The Pensford Local History Group (PLHG) commenced their autumn programme in October with a very interesting talk on the “History of All Saints’ Church in Publow”.

Nearly sixty people, some travelling from as far as away as Burnham-on-Sea and also Malvern, came along to the Church where Paul Cooper gave a fascinating insight into the Church’s history, starting in the 12th Century, its links to Keynsham Abbey up until the 16th Century, the stories behind the stained glass windows, the expansion project of the burial ground as well as key undertakings by the various incumbents over time.

Following the presentation, Andrew Hillman, Churchwarden at All Saints’ said: “We have this wonderful, Grade 1 listed building, idyllically situated next to the River Chew. It has been here for hundreds of years but with hardly any houses nearby. Further, it is less than half a mile from the middle of Pensford, where St Thomas a Becket was for many centuries the Parish Church until the floods of 1968.

“The PLHG has done great work in other aspects of village life, particularly mining and the floods, so I suggested they might try to find out why there was Church at Publow in the first place; what happened to it when its mother Church, Keynsham Abbey, was dissolved by Henry VIII and for the next three hundred years; how and why Victorian benefactors restored the building; and all that has happened in the last one hundred and sixty years to give our community the amazing resources we have today.

“Some of the answers will never be known, some can be deduced, and there are plenty of hard facts which have been unearthed from a huge amount of original research. The resultant presentation was fascinating and very valuable.

“The large audience really appreciated the talk and the interest generated among the community as a whole bodes well for the future of the building both as a religious centre and as a community asset.”

The PLHG’s next talk is scheduled for Monday, 7th November 2022 at 7:30pm at Pensford Memorial Hall, Publow Lane, Pensford, BS39 4HW.

Colin Budge will be talking on “Mills, Coal and Glass (from Stanton Drew to Publow)” and will be looking at three rural industries – copper battery, coal and glass in Stanton Drew, Pensford and Publow.

A wide range of sources will be used to illustrate these industries and show what still can be seen in the landscape today.

The story will travel from the beginnings of the 17th Century to their demise in the late‑19th Century. We should be finished by 9pm and look forward to seeing you there. [email protected]