Prosecuting Bristol’s Fascists, 1934-1944

"During the Second World War a handful of local fascists or former fascists were detained in the Bristol area as potential security threats. Others were prosecuted for apparently expressing pro-German sympathies and even trying to sabotage the war effort. Eugene Byrne looks at some of these cases".

Aftermaths of war: Bristol in three civil defence plans, 1939-1967

"Three civil defence exercises covering Bristol – in 1939, the 1950s and 1960s – not only have an eerie fascination for their word-pictures of a city plunged into imaginary wars; the written scenarios also throw light on what concerned the scenario writers. As the likely damage in war became more than the authorities could handle, so the planners’ responses took a sinisterly authoritarian turn"

‘No time for cuddles?’ The Wartime residential nurseries at Dyrham Park

During the Second World War, children flocked to the country from cities across Britain as evacuees. Many of the large country houses became nurseries for children below school age; Dyrham Park Manor in Gloucestershire was one of these homes. In this article, Hyla Holden uncovers the story of the Dyram Park nursery for evacuees which was run by Lady Islington.

Remarks on Two Prints: The ‘View of the Entrance to the Lower St. James’ Arcade, Bristol’ and the ‘Interior of the Upper St. James’ Arcade’.

These two delightful prints portraying the Upper and Lower St. James’s Arcades in Broadmead seem particularly appropriate for inclusion, in this issue of The Regional Historian,since they are from the Braikenridge Collection the subject of Sheena Stoddard’s new book reviewed here. They celebrate too the luxurious properties of glass - a subject discussed in Sue Gordon’s article on the Bristol glass industry.

Oral History (Memories – Education, Therapy and Entertainment

This report from the Wiltshire Monthly Intelligencer covers some of Michael Marshman's work on oral history. Marshman’s work took the form of a series of reminiscence sessions entitled 'Do You Remember?'. Whereas with a history talk one turns up, assesses the audience, adjusts a set talk accordingly, delivers it and answers questions, these reminiscence sessions sought to draw memories from local people, producing some very interesting and unique material.