Who we are

Steeple Aston Village Archive is a self- financing, non-profit-making, village community project run by unpaid volunteer residents. It relates to the two villages of Steeple Aston and Middle Aston. The Archive was inaugurated on 11th January 2000, at a meeting of the first five volunteers (later the first Trustees), and was officially "opened" on 25th September 2000, by the Oxfordshire County Archivist, Carl Boardman, D.A.S. The Trustees meet regularly as the Archive Management Group, assisted by additional selected volunteers.

What we do

The function of the archive is to collect and preserve documents and material reflecting the life and times of our villages and their heritage. We aim to provide access to this information to everyone through a variety of media, including to those who have moved away from the villages and who may otherwise not have the opportunity to share our village history, and we do so increasingly by email and the internet. SAVA produces regular articles on aspects of the history of Steeple and Middle Aston in the local newsletter "Steeple Aston Life", and responds to enquiries from people often trying to make connections with ancestors from the villages. Some of the many photographs held in the archive have been produced as CDs, as have copies of two books about the villages and back copies of the local newsletter. The archive itself is housed in the village hall building, by courtesy of the Parish Council Village Hall sub-committee, and the main hall is also hired for our archive events. Unfortunately, however, public access to the archive store is not feasible at present.

SAVA produces an annual exhibition in Steeple Aston village hall each November, drawing on material collected in the archive and also carrying out original research on the chosen theme. For the last few years, a high-quality booklet has also been produced on the theme of the last exhibition.  These themes have included "Business and Trade", "Steeple Aston at War" and "Village Personalities".  Members of the group work on developing material for the next theme over many months, and attempt to engage local people in various ways wherever possible.  Another annual event held in the hall is the Spring talk, at which an invited expert speaks and answers questions on a topic of local interest.

Finance and sponsorship

The Heritage Lottery Fund kindly funded equipment and project work for us during 2004/5, and a further equipment grant was made by the Oxfordshire Community Foundation in 2009. Steeple Aston Parish Council assists financially with hall hire costs but otherwise we are dependent on sales of booklets and CDs, voluntary donations and sponsorship for our day-to-day running costs, lectures and exhibitions. We may make a small charge if copies of documents or photographs are requested. If you wish to make a payment or donation, a cheque made out to the "Steeple Aston Village Archive Trust" would be very acceptable.  Admittance to our events and exhibitions is free (although we usually "pass the hat" for donations).

To contact SAVA click here.