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. In 2020, Covid-related restrictions brought these to a shuddering halt and frequently have spurred traditional organisations to adapt to online meetings and presentations. More recently, many societies have resumed traditional meetings, sometimes also offering online options. The best ways to check the current situation with a society of interest are to visit its website or social media page and, if necessary, seek clarification by email or message.
In recent years, growing numbers of 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. This page includes both traditional societies and online groups. It is probably not complete, particularly for the latter.
A few of the societies listed are not based in Northamptonshire, but do have a significant involvement with the county.
Addresses, where shown, are those for writing to societies.

Aynho History Society
Email: petercole39@outlook.com
Website: Aynho History Society

The society holds an archive of books, maps and photographs of local interest. Talks take place at Aynho, with summaries of ones previously given posted on the website.

Barby Local History Group
Email: secretary@barbylhg.org.uk
Website: Barby Local History Group

The Group has a growing collection of documents, photographs and artefacts relating to the village, which are used as the basis of publications and exhibitions. The website shares an extensive range of historical information and pictures as well as details of relevant publications and forthcoming activities.

Blisworth Heritage Society
Email: web@blisworthheritage.org.uk
Website: Blisworth Heritage Society

The Society provides members and visitors with opportunities to share and explore an interest in the heritage of Blisworth and the surrounding area. Activities include assembling and displaying a vast archive of local material both at Blisworth itself and through the website to a global audience. Much of the information on the site that has been gleaned from parish records and other sources is of great benefit to those interested in family history. In normal circumstances, monthly meetings are held at Blisworth.

Brackley & District History Society
Email: brackleyhistorysociety@hotmail.com
Website: Brackley & District History Society

Braunston History Society
Website: Braunston History Society

Brixworth History Society
Email: pakirton6@gmail.com
Website: Brixworth History Society
Social media: 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. The very active Facebook page had over 330 members in November 2021.

Burton Latimer Heritage Society
Email: project@burtonlatimer.info
Website: Burton Latimer – A Sense of Place
Social media: Burton Latimer Heritage

The Society undertakes research and shares information about the history of Burton Latimer. The searchable website is arranged by topic and includes an enormous collection of articles and illustrations along with details of projects in progress.

Clay Coton
see Yelvertoft & Lilbourne History Group.

Cogenhoe & Whiston Heritage Society
7 Glebe Road
Cogenhoe
Northampton, Northamptonshire NN71NR UK
Email: enquiries@cogenhoeheritage.org.uk
Website: Cogenhoe & 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. Meetings are held in Cogenhoe Village Hall.

Deanshanger Village Heritage Society
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.

East Haddon History Society
Email: rm@btinternet.com
Website: East Haddon History Society

The website showcases a range of pictures, documents and articles about the history of East Haddon. There are sections about East Haddon Hall, the parish church, the old chapel and a variety of local people, buildings and other topics. The Society runs a programme of meetings and events.

Elkington
see Yelvertoft & Lilbourne History Group.

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.

Far Cotton History Group
Email: committee@hardingstonehistory.org.uk
Website: Far Cotton History Group
Social media: Far Cotton History Group

Originally a small settlement in the parish of Hardingstone, Far Cotton is now part of the built-up area of Northampton. The Group collects and shares information about the history of Far Cotton since 1800. Its Facebook group provides a steady stream of pictures, questions and answers on the subject. In normal circumstances, there is a programme of meetings.

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 meetings.

Great Doddington Heritage Group
Email: gdheritage2010@yahoo.co.uk
Website: Great Doddington Heritage Group
Social media: Great Doddington Heritage Group

Gretton Local History Society
Telephone: 01536 771102
Email: anncraske@btinternet.com

The Society has a substantial archive of memories, documents and photographs. It is always pleased to receive such items of local interest which can add more to the overall portrait of Gretton in the past. Meetings are held at Gretton Village Hall.

Guilsborough Historical History
Social media: 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 almost 400 members in October 2021.

Hardingstone History Society
Email: committee@hardingstonehistory.org.uk
Website: Hardingstone History Society

The website provides an array of photographs and numerous articles about the history of Hardingstone and people who have lived there. The Society runs a programme of meetings.

Husbands Bosworth Historical Society
Website: Husbands Bosworth Historical Society
Social media: Husbands Bosworth Historical Society

The society promotes and preserves the heritage of this Leicestershire village which is immediately north of the border with Northamptonshire. It holds a vast archive of photographs, documents and artifacts and shares information and pictures in its social media group and publications.

Irchester Parish Historical Society
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.

