Category Archives: Events
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.
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 »
Another date for your diary
Our first evening meeting
Yes folks, on Thursday 19th October at 7pm the SLHS will hold its first evening meeting. Our speaker will be local author Liz Waugh and her subject will be ‘Rivers Orchard in the context of a rural way of life’ The event will place in the Hailey Centre in Bell Street Sawbridgeworth (next to the… Read More »
We did well at the scarecrow festival
Hello, As you may know High Wych held its second scarecrow festival last weekend. Although the weather was not as brilliant as it was last year participation broke all records. The village was rewarded with a two page spread in the Herts & Essex Observer and also with an online video. If you are interested,… Read More »
Meet Asgar
Hello, As some of you may know on Saturday 9th September and the following Sunday the High Wych scarecrow and flower fesstival will be held. Scarecrows will line the road from The Hand and Crown Pub to High Wych School and along High Wych Lane up to The Manor of Groves Hotel. The centre of… Read More »
Fun on the Field was Fun !!
It’s already a few weeks ago but we’d like to share two pictures taken at that event. The weather was kind to us with sunshine and blue skies all day. These occasions seem to be just to sort of thing our society needs to promote itself. The above picture shows Gill Munro and Chris Catling… Read More »
Come and see us at Fun on the Field !!
The Sawbridgeworth Local History Society will have a stall at this upcoming event to be held on Sunday 2nd July from 12 noon at the Bullfields Recreation Centre / field / grounds. So once again, if you have any information on the history of our town you are willing to share with us: photographs, documents,… Read More »
Thank you for coming to see us at the May Fayre.
It was great to see so many of you coming to see our stand at this year’s Sawbridgeworth May Fayre. From 12 noon till 4 a constant stream of locals came to see us. Some brought us photographs, some told us stories or told us about artefacts they had and some told us about research… Read More »
A date for your diary ???
Next week, on Wednesday 19th April Theo van de Bilt will be giving a presentation at the Sawbridge Words bookshop in Bell Street Sawbridgeworth. The title of his presentation will be “Tales of a Village Historian” Theo will draw on his experiences writing the history of High Wych, the village where he lives. It would… Read More »
Come to our AGM
Dear friends, On Tuesday 30th March we will have our first AGM and we would like to invite you to take part. As it says on posters you may have seen: you will be assured of a very warm welcome. The meeting will take place at 10am at Sawbridgeworth Town Council Offices. And while you… Read More »