Aspects of Helmdon No.1. Helmdon Branch WEA., 1997. A5, 52pp., £3.00 + 40pp from Mrs A.L.Harwood, The Old Bakehouse, 44 Church Street, Helmdon, Northants, NN13 5QJ.

This booklet epitomizes the value of local educational authority courses in local history, and the research they can inspire. It is entitled No.1, and we hope that there will be plenty more to follow.

There are six articles, two by Jean Spendlove, who follows up her introductory piece on oral history with a vivid demonstration of this in "The level crossing: one man's contribution to history", a discussion of the purpose of stones beneath a footpath associated with the spot where a railway crossed the brook.

Audrey Harwood also supplies two, the first unsurprisingly on the bakers who worked from her present home, whom she has identified over the past two centuries and more. The second is on "Lacemaking in Helmdon", making good use of the census. It is interesting to compare this grass-roots analysis with John Clarke's wider ranging view of this occupation ("Early Victorian South Northamptonshire", C & CH, 13, 3, Summer 1995, pp.77-88).

Helmdon is one of those rural villages that by an accident of geography had two railways and stations to go with them, though services were not impressive. Stewart Moir describes their coming (and going). Edward Watkins, Chairman of the Great Central Railway, even envisaged a channel tunnel in 1901.

Finally, Valerie Moir makes an impressive analysis of the census records, with alphabetical listings of surnames for each of six returns (1841-91), and tables of occupations, population, households, birthplace etc - it is hard to think what else might be extracted from these records.

Willy Watson has provided attractive drawings based, presumably, on old photos, and Ross Vicars has been responsible for the pleasing presentation.

I wish the final blank page had been used to provide a selective index.

J.S.W.G