October 2008

Lots of news to report this month, so you'll find the outings reports and photos much further down the page this time.

Society Storage on the Move

The Society is extremely grateful to Michael Hill of Shilcocks who has now provided us with storage space sufficient to accommodate all our publications stock and some archive material in one place. We would like to thank Steve Wilson of Rothmere Wilson who has cheerfully looked after much of our material for the last eight years. Without him and his colleagues we could not have managed our expanding publications operations, so his help came at a crucial time for the Society and has been invaluable. Thank you!

A Society Benefit: Cheaper Books!

Eric T Moore Books of Bridge Street, Hitchin, who regularly stock our publications and much second-hand local history too, has very kindly offered a 10% discount to Society members. This applies to most purchases of new and second-hand stock, but be sure to take your current HHS membership card with you.

Archaeology Walk

A group of our members had the opportunity to explore Hitchin's historic town centre during an archaeological walk on Sunday 7th September, with the benefit of an expert guide, Keith Fitzpatrick-Matthews from the Museum Service.

We met in the Market Place where Keith explained the history of the development and expansion of the central area of the town. He then led us on a clockwise route along the High Street, past St Mary's Church and the Biggin Almshouses, down Sun Street and back to our starting point via Bucklersbury. On the way Keith gave us some fascinating details about the buildings, and the businesses and people that occupied them, and took us into several yards and alleys not usually seen by the public. Even those who've lived in Hitchin for many years discovered things about the town's archaeology they hadn't known, like the inscription in the vermiculated decoration on the shop front in Bucklersbury - something to look out for when you next pass down the street!

(All right, I'll help you out: it means worm-eaten.)

Wymondley Priory

A regular favourite for members each year is our visit to the Priory near Great Wymondley, this year on Tuesday 9th September.

We were greeted by our host, John Hope, who is passionate about the house and the adjoining barn. The outside of the house deceives the visitor into believing it may be Georgian or even Victorian; but the present exterior hides a medieval priory founded in 1203 by a Norman knight associated with the Knights Templar. It has many old beams, large overmantles and blocked-up stone window frames inside, yet it is a family home.

The building was originally converted to a home by James Needham, official carpenter to King Henry VIII. He also used his carpentry skills to build, in 1541, the impressive barn from local oak, 100 feet long and 40 feet wide, now used commercially for functions. The grounds and gardens are surrounded by a moat, mostly surviving, and beyond in a neighbouring field is the outline of a medieval village.

A magical place, and perhaps somewhere you might like to hold a special event?

Tewin Orchard

On a gloriously sunny, early autumn day, Sunday 14th September, a group of our members met at the delightful Tewin Orchard, near Welwyn. Our host was Michael Clark of the Hertfordshire and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, who lives nearby.

Michael guided us around the reserve and explained about their conservation policy. We saw many apple and pear trees, including the rare Hitchin Pippin of which only three trees still exist. Later we sampled the juice of the Hitchin Pippin apples. We then toured Hopkyns Wood, full of oaks and hornbeams, and saw the extensive badger set. Several members decided to return in the hope of seeing badgers after dark on a later date, when there are sometimes up to seven badgers at a time. We were privileged to have the opportunity to visit such a tranquil and unspoilt site.

Hitchin Museum

Our final event of 2008 was a behind-the-scenes visit to our museum in Hitchin, on Wednesday 24th September.

The museum has not only a wide and fascinating collection on display but also an extensive reserve collection stored both on and off site. Our host and guide was the curator, David Hodges, who firstly took us on a tour of the galleries. We saw the Local History Gallery, Oral History display and the Yeomanry Gallery which exhibits the uniforms and medals of the Hertfordshire Yeomanry and Artillery. Next was the Pharmacy Gallery, which houses the entire contents of a chemist's shop which stood in the High Street until the 1960s; and finally the Costume Gallery which holds the largest and most important collection of clothes in the county.

David also took us into the store rooms and revealed the extensive collection of art by prominent local artists, and the documents, maps and newspaper archive. How lucky we are in Hitchin to have such a wide and valuable range of items connected with our town.

Next Society meeting

Our next meeting takes place on Thursday 23th October at Church House, Churchyard, Hitchin at 8pm, when member and former broadcaster Richard Whitmore will be showing us some newly discovered local film he's transferred to DVD and to which he's added a soundtrack. The film show lasts about 90 minutes, so there'll be a short interval with cold drinks instead of coffee and tea, and no library this time.

I've had a sneak preview of the film and believe me it's worth seeing if you can get here that evening, absolutely fascinating.

Two members enjoyed our last meeting so much they were in no hurry to go home.

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This page updated 4th November 2008