Ewelme Society
Aims – “The Society exists to promote and encourage the preservation, development and improvement of features of Ewelme of general public amenity or historic interest.
* To stimulate public interest and care for the beauty, history and character of Ewelme and its neighbourhood.
* To encourage high standards of architecture and town planning, particularly in the adaptation of fresh developments to existing surroundings.
* To hold meetings at which, for instance, qualified persons would be invited to speak on subjects bearing on the Society’s objectives.”
History – The Ewelme Society was formed in 1968 by concerned residents to divert the busy B4009 from its course through the village High Street. The road was then designated by the AA as a ‘preferred route’ for vehicles travelling from the West towards Aylesbury and East Anglia. In time other major concerns were addressed, in particular a protest against the dumping of ‘controlled substances’ in Ewelme gravel quarries which resulted in much stricter laws regarding the dumping of toxic waste. Later, moves were made to remove Ewelme from the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty so that gravel extraction could take place to the north of the village. This plan was also fought, and now Ewelme enjoys Conservation Area status.
The Society continues to take up many and varied causes to preserve and protect the environment for the enjoyment of villagers, old and new.
Projects – In the mid-1990’s a sub-committee was set up to research and archive the history of the village in the twentieth century, under the title ‘20th Century Ewelme’. This was achieved by recording taped interviews, collecting photographs, memorabilia and archival material. These efforts resulted in a week long exhibition at the Village Hall in May 2000 as a tribute to Ewelme’s modern heritage. A book ‘Glimpses of an Oxfordshire Village’ and a professionally made video ‘Ewelme – A Century of Change’ were produced and are available for sale. A large photographic and document archive is being kept up to date, in hard copy and digitally. The contents of the Archive are copyright, and are available for personal inspection on request.
