KIMPTON HISTORY GROUP

 

 Our archive of old Kimpton

Do your relatives, family or ancestors come from Kimpton in Hertfordshire?

 

Are you interested in family history in Kimpton?

 

The Kimpton History Group has an extensive archive of over 6,000 pictures and documents relating to all aspects of Kimpton’s past. You can search for all items and see copies of most.

 

Just click here for the catalogue, then just click on the link next to the item in the catalogue to see the archive item.

 

For copyright and technical reasons not all the items are available to view on the web at the moment but the catalogue contains the full list. This archive is for private study only and not for commercial use.

 

Please note that the catalogue is not organised by category, just by the order in which the items were loaded, so keep browsing!

 

The archive covers the whole of Kimpton parish including Blackmore End (the site of the Birley and Gertrude Baxendale family house and World War I Federated Malay States Hospital). The archive also includes information on The Hoo, home of the Brand family (Lord Dacre, Lord Hampden)  just over the boundary in the neighbouring parish of St Paul’s Walden.

 

For enquiries about the archive, or if you have any records, souvenirs, photographs or memorabilia that we could add to the archive, please contact John Pollington. We will return any original photographs if you are unable to send us copies.

 

For a sample of the photos in our archive click here for Photographic archive slide show

About Kimpton History Group

 

Programme

Current projects

Committee

 

Contact: Juliet Morton

The group was formed in October 2002 and holds regular meetings in the Memorial Hall.

So far we have held several exhibitions in Church House, during the 2003 - 2008 May Festivals - these were very well attended and produced a huge amount of interest.

We have managed to create a map showing all the shops and businesses which existed in the middle of last century, based on the memories of some of the villagers who lived here at the time. This will be updated/amended when we gradually obtain more information. Please contact Juliet if you would like to see our map or can give us any information. We would like to know where businesses were located, but are particularly interested in people's memories of the characters who owned them.

Many of us are working on our own projects - these will be on-going and any information, photographs, anecdotes etc relating to them would be very much appreciated. Please contact the web-site email if you have any such information. The projects are listed below:


Programme 2010

(Meetings are held in the Memorial Hall hall at 8.00pm unless otherwise indicated)

Wednesday 20th January  - AGM 

Followed by ‘Family History’ talk – by Tony Newton

Tony will talk about various sources of information, to enable us to create our own family trees.

 

Wednesday 17th February

The story of Kimpton May Festival – by John Pollington

John will tell the story, which will include some of the movie footage now converted to dvd by Jon Marsh.

 

Wednesday 17th March

A talk about Hatfield House – by Michael Hockings

Michael has been a guide for over 6 years, and will give us an illustrated talk

on the history of Hatfield House, providing us with a fascinating glimpse of

over 400 years of history connected with a single house.

 

Wednesday 21st April   - in the Hall

Talk on Inns, Alehouses & Breweries of Kimpton Parish - by Bob Finch plus a Few Other Things Thrown In!!

 

Saturday 1st May & Sunday 2nd May - May Festival Weekend.

Please support us by visiting and helping on the rota. If you could contribute to our display in Church House, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact any Committee member.

 

Wednesday 19th May

A guided tour around De Haviland Mosquito Aircraft Museum

This the home of the prototype Mosquito, and there is also on display a variety of de Haviland aircraft, ranging from Tiger Moth to modern military and civil jets. The tour starts at 7.00pm.

 

Wednesday 16th June

A Guided walk around Ashwell village and a visit to their museum

This starts at 7.00pm in the village.

 

Wednesday 21st July

A visit to St Albans Abbey, including a guided tour by Ann Banham

This will be a very interesting evening, but is restricted to only 15 people.

Meet at the Abbey at 6.45pm latest, for the tour starting at 7.00pm.

 

August – no meeting

 

Wednesday 15th September

A talk about Wheathampstead – by Ruth Jeavons

Ruth will give an interesting talk, providing you with all sorts of information about this village.

 

Wednesday 20th October  - in the Hall

'Plait in History’ – by Sandra Barker

Sandra will give an interesting talk, including a practical session in plaiting

 

Wednesday 17th November

”Members Evening” – The annual stroll through the latest additions to our archives with John Pollington.

Wednesday 15th December

“Christmas Do” - A lively evening of entertainment will be arranged.

Members will be asked to bring a plate of food for the buffet, and to pay a contribution towards wine/soft drinks. Guests are welcome to join in the fun, which will start at 8.00pm.

 



Aims of the Group

* To provide a forum for discussion research and sharing of information
* To provide a means whereby interest and awareness can be raised in the richness and importance of our local heritage
* To provide a central means of storing preserving and caring for village historical and contemporary material which can be accessible to the public
* To encourage the recording of visual and oral images and memories through photography and taped interviews
* To take appropriate care of such material given to the Group whether within the village or with the County Records Office

 

 


Annual Subscriptions (due January 1st)

Individual £10

Visitors welcome (charge at the door)


Some Current Local History Projects

Have you any information that might add to one of the projects below? Have you a project of your own we could include in the next newsletter?

Juliet Morton Chairman
Catherine Tees Secretary
Keith Haynes Treasurer
John Pollington Member and archiving
Penny Pepper Member and programme (2009)
Bob Finch Member
Liz Bembridge Member
June Cardy Member
Mike Gouldsborough Member
Rita Swan Member

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