Northamptonshire Societies

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Societies

Family and local history societies vary greatly in size and scope. Many are formally constituted bodies, with a constitution and bank account, publishing journals, transcripts, organising projects and running their own websites. Until 2020, most held regular in-person meetings and similar events. Covid restrictions brought these to a shuddering halt and have led many traditional organisations to adapt to online meetings and presentations.
In recent years, many traditional societies have ventured into social media. Such platforms are also increasingly used by less formal groups of local and family historians, as they cost little or nothing to operate and enable ready recruitment of and interaction with likeminded people. As far as possible, this page includes both traditional societies and “online-only” groups. It is probably far from complete, particularly for the latter.
A few of the societies listed are not based in Northamptonshire, but do have an involvement with the county. Addresses shown for societies are for the most part where their meetings are held in normal circumstances and so are not necessarily suitable for correspondence.

Regional Societies

CBA South Midlands Group
Email: dp.ingham@albion-arch.com
Website: CBA South Midlands Group

The CBA South Midlands group, an autonomous local group under the umbrella of the national Council for British Archaeology. CBA South Midlands covers four counties – Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire. They are an educational charity working to involve people in archaeology and to promote the appreciation and care of the historic environment for the benefit of the present and future generations.

Lincoln Record Society
Robert Hardy Building
Bishop Grosseteste University College
Longdales Road
Lincoln, Lincolnshire LN1 3DY UK
Email: communications@lincoln-record-society.org.uk
Website: Lincoln Record Society

The Society prints records and documents relating to the ancient county and diocese of Lincoln. The website gives details of publications in print, some of which may include early material relating to Northamptonshire as it was part of the diocese of Lincoln until 1541.

Milton Keynes Heritage Association
Website: Milton Keynes Heritage Association

Milton Keynes Heritage Association fosters cooperation between heritage groups and museums in the vicinity of Milton Keynes. Members in Northamptonshire are Cosgrove & Furtho, Deanshanger Village Heritage Society, Historic Towcester Survey, Potterspury History Group, Roade Local History Society, Towcester & District Local History Society, West Haddon Local History Group, Yardley Gobion Local History Group & Yardley Hastings Society.

Northamptonshire Societies

Brixworth History Society
Brixworth Village Hall
Holcot Road
Brixworth
Northampton, Northamptonshire NN6 9BS UK
Email: pakirton6@gmail.com
Website: Brixworth History Society

The Society shares articles, indexes and pictures on its website, as well as details of its publications. Meetings are normally held monthly at the Village Hall for presentations on matters of historic interest (subject to Covid restrictions). The very active Facebook page group had over 270 members in April 2021.

Cogenhoe and Whiston Heritage Society
7 Glebe Road
Cogenhoe
Northampton, Northamptonshire NN71NR UK
Email: enquiries@cogenhoeheritage.org.uk
Website: Cogenhoe and Whiston Heritage Society

We study, record and stimulate interest in the heritage of our two villages and their surrounding areas. The website showcases the Society’s activities, publications and YouTube channel. Until Covid restrictions intervened, monthly meetings were held in Cogenhoe Village Hall. More recently, meetings have resumed online.

Deanshanger Village Heritage Society
Deanshanger Community Centre
Deanshanger, Northamptonshire MK19 6HT UK
Telephone: 01908 564725
Email: deanshangerheritage@gmail.com
Website: Deanshanger Village Heritage Society

The Deanshanger Village Heritage Society focuses on caring for the past, present and future of the village of Deanshanger. Details of its activities can be seen at the Society's website.

Dick Herne Braunston History Society
Braunston Village Hall
The Green/Welton Road
Braunston
Daventry, Northamptonshire NN11 7HW UK
Telephone: 01788 901 179
Website: Dick Herne Braunston History Society

Eydon Historical Research Group
c/o 30a High Street
Eydon
Daventry, Northamptonshire NN11 3PP UK
Email: web.enquiry@eydonhistoricalresearchgroup.org
Website: Eydon Historical Research Group

The Society actively researches the history of Eydon and its inhabitants and publishes its findings. The website includes a searchable photo archive, an outline of the history of the village and provides a family history forum. It also sets out details of a series of booklets on various aspects of the history of the parish.

Finedon Local History Society
c/o 42 Belvoir Drive
Barton Seagrave
Kettering, Northamptonshire NN15 6RB UK
Email: finedonlhs@outlook.com
Website: Finedon Local History Society

Finedon History Society researches, records and promotes the history of Finedon and its inhabitants. Its archives include over 2000 photographic images, many of which can be seen on the website along with details of its newsletters, publications and (subject to Covid restrictions) meetings.

Gretton Local History Society
Gretton Village Hall
61 Kirby Road
Gretton
Corby, Northamptonshire NN17 3DB UK
Telehone: 01536 771102
Email: anncraske@btinternet.com
Website: Gretton Local History Society

The Gretton Local History Society was formed in 1989, and has gradually accumulated a substantial archive of memories, documents and photographs, some of which were used to mount an exhibition in 1994. We are always pleased to receive anything which is of local interest, memories, photographs, or documents, all of which add to the portrait of Gretton in the past.

Guilsborough Historical History
Website: Guilsborough Historical Society

The Society collects and shares material about the history of Guilsborough, including illustrations such as photographs and post cards. The period covered ranges from the far past to more recent times that are still within living memory. Its active Facebook group had over 360 members in April 2021.

Irchester Parish Historical Society
Irchester Library
33-35 High Street
Irchester
Wellingborough, Northamptonshire NN29 7AA UK
Telephone: 01933 382476
Mobile: 07890 797702
Email: jpcarr01@hotmail.com
Website: Irchester Parish Historical Society

The Aims of the Society are the promotion and awareness of local history to stimulate public interest, to support both children and adults in the study of our local history, and to maintain and expand the collection of artefacts connected with the Parish of Irchester.

