Council Meetings

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 19:30

Parish Council Main Meeting

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 19:30

Parish Council Main Meeting

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 19:30

Finance Committee meeting

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  • West Northamptonshire Council website

History of Helmdon, Family Research, Publications, Reminiscences & Helmdon Trail

This page includes links to external websites (will typically open in a new tab). Helmdon Parish Council cannot accept any responsibility for the information or web links provided by external websites.

Helmdon Local History Group

Established in 2023 to continue the research into the devlopment of the village; its buildings, railways and commerce. Also looking at the lives of residents through time. Click here for the programme of meetings and contact details.

11 Topics on www.helmdonhistory.com

For research into the history of Helmdon, reminiscences from past and present residents, or to take a trip around the village, please click on the appropriate link below (on www.helmdonhistory.com):

  1. History Article of the Week
  2. History Articles
  3. History Projects
  4. Family Research
  5. Genealogical & Historical Documents
  6. Memorial Inscriptions
  7. Reminiscences - Full Listing
  8. Reminiscences - Lockdown Lowdown
  9. Old Village Photos & Postcards - (Click on 'Photograps' tab on home page)
  10. Press Cuttings
  11. The HELMDON TRAIL:

Enjoy a walk round Helmdon, a small village set in open country in the south of Northamptonshire, England. The The Helmdon Trail has old pictures and documents relating to many village buildings and locations of interest.

Parish Church History, Memorials, & Related Projects

For information about history of the church or memorials around the village, please click on the appropriate link below:

Helmdon's Original Website

The story of www.helmdon.com - the website that kept villagers up-to-date with parish council activities and community events from 1999 to 2018. Click here for the full story (on this website).

Helmdon Publications

Aspects of Helmdon - WEA Local Studies Group

In 1995 John Raybould tutored a WEA course entitled "The Changing Village". It covered the last hundred years, and focused on Helmdon. His enthusiasm lingered after the course was over, whetting the appetite for further historical research, and several members of the original class formed themselves into a Local Studies Group. At the beginning, Val and Stewart Moir, Judy Cairns, Audrey Forgham (fomerly Harwood), Jean Spendlove and the late Will Watson were the main members.

In Spring 2000 two new members, Danny and Kate Moody, joined the group, both very interested in the difficult-to-unravel early history of Helmdon. From the outset, the group felt that what was researched should be recorded so, steered by Ross Vicars in the early years, and then by Audrey Forgham, a series of booklets entitled 'Aspects of Helmdon' were published between 1997 and 2008.'.

All articles contained in these publications have been copied to the History Resources section of Helmdon's original village website - see historical articles index (on www.helmdonhistory.com).

Aspects of Helmdon No 1 (1997) contains analysis of census information and articles on the Old Bakehouse, the railways of Helmdon, and lace making, as well as an article on the recording of oral history and an example of it.

Aspects of Helmdon No 2 (1998) contains an article on Helmdon Enclosures of the eighteenth century, work on the four public houses (only one remains), an account of the work that went on in the village (church churchyard, chapel war memorial, etc.) transcribing the inscriptions, and the wartime reminiscences of Mary Turnham, Harold Seckington and Alice Hearne.

Aspects of Helmdon No 3 (1999) contains a history of Helmdon School from log books 1872-1990, by a former head master. Also The WEA (40 years in Helmdon), a contribution on Wine and Wild Flowers; and the reminiscences of Marjorie Watson, née Gulliver, whose childhood was spent at Grange Farm. Copies available as below.

Aspects of Helmdon No 4 (2001) contains the Story of Jeffs Coaches, a focus on Cross Lane, the Manorial history of Helmdon, the Story of the Gullivers, History from Falcutt Fields, and an article about Helmdon Stone and the Roll of Honour of Old Boys of Helmdon Council School serving in the Great War 1914-1918. Copies available as below.

Aspects of Helmdon No 5 (2004) contains articles on The Shops of Helmdon, A Craftman's Notebook, The History of Helmdon Parish Council, Helmdon and the World Beyond, and the Reminiscences of Jim Watson. Copies available as below. Aspects of Helmdon No 6

Aspects of Helmdon No 6 (2008) It contains articles on Helmdon Buildings - Continuity & Change, Reminiscences of Evacuation from Malcolm Care, The Watsons - The Story of a Family, Reminiscences of Joan McCann, The Helmdon Cart, Glebe Farm Barn (with photos of the 1844 wash paintings of the old rectory), Reminiscences of Noreen White, In-Service at Falcutt House in the Thirties, Within Living Memory, and Helmdon from the 1901 Census Records.

All articles contained in these publications have been copied to the History Resources section of Helmdon's original village website - see historical articles index (on www.helmdonhistory.com).

Helmdon Talkabout - Printed Village News Booklets

Helmdon Talkabout was printed quarterly up to issue 47, October 2010.
Publication information can be found here (on www.helmdonhistory.com)

Helmdon Voice - Parish Council Newsletter

Helmdon Voice was published quarterly from 2011 to 2015.
Copies are available to view/download here (on www.helmdonhistory.com)

Helmdon War Memorial Project - The Men Behind the Names

Helmdon War Memorial Project - The Men Behind the Names. This 103 page booklet was first published in 2014 and then updated in 2016. Background information & download available here (on this website)

Film: Helmdon 1999 - A Year In The Life Of A Village

A look at life in Helmdon through the year 1999, produced by the WEA local studies group.
Click here for more information.

History of Helmdon Community Groups

Most Helmdon Community Group pages/sections of this website contain 'News Archive' and/or 'History' information.

See also: INACTIVE Helmdon Clubs & Societies (on this website)

Other Local / County History Resources and Societies

Last updated: Sat, 15 Jul 2023 13:54

Clerk: Miss Charmaine Jay, 34 Peveril Road, Greatworth, Northamptonshire, OX17 2DN

Telephone: 01295 768588 Email: clerk@helmdonparishcouncil.gov.uk

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