Tackley Local History Group

Roman Villa & Mosaic Storyboard

Our storyboard about the discovery of the Roman villa and mosaic is now on display in the lobby of the village hall.

For more than 50 years, members of Tackley Local History Group have been exploring the history of this Oxfordshire village and the people who lived and worked in and around it from 12000 BC to the 20th century.

We have published several books, and our exhibition Tackley Through Time can be seen in St Nicholas’ Church. We have carried out excavations at the church and at Gibraltar Point, undertaken archaeological investigations, and built up a collection of archives which is kept in the village hall. We run several additional archaeological and historical projects, and organise an annual series of talks from September to April.

New members are always welcome, whether from Tackley or further afield. The subscription is £12 per year. Please contact the secretary Sue Ashton at 10 St Nicholas Road or at tackleyhistory@gmail.com. There are more than 500 members in our Facebook group.

Stone monument with a brass bell and a plaque, surrounded by grass on a rocky shoreline.

The Wreck of the Cataraqui

Forty-two impoverished migrants from Tackley lost their lives off the coast of Tasmania in 1845.

Aerial view of a partially unearthed mosaic floor showing its reddish brown pattern.

Street Farm Roman Villa & Mosaic

Excavations for a housing development uncovered a large villa complex with mosaic floor.

A trench dug in a field, about a metre deep, viewed from one end. Seven people look into it.

Digging Tackley’s Past: The Gibraltar Point Site

A grant enabled us to carry out an excavation at this local archaeological site.

Glazed ceramic pot inscribed: A present from E Humphres to Miss Sharp, Tackley, March 2nd, 1898.

Stories From Our Past

Articles about events and objects from Tackley’s history.

Large snail on damp soil. Its shell is light brown or orange.

Tackley History Mysteries

The unexpected or unusual in Tackley’s past.

About 30 people of all ages stand around tables working with clay.

Pottery Days

Local potter Jane Bowen helped us make and fire pottery using Tackley clay and ancient techniques.

Terraced stone cottages reflected in a puddle on tarmac.

Recording Tackley

Residents’ memories will feature alongside photographs in our forthcoming book.

Programme

28 September 2026 – Carol Anderson: Glove-Making in West Oxfordshire (with a particular focus on Woodstock)
26 October 2026 – Deborah Kilroy: Members Behaving Badly: A History of Britain in 52 Parliamentary Rogues (local author Deborah Kilroy introduces her new book)
23 November 2026 – Mike Heaney: The Ancient English Morris Dance (highlighting local traditions)
25 January 2027 – Robin Gibbons: Tackley’s Parsons, Priests and Pastors: Some Colourful Characters Through the Centuries (continuing the talk from last year)
22 February 2027 – Tim Healey: Drovers’ Roads in Oxfordshire and Beyond
22 March 2027 – Mark Davies: Historic Waterways: The Oxford Canal
26 April 2027 – David Meara: 50 Gems of Oxfordshire: The History and Heritage of the Most Iconic Places

We meet in Tackley Village Memorial Hall. Join us for tea and coffee at 7:15 pm before the talk starts at 7:30 pm. Annual membership is £15, and non-members are welcome for £5.