The Holywell-cum-Needingworth Local History Group was formed in 2012, and has usually met alternate months (February, April, June, August, October, December) on or about the second Monday at 7.30. Details of meetings are usually publicised in the Villager and Herald.
We are a small group, and everyone is welcome. For further information contact Cherryl Frost, Sally Beaman, or Peter Cooper.
If you would like to join the mailing list for the group click the button below.
| Topics addressed (most recent first), |
|---|
| Needingworth East walk, |
| Past studies, |
| Holywell church [St John the Baptist], |
| Provision of a poorhouse in Needingworth, |
| Updates to the website and suggestions, |
| More about our Old Pubs, |
| The Old Needingworth Pubs Walk, |
| Hill Farm House - dated 1623, |
| Needingworth in 1894 - a letter to relatives in America, |
| Maps of Holywell with Needingworth, |
| Devising our own Treasure Trail, |
| Treasure Trail – Houghton and Wyton, |
| The history of Bakers Dozen, |
| The Dodson/Norman/Bedford families, |
| The Baptists of Needingworth, |
| Needingworth Fire Walks, |
| The Sandifer family, |
| A Walk along Church Street, |
| Huntingdonshire Archives - behind the scenes tour, |
| More from the Vestry Book, |
| Our History Library, |
| Local Metal-Detecting Finds, |
| Guided walk round west Needingworth, |
| The Mystery of Meeting Lane - the Baptist Cemetery, |
| Family Links back to 1250, |
| Recent updates to the website, |
| Guided look at the church and the bells, |
| Guided walk round Holywell, |
| Baptists in Needingworth, |
| Parish Registers, |
| Local Societies Archives, |
| Hunts cyclist battalion, |
| Introduction to the website, |
| Researching those who served in the First World War, |
| The Gaunt Family, |
| Discoveries from the newspapers, |
| Local photographs, |
| Vestry Minutes, |
| Oliver Peter's memoir, |
Hi Peter
This is possibly the wrong place to leave a general comment but it applies here too!
It’s me really but I’m finding I do have problems reading all the small print! It’s clearer where it is black on white.
Is it possible to increase the font size or change the colours of writing?
Sally
Hi Sally,
The easiest way to increase the font size on your screen is to hold down Ctrl and press the + key as many times as you need. This works on most browsers and most websites. There are also the Accessibility options on most computers, such as the Windows magnifier (which I use sometimes when images are too small).
There is more detail for almost all situations online such as here and here.
I shall bear in mind the issue you raise in the revised website I am developing, and ask for comments.
Peter
Hi Peter, do you transcripts of the topics discussed please. I’m interested in the poorhouses and the Holywell and needingworth maps, although to be honest I’m interested in all of it lol.
Thanking you
Rob Maile
Hi Robin, Sorry I did not reply sooner as for some reason the system did not notify me of your request. I will answer you directly from my personal email account so we can work out how best I can help you.
Peter
Hello! I lived in Needingworth in 1984 when I was very young and have started to research the history of the town as of late. There are some topics above I am very interested in. Are there transcripts or videos from these meetings/topics? I am especially looking for A Walk Along Church Street but any historical information (as well as photos) would be great. Thanks!
Hi Sarah, We do not have transcripts or videos of our meetings (we are usually a very small group). However, there is lots of information on the website, and lots more in my database and files. The walk along Church Street was fascinating.
I will try to contact you from my personal email within the next week and we can explore how I can best help you.
Peter
Bunny Hollow
Warrens Lane
Botesdale
Diss
Norfolk
IP22 1BW
Date: 31 August 2023
Dear Members
Holywell cum Needingworth History Group
I hope that you don’t mind me contacting you.
I am researching evidence of football prior to 1860 and it has become clear to me that it is likely that there is far more than hitherto believed.
The British Newspaper Archive has already unearthed a multitude of references from c 1740 that have upset the orthodox account of football’s origins. I am convinced that those origins date back even further.
Having discovered pre-modern references to football in Cambridgeshire, I am interested to know of all and any references to football in the Holywell cum Needingworth area.
Whereas it may be that such instances of football occur readily to you or your Society associates, it may also be the case that some delving and digging might be necessary. I am prepared to pay for any time and trouble taken or to make a donation.
My research thus far has taught me that references to football are often found in:
• Plans and maps (place and road names)
• Land ownership, tenancy and transfer of property documents
• Ecclesiastical and civil hearings
• Diaries
• Accounts of local events
Please be aware that in the eastern counties of England, football was known as ‘camping’ (i.e. a ‘great camp’ would refer to a football match and a ‘camping close’ a football field).
Your help would be much appreciated. My aim is to uncover what evidence there may be supporting the possibility that organised football, with rules, was commonplace in the British Isles several hundred years before its accepted birth in the mid-nineteenth century. Each individual fragment adds weight to the possibility.
Please feel free to contact me on:
Home: 01379 890197
Mobile: 07936 031632
Email: barker655@btinternet.com
Yours sincerely
Stephen Barker
Hello,
I’m a historian at Queen’s University, Belfast, and in association with others I have just launched a new, free website that might be of interest to your members:
https://www.100ballads.org/
The website focuses on over 100 hit songs of the 17th century, and it includes images, new recordings and a wealth of other information.
I can’t promise songs about Holywell-cum-Needingworth in particular but there should nevertheless be plenty of material here for historical enthusiasts to explore!
If it might be possible for you to circulate the website address among your members, I would be extremely grateful.
Many thanks for any help you are able to offer.
best wishes,
Chris