Histon and Impington Village Society

The Society meets once a month at Impington Village College during term time for lectures on themes of local and general interest. One of the most popular meetings takes place in January, when, after the AGM, the Chairmen of the two Parish Councils are invited to speak on issues currently affecting Histon and Impington.

Meetings are held in the Brackenbury Lecture Room at Impington Village from 7.30 - 9.15 p.m. The programme of meetings/lectures for Autumn are summarised below - new members are welcome - you can come along and join at any of the meetings.

Publications

Contact: Pippa Temple, The Windmill, Cambridge Road, Impington, Cambridge, CB24 9NU email:

Booklets currently available 2011

Postage and packing U.K. pro rata.

Also available - cards and notelets of village scenes.

Within the Society there are three subgroups:

History Group - Group leader: Eleanor Whitehead 21, Cottenham Road, Histon, Cambridge CB24 9ES 01223 234502

Photographs and village memorabilia are collected by this working group who meet three times a year to report on work done. Members photograph local events and changes of scene and publish booklets on local history (thirty publications in thirty years!) Other activities include displays, talks and assistance to interested parties.

In June this year members acted as History Guides to four of the `Open Gardens' held Sunday June 12th . The archive has recently contributed data for use in the IVC 70th Anniversary Local History Project and also a local history time line with photographic support for the Son et Lumiere production that took place at St. Andrew's Church, Histon in March 2010.

In July we published a booklet featuring the history of Histon Football Club. Current projects include an updated edition of the `The Inns and Public Houses of Histon and Impington', researching a comprehensive history of H&I in collaboration with U3A, preparing a memorial plaque to William Unwin founder of Unwin Seeds, annual guided heritage walks, local heritage displays in Histon Library and the digitising of the archive document and photographic indexes.

Projects Group Early projects included the restoration of the wrought iron surround to the Blacksmith's Grave, the circular George V Jubilee seat at School Hill (subsequently replaced by Histon Parish Council), the Histon Giant's grave and the Pump on Histon Green. In July 2009, as part of the Society's 30th anniversary celebrations, a Plaque to commemorate the site of the former Impington Hall and its connection with the Percheron estate was unveiled.

The Group has recently been reactivated - Group leader: Pene Nudds, 3, Clay Close Lane, Impington, Cambridge CB24 9NE, with the object of restoring the traditional cast iron street signs in the two villages, the service building on the Mill Lane Burial Ground and the rebuilding of the Crossing Keeper's hut which formally stood opposite Histon Railway Station.

Environmental Group Until recently this Group concerned themselves with the preservation of open green spaces, the preservation and marking of Public Rights of Way and keeping a watching brief on Planning Applications as well as formulating responses, where appropriate. In conjunction with the Cambridgeshire County Council Rural Group, a Beating the Bounds leaflet was published, which was distributed to all local households. Public Footpath map-boards were designed and commissioned for Histon and Impington and set up in three prominent locations. The Group is at present inactive. However, a separate group has formed recently in order to organise a 12km Diamond Jubilee Country Walk planned to take place Tuesday 5th June 2012.