Category Archives: Events
Our next talk – Pre-eminent but not remembered: the Malting Families of Sawbridgeworth
On Thursday 25th May at the Hailey Centre at 7.30pm Tim Howard-Smith will give a talk entitled “Pre-eminent but not remembered: the Malting Families of Sawbridgeworth. In 1769, Thomas Adderley’s brainchild, the River Stort Navigation was completed after just three short years of construction. The immediate impact was an upturn in trade for those… Read More »
Our current programme 2023
Our programme for 2023
Sawbridgeworth Local History Society is looking for additional committee members to help us manage and further develop our programme. Please contact David Royle [email protected] if interested. You can join the Society via www.sbwhistory.com or by contacting Hazel Mead hazelmead404@ btinternet.com.
A 1950s Childhood in Sawbridgeworth
Our next talk on Thursday 29th September is entitled A 1950s Childhood in Sawbridgeworth and is given by Bob Reed who has some interesting tales of how it was living in Sawbridgeworth when he was a boy.
Updated 2022 Programme
In order to see the programme it is necessary to click on the title of this post.
The Millennium Trail QR Codes
QR codes launch
The origins of Nostalgia Day
Dave Mead has written an article about the origins of Nostalgia Day.
The Banner of Faith
Theo van de Bilt has written a new article on The Banner of Faith which contained the parish magazine of Great St Mary’s church.
Our first Zoom meeting
The London Road Fire – 1st February 1905
Our latest article is about the fire on the corner of London Road and Hoestock Road in 1905. It was reported nationally in the Daily Mirror.
Sweet rationing in World War Two
This is an article compiled by David Royle in connection with the VE Day celebrations.
A visit to HALS in Hertford
On Monday 15th July some SLHS members paid a visit to HALS, Hertfordshire Archives and Local Services and were given a tour of the premises. We saw some very old documents, one even dating from before the Norman Conquest! We were shown how documents and artefacts are kept under strict climate control. The humidity indicator… Read More »
Our next talk
World War Two Oral History Project
To mark the anniversary of World War 2 we are planning an oral history project involving the people of Sawbridgeworth who were living here at that time and who are willing to share their experiences. We would like to interview and possibly film these people for an event on 3rd September at the Hailey Centre.… Read More »
Happy New Year!
The Sawbridgeworth Local History Society wishes all members, friends and neighbours a very prosperous and peaceful 2019.
Celebrating Rivers’ Wassail.
The latest article on our website is Celebrating Rivers’ Wassail by Elizabeth Waugh. It contains two illustrations and the Rivers’ Wassail song. The Wassail has become an annual event celebrating the fruit trees. Copyright remains with the author.
Book launch
Last Friday, 26th October, we held our book launch which was attended by 35 people. We heard about how the book was created from articles already written and new ones researched. Dorrington’s very kindly donated cakes to add to the tea, coffee and prosecco which we enjoyed. Twenty seven books were sold on the night… Read More »
Buy our book – Come to the launch event
“The March” – a play about the suffrage campaign.
“The March” celebrates the centenary of women getting the vote, with a drama based on the history of suffrage campaigners in East Herts. It is being performed at the Memorial Hall on Thursday 27th September at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £12/£10 for the under 18s. For more information visit www.pinsandfeathersproductions.com/the-march.
The SLHS at the May Fayre
On Sunday 6 May at the Sawbridgeworth May Fayre we had lots of interest in our stand. People came and looked at our old maps of the town. Who would not be interested to to see what was there before their homes were built and if they live in an old property to try and… Read More »
Come along on 31 May
Another great open evening!
About 30 people attended Hugh Howes’ talk on the Mills of Hertfordshire last Thursday 29th March. It was very interesting to hear about the number and different types of mill in our county and we learned more about our own Burton’s Mill. Our next evening talk will be on Crime and Punishment in Hertfordshire, given… Read More »
Come along to our open evening on 29th March
Rivers Nursery
In October last year our still relatively new Sawbridgeworth Local History Society organised its first Evening Meeting. Our speaker was Elizabeth Waugh whose book, Rivers Nursery of Sawbridgeworth: the Art of Practical Pomology, was published in 2009. Elizabeth very kindly wrote an article for this website which can be found by clicking on the following… Read More »