Steventon History Society - Oxon

22/07/2026

Harriet Jacobs and her time in Steventon - an opportunity to participate in an exciting research project.

Steventon History Society members will know that we've been involved in researching the life of this remarkable woman and, in particular, her time in Steventon in 1845 / 46.

A team from Oxford Brookes University, led by Dr Niall Munro, will be making two visits to Steventon to engage in research around the sights and sounds that Harriet Jacobs might have experienced and how they relate to our lives now.

And this is where you come in! Dr Munro writes, "We would love for you to join us on either Saturday 1 or Saturday 8 August from 12-3pm as we explore Jacobs’s life and legacy in the village. Everyone is welcome, and you don’t need to know anything about Jacobs or Steventon’s history beforehand.

We’ll be telling Jacobs’s story and visiting some of the places and spaces associated with her time here. We’ll think about what it’s like to experience them and ask you to reflect on how you respond to Jacobs’s life as someone who lives in the village now.

Following these visits we plan to create an exhibition and short publication and you will be warmly encouraged to contribute to both."

If you’d like to join us on 1 or 8 August or would like more information, please contact Niall Munro: [email protected]

16/07/2026

The 1966 Show - this Saturday in Steventon Village Hall

It wasn’t just the World Cup in 1966. Lots of other things happened too. Steventon History Society will be presenting ‘The 1966 Show’ on July 18th, 10am to 5 pm. See you there.

04/07/2026

All ready for the launch of the new Steventon Church Burial Map at the Church Fete, Steventon Village Hall. 2pm today.

03/07/2026

It wasn’t just the World Cup in 1966. Lots of other things happened too. Steventon History Society will be presenting ‘The 1966 Show’ on July 18th, 10am to 5 pm. See you there.

24/06/2026

This looks interesting

05/06/2026

On the 5th June 1944 Private Vernon Jones of the 2nd Herts Battalion, a shy lad born in the Welsh Valleys but now living in the small village of Drayton, Berkshire, celebrated his 21st birthday. Not that there was much time for traditional celebration! For Private Jones, like many thousand of his co soldiers was billeted in the Southampton area and was soon to step aboard an American troop ship bound for the beaches of Northern France. Having just turned ‘a man’ he was about to face the most daunting and frightening challenge of his life. At about 08:20 on the morning of June 6th he stepped into the sea off ‘Gold’ beach, part of the second landing team of the British 50th Infantry Division, like many men beside him, not knowing whether he would ever live to see another birthday.
To find out what happened to Vernon go to https://www.steventonhistory.co.uk/vernon-jones-d-day-veteran2838a259

30/03/2026

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002tbh8

This may not be part of Steventon’s history but it’s a fascinating aspect of Oxford’s social history.

The story of The Cutteslowe Walls, and their long lasting impact, is on Radio 4 every day this week.

The former council estate which sat behind two eight-foot walls for 25 years.

24/03/2026

Steventon History Society has been invited to participate in a project led by the Humanities Department at Oxford Brookes University. They are focusing on Harriet Jacobs' time in Steventon. As part of the project, there will be an event on Thursday 16th April, 6.30pm - 8.00 at The Old Fire Station in Oxford. This is a free event and all are welcome.

Come and support your local history society.
Book via Eventbrite - see post below.

19/01/2026

05/01/2026

Wantage pub tour led by Dick Bosley

What a great start to the year this was. An intrepid band of Steventon History Society members joined Dick for a fascinating historic tour of Wantage pubs. There were many highlights but few of us will forget the dramatic account of the gruesome beheading of a pub landlady by a disgruntled customer!