About us

Wythall History Society was started by Val Lewis after a preliminary meeting at Wythall Library in June 1993. As a television and newspaper journalist and lecturer, who had done research into the area and its people, she found that a number of like minded people were keen to find out more about this ancient village’s history, and that very little printed information was available.

Since then the research group has diligently copied census returns, thanks to the conscientious work of Barbara Nash (Chairman) and Margaret Matthews (Treasurer). Other committee members – Mike Fisher (Vice Chairman) deals with all family history queries, and has compiled the Wythall Index – a record of everyone born in the village since 1750, while Sheila Watkins is involved with archeological matters, also art work. She has painted a large mural on canvas depicting scenes from the history of Wythall and has made old style maps of the village. These are used at the regular exhibitions In which the Society takes part.

A photographic survey has been one of the society’s ongoing projects for the last two years, using the 1838 Tythe Map and List of Owners and Tenants; present day photographs are taken, which are then scanned, pages being set up with details of field numbers, owners and tenants from 1838 to the present day wherever possible. These are also produced as slides for the use of other local societies or groups, who may wish to use them for talks. Files of all this information and pictures will, when complete, be bound and lodged at Wythall Library for community use.

The Society was successful in obtaining a Lottery Grant to purchase the necessary equipment to process all these records.

This is just a fraction of the work of the Society, which also includes meetings at Wythall House, attended by members and friends, on the last Friday of each month. See current programme.

Booklets are available on the start of education in Wythall, with separate booklets on each school:
Kingswood, Silver Street Council School, St Mary's Church School and the Baptist School. They each include interesting extracts from the school logbooks.
These booklets are £1.95 including postage and packing (UK)

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