yellow, and along with sun and the silhouetted trees is reflected on the surface of the lake, parts of which are covered with water lily leaves.
One-Place Studies, where family history and local history unite.

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Aldbourne Archive @aldbournearchive.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

£10 in the Heritage Centre, £12 Amazon

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Aldbourne Archive @aldbournearchive.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Smashing little booklet, thanks to Rob Warren for contacting the Kenyon family and obtaining permissions, with some great illustrations and photos.

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Aldbourne Archive @aldbournearchive.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

David Kenyon Webster "fondly recalls the downland village where his unit was billeted in 1943 and 1944, when England was an embattled island and all the tourists wore khaki". Available from the Aldbourne Heritage Centre, pubs and Post Office. Also Amazon if you can't #ShopLocal #OnePlaceWednesday

Photo shows the cover of a booklet entitled Aldbourne's Awakening a memoir of Aldbourne in 1944 by David Kenyon Webster author of Parachute Infantry and one of the Band of Brothers. The emblems of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment and Kenyon's sketch of the Aldbourne village pond with the church in the background also features.

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Society for One-Place Studies @oneplacestudies.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

#OnePlaceStudies are where #FamilyHistory and #LocalHistory unite, and where complex webs of relationships—familial, social, economic and others—are revealed. Share your OPS news, views, pics, tips, links and chat with the #OnePlaceWednesday hashtag at any time today! Registered Studies | Join us

#OnePlaceWednesday.
Image: Photo of a spider web taken at 6am on a June morning in the One-Place Study parish of Fawsley. The golden light of the early morning sun highlights the strands of silk, against a dappled green background.
One-Place Studies, where family history and local history unite.

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Aldbourne Archive @aldbournearchive.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Apples are thriving on the tree beside the memorial stone Cecil Newton unveiled in 2024 here in Aldbourne. His likeness is now alongside the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards Memorial in Creully sur Seulles. With thanks to the Newton family. #OnePlaceWednesday

A memorial stone to all service personnel stationed in Aldbourne, with poppy wreath, next to an apple tree dedicated to Cecil Newton commemorating all from the village who fought in the Second World War. The photo is taken in the evening with long shadows giving way to sunshine, houses and hills in the distance.

Apples on Cecil's tree beside the football field in Aldbourne

Bust of Cecil Newton unveiled at the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards Memorial in Creully sur Seulles during the D-Day commemorations 2026.

Close up of the head and shoulders bronze sculpture depicting Cecil Newton born 1923 died 2025 at the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards Memorial in Creully sur Seulles. The inscription reads Liberator and Friend of Normandy, Citizen of Honour of Creully sur Seulles.

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Society for One-Place Studies @oneplacestudies.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Our blogging prompt for June is #OnePlaceCarers. Take a look at carers of all kinds in your #OnePlaceStudies: paid or unpaid, working in homes or institutions, caring for young, elderly or infirm people. Who in, or from, your OPS provided care for those who needed it? #OnePlaceWednesday

Blogging and Social Media Prompt, June 2026: #OnePlaceCarers.
Image: Photo of one hand, reaching down from the top of the picture, taking hold of another hand, reaching up from the bottom right of the picture. The background is dark, with the hands lit by a light source partly visible at the top right corner of the picture.
www.one-place-studies.org/blogging-prompts/
One-Place Studies, where family history and local history unite.

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Society for One-Place Studies @oneplacestudies.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Welcome to the last #OnePlaceWednesday of May 2026! We may be quieter than usual this week, as Steve is staying in a place with patchy wifi. Liz will help keep things going though, so do use the hashtag to post your #OnePlaceStudy news, views, tips, pics, questions, suggestions and general chat.

#OnePlaceWednesday.
Image: A photo of a view at Fawsley in Northamptonshire. We are looking across some well-grazed pasture towards a large country house, consisting of several wings of 2 to 3 storeys, all constructed with sandy-brown stone. In the foreground, the trunk of an Oak tree rises from the right side of the picture, with leady boughs and branches reaching almost to the left side of the image, the lowermost of which almost 'touches' the top of the country house.
One-Place Studies, where family history and local history unite.

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Aldbourne Archive @aldbournearchive.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Turnpike Cottage at Preston, near Aldbourne, on the B4192 was immortalised by Bernard Adams for the Recording Britain project c1940. Sadly, that seems as close as artists came to Aldbourne village; although there are several of Ramsbury in the collection. collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O110561...

collections.vam.ac.uk

Toll House, Preston, Nr.Aldbourne | Adams, Bernard | V&A Explore The Collections

Watercolour by Bernard Adams, 'Toll House, Preston, Nr.Aldbourne', from the Recording Britain Collection (Berkshire); ca.1940. Signed and titled.

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Aldbourne Archive @aldbournearchive.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

The yellow flags are out by the village pond today 💛

the picture shows the edge of the village pond in Aldbourne with yellow iris just starting to emerge

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Aldbourne Archive @aldbournearchive.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

"I have checked 211 wild flower species [in the village], but an expert botanist would find more. Of these the dandelion might be named its patron saint, glowing on every verge and bank, sending its beautiful, mischievous flakes into every garden."

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Aldbourne Archive @aldbournearchive.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

The village is still buzzing when the sun shines. Ida Gandy: Heart of a Village, a study of Aldbourne published in 1975 #WorldBeeDay2026 and #OnePlaceWednesday

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Society for One-Place Studies @oneplacestudies.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

A few useful links to pages and resources on the Society for #OnePlaceStudies website: ✦ Home page ✦ About us ✦ What is a one-place study? ✦ A guide to one-place studies (PDF) ✦ Registered Studies ✦ Blogging prompts ✦ Events ✦ Join us #OnePlaceWednesday

The cover of our e-booklet (cropped from portrait to square). The top half features a photo of houses and streets on the edge of a village, with fields and trees beyond. The bottom half features the title: The Society for One-Place Studies Presents A Guide to One-Place Studies.

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Society for One-Place Studies @oneplacestudies.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

It’s #OnePlaceWednesday! Join in by using the hashtag to post, at any time today, about #OnePlaceStudies, where #FamilyHistory and #LocalHistory unite. Questions? Ask them! OPS updates, resources, blog posts, links, pictures? Share them! About One-Place Studies🔗 | Registered Studies🔗 | Join us🔗

#OnePlaceWednesday.
Image: Photo of a corner of a churchyard, with three grave markers (from left to right, a relatively new stone, a wooden cross, and an old stone with lichens growing on it) amongst long grass and Ox-eye Daisies. Just behind the grave markers is a Hawthorn bush with red rather than white flowers, and a little further away are more trees.
One-Place Studies, where family history and local history unite.

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