Wessex Society

18/06/2026

If you think you know Stonehenge...

Radiocarbon dated to around 5,000 years ago, the discovery reveals evidence for the earliest known alignment with the solstice in the Stonehenge landscape.

01/06/2026

Coming up...

Eight hundred years ago, three Bishops were lifted out of their graves on this hilltop and carried two miles downhill to a brand-new cathedral.

Why move the dead? Why abandon a great cathedral that had stood fir 150 years? And what really happened afterwards (clue: the answer isn't what most people might think)?

Over the next two weeks we will tell you the whole story, chapter by chapter. And on the 13th and 14th of June, we will mark the 800th anniversary of that day, right where it happened.

Follow along

26/05/2026

Nice to see the Wiltshire Museum getting into the spirit of Wessex Day.

25/05/2026

Sheer madness: our speciality.

Tom Kopke from Germany out-tumbles local hero Chris Anderson on a meltingly hot day in Gloucestershire

25/05/2026

Visiting Bapsey Pond, Taplow for Wessex Day / St Aldhelm’s Day.

The “wrong Saint” perhaps but nonetheless a strong connection to Wessex - the pool is said to have been the site where St Birinus, the “Apostle of Wessex” carried out the first baptisms of the local Saxon population.

Birinus led the way for Aldhelm to become our patron Saint, whose feast day has become the basis for Wessex Day.

An added bonus is that lands on a bank holiday this year!🍻

04/05/2026

Professor Stephen Rippon will attempt to make sense of 'Dumnonia' and the rest between the 5th and mid-7th centuries.

Britain ceasing to be part of the Roman Empire was one of the most formative episodes in our history, yet research on Late Antique Britain has

18/04/2026

The Bradninch estate, acquired in 1337, is as old as the Duchy itself. A relationship with tenants built up over 20 generations is now set to end. Sentiment carries little weight with the modern business venture that today's monarchy has become.

One resident who lives there says it is "unexpected and shocking news".

29/01/2026

Wessex was well fought over. In some of the other places, there was no civil war at all.

How England was politically divided during the Civil Wars

28/01/2026

A bit late, here's our annual playlist of the best new music from Wessex and Cornwall in 2025:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7y304MKDylOciD8MNVMOuq?si=Y5XMxyL1QAWwpffFHhhrLQ&pi=qNDSPKBiSaWuw

Playlist · Nick Xylas · 103 items

10/10/2025

'The Winch' is back.

The name refers to the bishops of Wi******er, long-time owners of the hundred and manor of Taunton Deane. Acquired in the 10th century, this was their largest estate. It included Taunton Castle, very near neighbour to the pub. Hence the Gothick try at blending in.

The old name has gone and returned more than once over recent decades. Maybe this time it will stick?

The Wi******er is back