Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society

Membership

Application for Membership

Founded 1849, to study and promote the Archaeology, Historic Buildings, Local History and Natural History of the Historic County of Somerset

In 1873 the Society purchased Taunton Castle to save the historic site for the County. Here, its headquarters and library are housed, as well as the Museum, incorporating the Society's exhibits, which is leased to the County Council and is open free of charge to members. In addition to the County Museum (in the Society's Castle) members have free entry to the Museum of Rural life in the Abbey Barn at Glastonbury.

The library of over 30,000 volumes includes not only books but also the finest collection of illustrations relating to the County. The Society caters for the needs of the naturalist, archaeologist and historian by arranging a comprehensive programme of lectures, excursions, excavations, field meetings, and social gatherings and enables members of similar interests to meet and exchange ideas.

More than 140 volumes of papers and articles have been published by the Society, forming a major source of information for Somerset, and each year these enable members to record their own studies more permanently. Newsletters containing shorter contributions and details of events and activities are circulated regularly. Despite the change in administrative county boundaries in recent years, the Society continues to be the only organisation of its kind covering the whole of the historic County of Somerset.

For a subscription of £25, Ordinary Members (individual and institutional) receive all the Society's periodical publications free of charge. This will include the Society's annual Proceedings.

Associate Members (who must be members of the household of an Ordinary Member) can participate in all activities for £9 a year.

Junior members (14 - 18 years) are enrolled for £9 a year.

Students in full-time education are treated as Juniors until graduating or reaching the age of 22, whichever is the earlier date.

The annual subscription for Overseas Members (individual and institutional) is £30 (due to the extra postage costs), payable in £ sterling.

A person aged 60 years or more may be elected to Life Membership on payment of a sum equal to or not less than 20 times the annual subscription for the time being of an Ordinary Member. A person under 60 years of age shall also be eligible for Life Membership on payment of the amount provided above and a further sum equivalent to one year's subscription of an Ordinary Member for each year that his or her age is less than 60.

Membership subscriptions are due on 1st January each year, and gives you:

• Entrance to the County Museum and Rural Life Museum;

• Use of the Society's libraries at Paul Street, Taunton, and Taunton Castle;

• Biennial newsletters;

• Access to all of the many events and activities in the Society's Programme.

• The Society's annual Proceedings, ( for full members )