History Society Summer 2019

27th July 2019 | Local History Society

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by Wickhambrook History Society

Although there are no meetings in June, July and August, members of the History Society have had a busy time.

In June, a group went to visit Jordan’s Mill near Biggleswade, in a beautiful setting on the river with lovely gardens and woodland paths to explore. This water mill has been owned by the same family for seven generations, and although it is not a working mill any longer ,the machinery can still function to show visitors how grain would have been processed. The present building dates from 1900, when a fire caused the original mill to burn down. It was rebuilt to ‘modern’ standards of its day and it is a fascinating example of an early factory production line.

After a guided tour by an enthusiastic volunteer, we enjoyed lunch in the riverside restaurant.

The day was cool and breezy, jackets were worn, and unfortunately not much lingering could be done in the gardens.

Our second visit took place on the hottest day of the year! A Tour of the Fens, with Mike Petty, saw 15 members criss-crossing the fenland landscape in a minibus and being shown the geography and historic buildings of the area as Mike told us tales of Hereward the Wake, farm labourers, fenmen , poets and ghosts. Starting at Fordham,  we went through Isleham, Stuntney, Grunty Fen and Haddenham, where the ladies of the Methodist Chapel laid on welcome coffee and cake, we progressed to Stretham to visit the steam engine house where water used to be pumped from the fields into the river. This is an iconic building, one of the few left of what used to be hundreds, and the inside was beautifully cool which revived us all.

Off we went again for lunch at the No Hurry Inn – 5 miles from anywhere – at Upware. Even here by the River Cam we were happy to seek the shade. We travelled home by Reach and Swaffham Prior.

Many thanks to Gillian Cooper for arranging the day; to Mike Petty for changing his plans so that we could find shade; to the coach driver for his thoughtfulness and also his skill at negotiating very narrow and bumpy roads.

A group from St Gregory’s Church in Sudbury came to visit All Saints, Wickhambrook , and were given a tour of the church, with a walk to see the almshouses  and vicarage. They then enjoyed tea and cake made and served by ladies of Wickhambrook WI.

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