Middle Nene Archaeological Group
Email: contact@midnag.org.uk
Website: Middle Nene Archaeological Group

Naseby Village History
Email: francis@howcutt.org
Website: Naseby Village History, Northamptonshire

This Facebook group was launched in June 2020 for anyone interested in the history of the village of Naseby and the people who have lived there. Over 250 members had joined by April 2021. A regular stream of posts shares the results of research, memories and pictures. The group fosters cooperation as members reach out with their questions and answers.

Northamptonshire Archaeological Society
Email: nas196674@gmail.com
Website: Northamptonshire Archaeological Society

The Society publishes an annual journal which contains detailed excavation reports as well as notes and summaries describing current fieldwork. The website provides details of recent discoveries, publications, events and meetings.

Northamptonshire Family History Society
Email: info@northants-fhs.org
Website: Northamptonshire Family History Society

The Society provides a range of free resources on its website, along with details of its indexing and transcription projects and publications. Members receive a journal four times a year and are encouraged to cooperate in pursuing their shared interests. In normal circumstances, monthly meetings take place at Northampton and Kettering but currently online meetings are held instead.

Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group
Email: secretary@niag.org.uk
Website: Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group

The Group co-ordinates the study of industrial heritage in Northamptonshire. Its website provides details of relevant events and publications.

Peterborough & District Family History Society
Email: secretarypdfhs@gmail.com
Website: Peterborough & District Family History Society

The Society has organised extensive transcription and indexing of local records. It maintains contact with members and with the world at large through the website, a monthly newsletter and media such as Facebook and Twitter. Members have direct online access to over 190,000 names. Whilst normal meetings are suspended, members’ Zoom meetings are arranged on a regular basis.

Peterborough Local History Society
St Marks Hall
82 Lincoln Rd
Boroughbury
Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE1 2SN UK
Website: Peterborough Local History Society

Peterborough Local History Society was formed in 1991 by a group of individuals who believed that the city needed an association where people could come together to share and enjoy the history of this area.

Roade Local History Society
St Mary’s Church Hall
Hartwell Rd
Roade
Northampton, Northamptonshire NN7 2NT UK
Telephone: 01604 864498/01604 862369
Email: information@roadehistorysociety.org.uk
Website: Roade Local History Society

Rushden and District History Society
South End Junior School
Wymington Rd
Rushden, Northamptonshire NN10 9JU UK
Email: project@rushdenheritage.co.uk
Website: Rushden and District History Society

Spratton Local History Society
Spratton Village Hall
39a Brixworth Road
Spratton
Northampton, Northamptonshire NN6 8HH UK
Email: information@sprattonhistory.org
Website: Spratton Local History Society

Spratton Local History Society was founded in 1999 with the aim of bringing together people with an interest in the history of Spratton, Northamptonshire and the surrounding area.

Thrapston District Historical Society
St James Church Hall
Church Walk
Thrapston, Kettering NN14 4NP UK
Telephone: 01832 731047
Email: thrapstonhistorysoc@gmail.com
Website: Thrapston District Historical Society

The Thrapston District Historical Society was established in 1965 to preserve the heritage of Thrapston District and its inhabitants. The Society's activities include monthly meetings on local and family history, visits to local heritage sites, and the development of a digital archive which includes oral history.

Towcester & District Local History Society
Riverside Centre
Islington Road
Towcester, Northamptonshire NN12 6AU UK
Telephone: 01327 351782
Email: tdlhs@mkheritage.co.uk
Website: Towcester & District Local History Society

The aims of the Society are to find out about the history of Towcester and to publicise what has been discovered.

Upper Nene Archaeological Society
Piddington Villa Museum
Chapel End
Piddington, Northamptonshire NN7 2DD UK
Telephone: 01604 870312
Email: Piddington.museum@tiscali.co.uk
Website: Upper Nene Archaeological Society

The objects of the Society shall be the discovery, identification, investigation and recording of archaeological sites, and the preservation, where practicable, of items of archaeological or historical interest, and to promote the study of archaeology by any other means.

Welford and Sulby Historical Society
Email: wright22@skynet.co.uk
Website: Welford and Sulby Historical Society

The Society focuses on acquiring, cataloguing, contextualising and making available information and items of historical interest relating to Welford and Sulby. Since it was launched in 2018, we have attracted a good turnout for our monthly meetings (subject to Covid restrictions). The very active Facebook page group had over 400 members in April 2021.

West Haddon Local History Group
Email: wjraybould@gmail.com
Website: West Haddon Local History Group

Members of West Haddon Local History Group have been gathering information about the history of the village since the early 1980s and we’re still trying to fit pieces together, like a jigsaw, to build up pictures of life here in the past. This site will present what we have found, not only from documents, such as Census returns, parish registers, wills and property deeds, but also from material evidence, such as buildings and gravestones, and from the memories of villagers who have been kind enough, over the years, to share with us what they remembered.

Wollaston Heritage Society
Telephone: 01933 664249
Email: wollastonmuseum@yahoo.co.uk
Website: Wollaston Heritage Society

The Society exists to preserve what is known of the village's past through documents, photographs, archaeological finds, and artefacts from local industry and family life. The main activities are the operating and maintenance of Wollaston Museum, regular fund-raising events, educational, and social events.

Yardley Gobion Local History Group
Yardley Gobion Village Hall
Chestnut Rd
Yardley Gobion
Towcester, Northamptonshire NN12 7TW UK
Email: babskingyg@talktalk.net
Website: Yardley Gobion Local History Group