You've got an idea of our aims, now you might like to know a bit about what we do:

Naturally enough, Civic Society members are interested in changes to be made to their locality, and developers have at last realized that it pays to acknowledge this interest - meaning presentations of large developments tend to be offered to the Society at a fairly early stage, often followed by a conducted tour of the buildings as they near completion.

The Society likes to be seen to keep a close eye on the procedures that control the built environment, as each Town Centre Manager has taken the position they have given us their view of the role, and we have had a working relationship with all of them. We also engaged those involved in the Local Plan and the Design Guide to speak at our meetings, and the authors of the latter - Rod Harrington and Tony Haskell - are always happy to talk to us. Rod has, in the past, explained Development Control and the Planning Process, whilst Tony advised us on The Art of Townscape. 

We have a good relationship with Taunton Deane Borough Council, and our executive members meet regularly with the Planning Department to discuss new applications, passing relevant information to Society members via the Newsletter or at the monthly meetings as necessary. Occasionally, these issues are significant enough to warrant an entire evening's debate amongst the Society in general

But our monthly meetings are more varied than this would suggest.  Drawing examples from the last few years, we have tackled industrial archaeology, the brick and tile industry, and the history of Wellington's industrialists, the Fox family.  We have visited the nether-regions of Somerset County Museum, learnt about fire insurance signs and Inn signs, and have been treated to several presentations of recent archaeological discoveries, and have enjoyed the picture-postcard heyday of local villages.  We have even explored Tourism in Taunton Deane and Historic Buildings in Slovakia and Prague, as well as Somerset's place in Europe, as seen by MEP Graham Watson... all during the winter months, in the comfort of a central, local hall.

Outdoor visits, on the other hand, have ranged further than might be imagined. One of the greatest pleasures of the Civic Society is that we can ask other Civic Societies to show us around their towns. Thus we have been enthusiastically led around the likes of Bridgwater, Tewkesbury, Frome, Bruton, Weston-super-Mare, Wells, Tiverton, Langport and Sherborne, taken down obscure-but-fascinating back-alleys and shown the most controversial buildings. A trip to Bristol’s Canon's Marsh in 2001 was particularly stimulating, because the transformation of the old, blitzed dockland into a stunning, lively leisure area, greatly enjoyed by many, was a battle hard fought by our hosts, Bristol Civic Society.  One unusual but memorable trip was to the Foster Yeoman quarry, near Frome, and the grand old house they have sensitively restored to use as their head office.

Minor stately homes and old houses are favourite venues, such as Glebe Court, Cothay Manor, Hatch Court (shortly before it was sold and 'went private’), the unfinished Woodchester Mansion, which is a Victorian building site, and Chiswick House - chosen to illustrate an earlier talk on Eighteenth-century Follies in the Landscape.  Peter Speke kindly invited us to inspect his renovation of the old watermill on his land, Philip White talked about and guided us around Hestercombe Gardens as soon as they were restored, meanwhile we have followed canals, both on foot along dry beds and afloat, at the soothing, measured pace of the carthorse that towed the barge.

On a similar watery theme, we once travelled to Greenwich along the Thames returning to the coach via the Docklands Light Railway - one of several London trips; our latest was to tour the new British Library.

Another theme has been Arts and Crafts, with a conducted tour of Cheltenham Museum and visits to several Cotswolds villages where William Morris and colleagues worked and lived. For a comprehensive list of our activities since 1995, see Talks, Tours and Trips. Click Here

The monthly meetings and summer trips strive to be both entertaining and informative, which is what most members want.  But beyond that there is scope for more involvement.  Apart from our Committee, which is often invited to offer views and suggestions that are frequently adopted by council and developers, our effective members occasionally meet to discuss items of civic interest in the local news, or neglected problem areas that need to be highlighted. They decide the line the Society should take, then inform the press or the relevant authority through a spokesperson, or write as individuals to add the weight of numbers to add emphasis. Contributions to the monthly Newsletter are also appreciated, with the added bonus that the sheet's circulation amongst local newspapers, radio and television means that your story might be 'picked up' and receive wider coverage. And of course, with the advent of this website, there is even more scope for involvement – how about sending us your memories of Taunton?

Our parent organization The Civic Trust holds conferences and courses to help us be effective as possible, whilst encouraging Civic Societies to host yearly regional conferences at which we can share our experiences and hints on how to run our society. We hope to host the 2005 conference here in Taunton.

If you feel you would like to become an effective member of the Civic Society please let us know - you will be most welcome.  

Now the practicalities: Indoor meetings are normally held on the third Thursday of the month, in the Library Meeting Rooms.  They begin at 7.30pm, end around 9.30pm and their cost is covered by the yearly subscription.  The AGM is in March, and our autumn meeting is traditionally shared with Wellington Museum and Local history Society.  

There are no meetings in August and December.  Summer trips and tours are individually arranged and timed to suit the venue.