Beverley local history book fair

It has been a busy week for local history. On Wednesday I attended the Howden Civic Society awards evening. The room was full as Mike Smith presented Tom Asquith awards to Howden Junior school pupils who had made superb pencil drawings of Howden's heritage.

The head teacher of the school then explained to us how the school was celebrating its  centenary in  2013 - previously I had always believed the date to be 1912, but this was when the school was being built and it did not open until April 7th 2013. She asked for our help to gather photos and memories for an exhibition. Can you help? Please do get in touch if you can.

On Friday I gave a presentation at Newport Wesleyan chapel to celebrate its opening in May 1812. I began by playing the 1812 overture and explaining how Europe was at war whilst in Newport they were peacefully opening their new and impressive chapel. I showed pictures of many of the 48 villages who had had grazing rights on the old Wallingfen Common before it was drained and the settlement which became Newport grew up where the road crossed the new canal.

I always enjoy giving talks at such community events as the atmosphere is so friendly and I often learn a lot from listening to the audience.

Don't forget that October 20th 2012 is the local and family history book fair at Beverley in the Treasure House. I shall be there with the Gilberdyke Local History stall. If you are coming and have any particular photograph requests then please do let me know in advance (you can contact me through my website) and I can have a look for you:

howdenshirehistory.co.uk

I have hundreds of old photos of the East Yorkshire, Howdenshire and Goole areas - most of which haven't made it onto my website so do ask. There will also be our Gilberdyke Remembered book on sale and my books on Eastrington and Goole.

Do come and say hello.

Changing face of Howden - a talk on 1st June

I had a bit of a surprise yesterday when I received a phone call from Sue Chapman, chair of the Howden Civic Society. The speaker for the next meeting was unable to attend and so she wondered if I could give a talk at short notice.

So instead of hearing about herbal remedies the members will be looking at  pictures of Howden, showing how much it has changed over the years. In  fact the Market Place and the central area of the town have remained much the same and new buildings have fitted in well  but there have been bigger changes in other areas.

Luckily Arthur Henrickson who has always been a keen photographer took many photos of Howden as it changed and I shall be incorporating some of these pictures into my talk.

So why not come along on 1st June to the Masonic Hall at 7.30pm. And if you want a preview explore the Howden pages and photos on my website - Howdenshire History.

Howden Civic Society, May 11th 2011

On Wednesday evening I went to the monthly meeting of the Howden Civic Society. The speaker was John Smith of Hull who gave us an interesting talk on the history on the Hull and East Riding Co-operative Society in Howden.

It was exactly one hundred years ago this month [ May 1911] that branch number 23 was opened on Churchside in Howden.  In 1937 the branch moved premises into the newly converted old Half Moon Inn in Market Place. They remain there today. 

 Below is a picture of the original premises. This building has recently been demolished and re-built as flats - pleasingly  the style is very much in keeping with the original.

The old Co-op premises in Howden

There is a picture of the old Half Moon inn on my website Howdenshire History where I have lots more information on the history of Howden and pictures

http://www.btinternet.com/~susanebutler/oldpics2.html