Printed Publications

Aspects of Helmdon No 1 (1997) [sold out but it can be loaned from Northamptonshire Libraries or seen at the County Record Office] 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) [sold out but see above] 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) [sold out but see above] 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) [sold out but see above] 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) (maybe a few copies left) 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.AAspects of Helmdon No 6

Aspects of Helmdon No 6  (2008) (a few copies left)   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.

Read the independent reviews of WEA Helmdon Branch publications.

Aspects of Helmdon is published by Helmdon branch WEA, and nos. 4, 5  and 6 are priced at £3 and available from Richard Foster

A copy costs £3.75 if it includes post and packing in the UK. Cheques are payable to "Helmdon Studies Group". (Overseas: Euros, US and Canadian dollars accepted, postage price on application).

Please contact:

Richard Foster
1 Wappenham Road
Helmdon
Northamptonshire
NN13 5QA
e-mail

(01295) 760316

WEA Charity reg. no. 1112775

Inscriptions

In 1997-8 the group, under the direction of Val Moir, transcribed the inscriptions in the parish church, churchyard, chapel, war memorial and elsewhere round the village. There are over 500 entries, beginning in the mid-seventeenth century. Where possible the most appropriate entry in the burial register has been added.

Village Film

In April 2000 we finished the film HELMDON 1999  "A Year in the Life of Helmdon". Copies have been be given to the Record Office for posterity (with explanatory typescript) and to the Parish Council, and are available for loan by village organisations from the Richard Farquharson.

Helmdon Web Site

The creation of a Helmdon web site was first mooted in 1999. Now maintained by the Helmdon branch WEA with Danny Moody as Webmaster, and Audrey Forgham as Editor the web site has become a resource for the whole village.

The site has received much praise. In March 2002 it received the Amdow Web Design Community Website Award. Then the web site was reviewed by BBC's Radio Five team as part of Simon Mayo's regular "Top Web Sites of the Week" feature, and in April 2002 they placed it fourth. A year later the site was acclaimed the UK Villages Online Web Site for 2003.

Further success came in the Calor Village of the Year 2005, when the web site was instrumental in Helmdon winning the ICT Village of the Year for Central England (see press cutting).

The web site is being developed on an on-going basis. We would welcome your suggestions and comments.