Irthlingborough Historical Society
Email: roy.york@btinternet.com
Website: Irthlingborough Historical Society
Social media: Irthlingborough Historical Society

The society researches local history, publishes books and booklets and has occasional exhibitions. This is supplemented by about four speakers per year and trips out in the summer.

King’s Cliffe Heritage
Email: admin@kingscliffeheritage.org
Website: King’s Cliffe Heritage

King's Cliffe Heritage gathers and records photographs, documents, records and artefacts about the village's interesting past. The website is a window into its growing digital archive. It offers a wealth of images and searchable information for you to explore throughout the site.

Lilbourne
see Yelvertoft & Lilbourne History Group.

Lincoln Record Society
Email: communications@lincoln-record-society.org.uk
Website: Lincoln Record Society
Social media: Lincoln Record Socety

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.

Market Harborough Historical Society
Email: kingsthorpe51@gmail.com
Website: Market Harborough Historical Society
Social media: Market Harborough Historical Society

The Society is a registered charity promoting interest in the history and archaeology of Market Harborough and the surrounding area (which extends into Northamptonshire). It holds monthly talks from October to May as well as hosting an annual local history conference and organising local field trips. It publishes ‘The Harborough Historian’ - many articles from its earlier editions are available to download from the Society’s website.

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

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.

Milton Malsor Historical Society
Email: info@miltonmalsorhistory.org.uk
Website: Milton Malsor Historical Society

The website includes a well-stocked gallery of photographs and documents, many articles about particular aspects of the history of Milton Malsor and details of publications available. In normal circumstances, the Society runs a programme of meetings and visits.

Naseby Village History
Email: Naseby Village History
Social media: Naseby Village History

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. Membership stood at over 300 in November 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.

Northampton Heritage Hunters
Website: Northampton Heritage Hunters

A local history group dedicated to researching Northampton’s past and recording memories. Details of its publications can be found on the website. Meetings are held at Northampton.

Northampton Old Faces
Social media: Northampton Old Faces

Group with over 29,000 members sharing a massive collection of photographs and memories relating to Northampton and its people. Postings are mainly, but not exclusively, from the 20th century.

Northampton Photos & Social History
Social media: Northampton Photos & Social History

Group of nearly 14,000 members covering Northampton and nearby areas. It is allied to Northampton Old Faces group and also showcases a wide range of pictures and memories.

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

The Society publishes an annual journal which contains detailed excavation reports as well as notes and summaries describing current fieldwork. A newsletter provides details of lectures and site visits. Information about recent discoveries, events and available publications can be seen on the website.

Northamptonshire Battlefields Society
Email: Northampton.battlefields@gmail.com
Website: Northamptonshire Battlefields Society
Social Media: Northamptonshire Battlefields Society

The Society works to promote and preserve the county’s battlefield heritage. It shares a vast range of relevant information on its website and via social media and brings its mobile exhibition stand to a variety of relevant events. The material on the website includes richly-illustrated articles about the many battles that have taken place in Northamptonshire as well as details of the Society’s growing list of publications. The Society runs a programme of meetings and events.

Northamptonshire Family History Society
Email: info@northants-fhs.org
Website: Northamptonshire Family History Society
Social media: 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. Monthly meetings take place at Northampton and Kettering as well as online options.

Northamptonshire Heritage Forum
Email: northamptonshireheritageforum@gmail.com
Website: Northamptonshire Heritage Forum

Northamptonshire Heritage Forum supports and promotes museums, galleries, historic houses, heritage sites and history societies across Northamptonshire. Its website also showcases awards made for particularly notable achievements. Information is included about volunteering opportunities, speakers and other resources. Its annual publication ‘Hindsight’ features research on the history and heritage of the county and a quarterly newsletter keeps readers up-to-date. Individuals as well as organisations are welcome to enrol.

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.

Northamptonshire Record Society
Wootton Hall Park
Northampton NN4 8BQ UK
Email: enquiries@northamptonshirerecordsociety.org.uk
Website: Northamptonshire Record Society

The Society preserves and publishes records of the ancient county of Northamptonshire. Its rooms at the County Record Office include a notable members’ library focussing on local history. Publications range from “Northamptonshire Past & Present” (NP&P), which is an annual collection of learned articles, to a variety of books which are issued to members and available for purchase by others. The website – freely available to the world at large - is a mine of material about the history of the county. It features PDF files of volumes such as the transcript of Northamptonshire Militia Lists 1777 and the volumes of NP&P that were originally published during the period 1948-1983.

