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Aldbourne Archive
@aldbournearchive.bsky.social
48 followers 27 following 110 posts
Aldbourne, Wiltshire
#OnePlaceStudies #OperationNightingale #DiggingBandOfBrothers
https://aldbournearchive.wordpress.com/
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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.
September 23, 2026 at 11:56 AM
Reposted by Aldbourne Archive
oneplacestudies.bsky.social
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.
September 23, 2026 at 6:30 AM
aldbournearchive.bsky.social
Aldbourne has suffered from several catastrophic fires over the centuries. Thanks to Abraham Joseph Dymock Brind, from 1909 onwards the village had a (very loud) hand-bell to raise the alarm #GreatFireOfLondon #OnePlaceWednesday
The Brind Bell 1909
Handbell presented by A J D Brind in 1909 Abraham Joseph Dymock Brind was born in Islington on 8 October 1867, and lived all his life in London. He married Louisa Esther Boys on 8 May 1898, they ha…
aldbournearchive.wordpress.com
September 2, 2026 at 2:23 PM
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oneplacestudies.bsky.social
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.
September 2, 2026 at 6:30 AM
aldbournearchive.bsky.social
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
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
collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk
August 26, 2026 at 10:47 AM
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oneplacestudies.bsky.social
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.
August 26, 2026 at 6:30 AM
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oz-of-the-ancients.bsky.social
#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
August 21, 2026 at 6:46 PM
aldbournearchive.bsky.social
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
August 5, 2026 at 2:31 PM
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oneplacestudies.bsky.social
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.
August 5, 2026 at 6:30 AM
aldbournearchive.bsky.social
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
oneplacestudies.bsky.social Society for One-Place Studies @oneplacestudies.bsky.social · Aug 2
For more info see this post from @howtohistory.bsky.social. Digitised copies of official reports summarising the findings of the census can also be found online for context, for example: dn790007.ca.archive.org/0/items/cens...
1851 Ecclesiastical Census
England and Wales
howtohistory.substack.com
August 5, 2026 at 5:20 AM
aldbournearchive.bsky.social
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...
July 30, 2026 at 10:16 AM
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willsmanonename.bsky.social
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 the Aldbourne boxes
July 29, 2026 at 7:33 PM
aldbournearchive.bsky.social
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.
July 29, 2026 at 10:34 AM
aldbournearchive.bsky.social
oneplacestudies.bsky.social Society for One-Place Studies @oneplacestudies.bsky.social · Jul 29
The British Newspaper Archive has moved to a search system which mirrors that used by FindMyPast, introduced Workspaces (with the Bookmark system no longer working as it did), and dropped the list of recent additions. Better, worse, or a bit of both? Share your thoughts on #OnePlaceWednesday!
britishlibrary.bsky.social British Library @britishlibrary.bsky.social · Jul 28
Exciting news - the British Newspaper Archive's new platform is here

Explore millions of digitised pages of newspapers and other publications from our British and Irish collections, dating as far back as the 1700s

We can't wait to get exploring 🗞
link.bl.uk/7ci
July 29, 2026 at 9:06 AM
aldbournearchive.bsky.social
A yellow Carnival Dabchick badge has been reported from America as kept for a memento of village life.
aldbournearchive.bsky.social Aldbourne Archive @aldbournearchive.bsky.social · Jul 22
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
Yellow pinbadge with black writing saying I like Aldbourne Carnival with a black outline of a Little Grebe otherwise known as a Dabchick. Dabchick is the nick-name for a native of Aldbourne and the bird appears as a logo for the village magazine of the same name and the Aldbourne Band. Blue pin badge with black writing saying I like Aldbourne Carnival with a black outline of a Little Grebe otherwise known as a Dabchick. Dabchick is the nick-name for a native of Aldbourne and the bird appears as a logo for the village magazine of the same name and the Aldbourne Band.
July 23, 2026 at 6:18 AM
aldbournearchive.bsky.social
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
July 22, 2026 at 4:12 PM
aldbournearchive.bsky.social
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
Yellow pinbadge with black writing saying I like Aldbourne Carnival with a black outline of a Little Grebe otherwise known as a Dabchick. Dabchick is the nick-name for a native of Aldbourne and the bird appears as a logo for the village magazine of the same name and the Aldbourne Band. Blue pin badge with black writing saying I like Aldbourne Carnival with a black outline of a Little Grebe otherwise known as a Dabchick. Dabchick is the nick-name for a native of Aldbourne and the bird appears as a logo for the village magazine of the same name and the Aldbourne Band.
July 22, 2026 at 7:30 AM
Reposted by Aldbourne Archive
oneplacestudies.bsky.social
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.
July 22, 2026 at 6:30 AM
aldbournearchive.bsky.social
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.
July 15, 2026 at 11:56 AM
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oneplacestudies.bsky.social
A study earlier this year of three #Devizes town houses, one of which was gutted by fire in 2024, found evidence of earlier buildings – which had also burned down. Find out more in A Timber-Frame Discovery in Northgate Street, Devizes on the @heritagewshc.bsky.social website. #OnePlaceWednesday
A Timber-Frame Discovery in Northgate Street, Devizes - Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre
Earlier this year Wiltshire Buildings Record undertook a recording of 1-3 Northgate Street, Devizes. In November 2024 no.2 Northgate Street was gutted by fire. This spread to nos.1 and 3 on either sid...
wshc.org.uk
July 15, 2026 at 10:45 AM
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sogorg.bsky.social
📢 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!
July 7, 2026 at 3:45 PM
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oneplacestudies.bsky.social
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
Researching your House's History
Learn about the resources available that can help you to research your house's past.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
July 8, 2026 at 10:30 AM
aldbournearchive.bsky.social
"[Aldbourne] The village is one of the most interesting in the land, both by reason of its antiquity, and especially of its industries, which were many, and principal of which have only recently died out in the face of other methods of manufacture" #OnePlaceWednesday
@heritagewshc.bsky.social
Villages of the White Horse, 1913 - Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre
“But here, on the downs, you are not compassed about with trees and boughs, and locked fast in rich meadows… Instead there are bareness, simplicity, and spaciousness, coupled with a feeling of great s...
wshc.org.uk
July 8, 2026 at 12:00 PM
aldbournearchive.bsky.social
What became of the Aldbourne Boys on the Somme? Phil Comley shared his research with me in July 2020
#OnePlaceWednesday #OnePlaceMissing
aldbournearchive.wordpress.com/2020/07/01/t...
The Somme – Aldbourne Fallen
Over 100 years ago the landscape pictured below was a scene of devastation. When Phil Comley sent me this photo in 2016, ready for an article in our parish magazine, he commented, ‘you can se…
aldbournearchive.wordpress.com
July 1, 2026 at 8:48 AM
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oneplacestudies.bsky.social
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.
July 1, 2026 at 6:30 AM