Events

October 2025

Legacies: Tewkesbury Abbey and the Shadows of the Slave Trade

Like many historic churches, Tewkesbury Abbey holds stories that connect this community to the transatlantic slave trade.

To mark Black History Month, we are delighted to host an exhibition developed from research by the University of Gloucestershire, exploring the histories of three local families whose lives were linked to this global story. The research is also available online here.

📅 29 September – 12 October
📍 Inside Tewkesbury Abbey
💷 Free entry, open to all

As part of the exhibition, join us for a special evening event:

Presentation & Panel Discussion

🗓 Wednesday 8 October, 6:30–8:30pm
🎤 With speakers from the Tewkesbury Historical Society and the University of Gloucestershire
💷 Free entry, donations welcome

This is an opportunity to engage with Tewkesbury’s layered history and reflect on how the past continues to shape our community today.

September 2025

Heritage Open Day at Tewkesbury Town Hall

Join us on Saturday 20th September 2025 for a special Heritage Open Day at Tewkesbury Town Hall, where the doors will be open to the public for a rare chance to explore this beautiful 18th-century civic building. Discover the Council Chamber, see the historic Codrington portrait, and learn about the building’s connections to local governance and the transatlantic slave trade. Members of Tewkesbury Voices will be on hand to share insights into ongoing work around the Retain and Explain initiative. This is a unique opportunity to engage with Tewkesbury’s layered history, from its architecture to its hidden legacies. We will meet in the Court Room at 11 am. Entry is free, the event is 1 hour, and no booking is required.

June 2025

University of Gloucestershire: Legacies of Slavery in Tewkesbury

As part of an ongoing partnership with the University of Gloucestershire, second-year students Ella and Morgan present their research into Tewkesbury’s connections to transatlantic slavery.

Their work focuses on key local figures including Lady Ann Clarke, John Reid, and Henry Fowke, uncovering lesser-known stories that link the town to wider colonial histories.

You can explore their findings at Tewkesbury Museum throughout June 2025, and the full research is also available to read here on the Tewkesbury Voices website. This is a valuable opportunity to engage with fresh perspectives on the past and reflect on how it continues to shape our present.

March to June 2025

Abolition Medal Display at Tewkesbury Museum

From March 3rd to June 5th, 2025, Tewkesbury Museum hosts a powerful historical artefact: an 1834 Abolition of Slavery Medal, kindly loaned by Bolton Library and Museum Services.

Originally given to around 800 schoolchildren in Tewkesbury to commemorate the end of slavery in the British Empire, this rare medal offers a meaningful glimpse into how national events were marked at a local level.

You can view the medal in person at the museum in June and explore its full story on our dedicated page here on the Tewkesbury Voices website.

March 2025

Talk: Tewkesbury in the Context of the Codrington Family

Join us on Thursday 27th March 2025 for a fascinating evening as Mr John Dixon, Life President of the Tewkesbury Historical Society, delves into the rich history of Tewkesbury through the lens of the Codrington family. Discover how this influential family shaped the town’s past and left a legacy still felt today.

Whether you’re a local history enthusiast or simply curious about the stories that shaped Tewkesbury, this talk promises to inform and inspire. The event will take place at Tewkesbury Methodist Church, 7:45pm.