Wednesday 24th September 2025
7.30pm
Freshford Village Memorial Hall
Sport seems to be as old as the human race – it is believed people have enjoyed sports for thousands of years both as a way of honing skills essential for survival, such as hunting for food, but also for their own sake. Historic artefacts and paintings demonstrate that sports such as wrestling, throwing the javelin, weightlifting, swimming and many others have been practised for thousands of years by many different societies.
This talk, by Ally McConnell, Archivist at Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre, will take us on a journey through recreational pursuits in Wiltshire through the centuries, as represented in the Wiltshire and Swindon Archives, from the sports clubs and societies to school sports and hunting and shooting. We hear also about when it can all go wrong, using examples from the depositions and coroners’ bills.
Members free – Visitors £3.00 – All welcome