Northamptonshire Victoria County History Trust
Email: northantsvch@mail.com
Website: Northamptonshire Victoria County History Trust

Northamptonshire VCH Trust is currently supporting work on a volume covering Towcester Hundred. The team working on this includes volunteers and other contributors who are researching and writing the history of the town and the surrounding villages. The website contains further details.

Oundle Historical Society
Email: oundlehistoricalsociety@gmail.com
Website: Oundle Historical Society

The society carries out research and arranges talks. Details of its publications can be found on the website.

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

Pitsford Past and Present
Social media: Pitsford Past and Present

This group of some 275 members shares pictures, memories and history of Pitsford and the people who have lived there, mainly but not exclusively from the 20th century.

Potterspury History Group
Website: Potterspury History Group

This group exists to foster an interest in the history of the village and surrounding area. By October 2021, it had already attracted over 250 members.

Roade Local History Society
c/o Brown's Lodge
6 Church End
Roade
Northamptonshire NN7 2NP UK
Email: information@roadehistorysociety.org.uk
Website: Roade Local History Society

The website provides details of projects, publications and meetings.

Rushden & District History Society
Email: project@rushdenheritage.co.uk
Website: Rushden and District History Society

The website includes an enormous treasure chest of articles and illustrations along with details of continuing progress in investigating and presenting the history of the area.

Spratton Local History Society
9 Church Road
Spratton
Northampton NN6 8HR UK
Email: information@sprattonhistory.org
Website: Spratton Local History Society

The website includes a wealth of material about village history, local genealogy and a photographic archive as well as details of publications about the history of Spratton and people who have lived there.

Stanford on Avon
see Yelvertoft & Lilbourne History Group.

Sulgrave History Society
Email: martinrss@tiscali.co.uk
Website: Sulgrave History Society

Projects by society members include the recording of oral history, other research and publications.

Thrapston District Historical Society
Email: thrapstonhistorysoc@gmail.com
Website: Thrapston District Historical Society

The Society is developing a digital archive which includes oral history. Details of meetings and publications can be seen on the website.

Towcester & District Local History Society
9 Calvert Road
Greens Norton
Towcester, Northamptonshire NN12 8DD UK
Telephone: 01327 351782
Email: tdlhs@mkheritage.co.uk
Website: Towcester & District Local History Society

The website includes accounts of the history of Towcester, its people and buildings with extensive illustrations. There is a considerable amount of information useful for those researching family history in the vicinity. Monthly meetings currently take place on Zoom.

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

Piddington Villa Museum helps visitors appreciate the structure of that Roman property and how its inhabitants and neighbours lived. The Society also provides a range of other educational services.

Welford and Sulby Historical Society
Email: wright22@skynet.co.uk
Social media: 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 475 members in October 2021.

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

The website presents a well-illustrated range of material assembled by members of the Group, based on archival research and also the recollections of local residents. Visitors to the site can find an outline of the history of the village and articles about notable residents, as well as sections that focus on education, the war years and trade.

Old Photos of West Haddon
Social media: Old Photos of West Haddon

A place to share old photographs of West Haddon and its people.

Whilton Local History Society
Email: anthea@hiscockfamily.co.uk
Website: Whilton Local History Society

As well as providing details of meetings and outings, the website showcases a number of publications about the locality and those who have lived there.

Whiston
see Cogenhoe & Whiston Heritage Society.

Wollaston Heritage Society
Wollaston Museum
102 High Street
Wollaston, Northamptonshire NN29 7BJ
Email: wollastonmuseum@yahoo.co.uk
Website: Wollaston Heritage Society

The Society's collections include a variety of documents, photographs, archaeological finds and artefacts connected with the history of the village and its people. These items are housed at the Museum. Much information about them and related subjects are presented on the well-illustrated website.

Yardley Gobion Local History Group
Email: babskingyg@talktalk.net
Website: Yardley Gobion Local History Group

The well-illustrated website includes much material about the history of the village, local people and associated topics. Its substantial database is a gold mine for those interested in the history of local families.

Yardley Hastings Society
Website: Yardley Hastings Society

The Society aims to produce a pictorial and factual history of Yardley Hastings. It has already assembled a searchable online collection of photographs and information from historical documents.

Yelvertoft & Lilbourne History Group
Email: yelvertofthistory@gmail.com
Website: Yelvertoft & Lilbourne History Group

The Group researches and shares the history of Yelvertoft and Lilbourne, as well as Clay Coton, Elkington & Stanford on Avon which are nearby. Activities include collecting and preserving local archives and artifacts. Group meetings are normally held monthly at Yelvertoft (January to November).