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Community Spirit Shines Through
For anyone who enjoys a good stroll through the countryside,
Helmdon is something of a haven with its 49 footpaths. It
is this very feature which makes looking beneath the surface
of the village so fascinating.
Helmdon, which began in Anglo-Saxon times as Helme's 'den'
or valley, was voted the Best Village in Northamptonshire
last autumn, and although it has the natural beauty of any
village in the area it is the community spirit that shines
through each time.
Again the footpaths are partly responsible. By walking just
a few yards along the road you are sure to find a route that
takes you to one of the village's community hotspots such
as the primary school, the shop or the Bell Inn pub.
The village, is, to the trained eye, divided in two. Some
say this is due to the old railway stations that used to keep
the village buzzing with commuters until the 1970's.
The Great Central railway ran along the northern side of the
village and was considered the top railway, while the Banbury
to Northampton line - nicknamed the 'Nibble and Clink' line
- was considered as the bottom railway, thus splitting the
two parts of the village.
St Mary Magdalen church in the village has recently had more
than £50,000 spent on restoration work - anyone who thinks
there may be a connection between the church and the famous
Magdalen College in Oxford would be right. The college sold
the church to the village only a few years ago.
Terry Glassett, chairman of Helmdon Parish Council, said:
"It's the spirit that makes the village so special. If you
move to the village you would receive a welcome pack and a
visit from Rector John Roberts.
"We are a very strong village which raises money for its own
needs. The primary school here is also really successful.
Five years ago it had 47 pupils, now it has 120.
On the surface Helmdon is great for tourists, with its War
Memorial, village pubs, the church and of course the old railway
lines.
But it is the people that live within the village that made
it special enough to win the best village trophy.
Banbury Cake - 6th March 1997 |
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