Helmdon Local History Group Open Meetings

Helmdon Local History Group

Open Meetings
| | committee | open meetings | news |

The Helmdon Local History Group (HLHG) organises three open meetings each year, usually with a speaker on a topic related to this history of Helmdon and the surrounding area.

Door open 7.45 p.m. – meeting starts at 8pm – in the Reading Room (unless otherwise indicated)

Admission is free for members of HLHG who pay £10 for annual membership.

Non-members are also welcome for a fee of £5.

Free refreshments.

PROGRAMME 2026

10 February 2026 – Reading Room – an illustrated talk by Ross Vicars “Helmdon Happenings in the 17th and 18th centuries – from Parish Records”. Note that this is one week later than stated at our AGM.

09 June 2026 – History Guided Walks around Helmdon (7pm start at locations to be announced). The Reading Room will also be open from 8pm with a table top and/or screened presentation. Everyone will be invited to finish at the Reading Room for refreshments. For more details and booking arrangements see the latest news.

20 October 2026 – Reading Room – (brief) AGM followed by an illustrated talk by a guest speaker. Here we hope to include some farming topics into our history remit. More details will be provided mid 2026.

We do hope you’ll be able to join us at one or more of these events.

_____________________________________

PROGRAMME 2025

04 February 2025

The Parish and the Poor

An illustrated talk by Ross Vicars about attitudes to the poor from medieval times until the end of the 19^th Century.

10 June 2025

Walking Tours of Helmdon’s history – Participants will be split into three groups to cover different areas of the village. Maximum group size will be 15 persons. A start time of 7pm is proposed. Free for members of HLHG and non-members also welcome (non-member’s fee £5). Free refreshments will be available at the Reading Room after the tours.

For all the details of the walking tours and to book your place, please visit https://helmdonparishcouncil.gov.uk/local-history-group/#next-event.

21 October 2025
What Has The Parish Council Ever Done For Us?
Discover the dramas, disputes, and decisions that lie hidden in 130 years of council archives.

The talk will be preceeded by a short AGM. See the papers for the meeting:

_________

PROGRAMME 2024

06 February Helmdon’s Website: Past Present & Future

A talk and presentation by Danny Moody.

11 June

HYHO (Helmdon Young Husbands’ Association) “The Best &The Worst Bits”

A talk and presentation by Chris Gartside

15 October The Home Guard – The National & Local Scene

A talk and presentation by Chris Bazeley, preceded by the AGM.

PROGRAMME 2023

18 July Inaugural meeting to establish whether there is enough interest to create a Helmdon history group.

10 October Researching the History of Helmdon: A How-To Guide

A talk and presentation by Deborah Haytor, preceded by the AGM.