Helmdon Local History Group

Links to More Information

• History Resources and Publications (access a wide range of History Resources, Societies and Publications)
• Constitution and Meetings documents
• Group Facebook page

Annual Membership Prices

Oct 2026 – Oct 2027: £5 per person per event or £10 per person membership which includes three events.
Oct 2025 – Oct 2026: £5 per person per event or £10 per person membership which includes three events.

Next Events

09 June 2026  – “Explore the History of Helmdon” Guided Walks 

We’re offering a choice of 3 guided walks, looking at the built environment:

• Church Street – Church, Old Manor House, Prison Row
• Wappenham Road – Farm Houses, Old Houses, Pubs
• Top Station – Helmdon’s Great Central Railway Station

Guided walks start at 7:30pm, aiming to finish at the Reading Room around 9:00pm for light refreshments (free) and a chance to provide feedback or offer suggestions for future events.
A reasonable amount of walking will be involved. The Top Station tour may also involve walking on slopes or uneven ground.

Those not wishing to walk are welcome to attend the Reading Room, from 7:45pm onwards, where the History Archive/Library will be available. No booking needed. Cost as below.

Booking method:
Numbers on each guided walk are limited so please book your preferred guided walk via our Doodle.com form (you may see some adverts). When the form loads:

• Please make one selection, then hit “Continue”.
• Enter your name and email address. (If you’ve used Doodle before, it may already know this and not ask).
• To book additional persons on the same tour – enter ALL names where indicated, or email rcfarquharson42@gmail.com
• Optionally answer a transport question.
• Hit “Confirm Booking”
• You will soon get an email from Doodle with a summary of your booking including the start point.

Payment (in advance please):
This event is free for Helmdon Local History Group members (i.e. annual fee paid for the year starting 22 October 2025). Guests are welcome at £5 per person.
Payment method for non members – please pay £5-per-person to Bill Elkington (treasurer) or Richard Farquharson (secretary) – or pay by electronic banking to:

• Account Name: Helmdon Local History Group
• Sort Code: 23-05-80
• Account number: 55325405
• Reference: Please use your name(s) so that we can attribute the payment correctly.

Booking will open on 09 May for mailing recipients (with priority for members). General booking will open on 16th May 2026.

We hope you can join us.
Helmdon Local History Group Committee

Click here to download a poster

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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.

News and Events Archive

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

Click here to download a poster

Tue. 21 Oct 2025 – Helmdon Local History Group AGM plus illustrated talk: “What has the Parish Council ever done for us?”

Full-size poster here

Supporting documents:
2025 AGM Agenda
2024-2025 Accounts
2024 AGM Draft Minutes
Draft Constitution (see below for proposed amendement to the dissolution clause)

Admission is free for HLHG members. Non-members also welcome (non-member’s fee £5)
Free refreshments will be available after the talk.

Dissolution paragraph (to be proposed at the AGM)

a) The Group shall be wound up only by a resolution of an Extraordinary General Meeting called for the purpose and on the approval given by not less than two-thirds of those present and entitled to vote as paid-up members.

b) In the event of the Group being wound up, any assets remaining after all liabilities have been met shall be transferred to a Voluntary, Community, or Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisation with similar aims and objectives, based in Northamptonshire. This organisation shall be determined by the members at the Extraordinary General Meeting.

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We now have a Facebook page at : https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580478960869 to allow anyone interested in Helmdon’s history to learn about Helmdon Local History Group activities – posted September 2025

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Tue. 10 June – Explore the History of Helmdon – A choice of Guided Walks starting at 7pm.

Split into three groups (max. 15 persons per group), we will consider the built environment in different areas of the village….

• Church Street – Church, Old Manor House, Prison Row
• Wappenham Road – Farm Houses, Old Houses, Pubs
• Top Station – Helmdon’s Great Central Line Station (may involve walking on slopes or uneven ground)
• For those not wishing to walk, we are showing a ~20 minute (video loop) presentation “A look through time in Helmdon” in the Reading Room from 7:45pm (please book).

Light refreshments are included, served from approximately 8:30pm in the Reading Room.

These guided walks and video presentation are free for HLHG members. Guests are very welcome (£5 payable in advance please).
Advance booking is required for the guided walks.

We hope you can join us, Helmdon Local History Group Committee

Booking method

Advance online booking for this event has now closed. For any enquiries please email HelmdonPCweb@gmail.com

Payment Method
After you have made your booking, non-HLHG members please arrange to pay (£5 per person) to group treasurer or secretary – or by electronic banking to:

Account Name: Helmdon Local History Group
Sort Code: 23 05 80
Account number: 55325405
Reference: your name(s) so that we can attribute the payment correctly

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Tue. 04 Feb 2025 – Door open 7:45pm – meeting starts at 8pm – in the Reading Room.
The Parish and the Poor. An illustrated talk by Ross Vicars about attitudes to the poor from medieval times until end of 19th century. Click here for poster.
Admission free for members of HLHG and non-members also welcome (non-member’s fee £5).
Free tea, coffee and biscuits after the presentation.

Tue. 15 Oct 2024 at 7:45pm in the Reading Room.
The Home Guard – The National and Local Scene.  A talk and presentation by Chris Bazeley, click here for poster.
This meeting includes the 2nd AGM of the Helmdon Local History Group. See Agenda AGM 2024
Admission free for members of HLHG, and non-members also welcome (non-member’s fee £5)
Draft Minutes of this meeting are available here.

Tue. 11 Jun 2024 at 7:30pm in the Reading Room.
HYHO History “The best and the worst bits” A talk and presentation by Chris Gartside.
Admission free for members of HLHG, and non-members also welcome (non-member’s fee £5)

Tue. 06 Feb 2024 at 7:30pm in the Reading Room.
A talk about Helmdon’s website; Past, Present and Future. The talk will be given by Danny Moody, our Chair, and also one of the key players in the current Helmdon History website.
Admission free for members of HLHG, and non-members also welcome (non-member’s fee £5).

Tue. 10 Oct 2023 at 7:30pm in the Reading Room.
AGM of Helmdon Local History Group – All are welcome to attend
Minutes of this AGM are available here.

The AGM is followed by “Researching the History of Helmdon: A How-to Guide” – A talk and presentation by Deborah Haytor.

Tue. 18 July 2023 at 7:30pm in the Reading Room. Inaugural meeting to establish whether there is enough interest to create a Helmdon History Group. This includes an illustrated talk by local expert Chris Bazeley on Helmdon’s Railways. All are welcome.