Paul, who runs Catalyst Video Services based in Great Gidding, spent the evening of July 23rd videoing the rapeseed harvest on Michael Trolove’s farm.
Thanks to Michael and to Kieran.
Video
Photos
For three consecutive Saturday mornings in November a team of volunteers have been trimming the sides of the main path in the Jubilee Wood, primarily to cut back bramble which was encroaching on to the path way. A fourth Saturday trimming morning is scheduled for the 6th of December. If you want to join in then its a 10am start, bring some stout gloves and some tree loppers or secateurs. We will be concentrating on the boundary hedge between the Wood and the Allotments next time. But in the meantime, thank you to those who have already volunteered their time.
2014 has seen an apparent successful breeding season for Barn Owls in the Gidding Parish. At one location I tried to film some evening activity with a new time lapse camera, really just to understand the potential of this type of camera. So it was with surprise and great delight that on reviewing the film that a Barn Owl had decided to land on the camera and use it as a perch for quite a few seconds. If you look carefully another Owl can be seen in the Ash tree.
The camera is a Brinno TLC200.
Video: Michael Trolove
Another very successful History Day was held at Great Gidding Village Hall on the 18th of October.
Lots of visitors attended, some bringing information and others seeking it. The History team had prepared displays and information boards showing properties around the village both past and present.
Questions were posed about who lived where and when, dating of photographs and maps was another challenge.
A separate display highlighted those Great Gidding residents who served in the First World War, who survived and more poignantly who perished.
A new feature this time round was an archeological dig to find out what lay beneath the top soil of Great Gidding. See photos.
To help fortify visitors a “Tea Room” was set up in the Small Hall.
Lots of thank you’s to all the visitors on the day, the History Group team, Mr & Mrs Alexander for hosting the dig, Phil Hill for his archeological expertise and for running the “dig” Joan Chiswell and team for running the “Tea Room” Sawtry History Society for the loan of photographs and material and all the folks who provided pin boards for the displays.
However think the biggest thank you should go to Patrick Ellis who has lifted the lid on village life both in recent and distant past. His book and continuing studies have enthralled many in the village and beyond.
Thank you Patrick.
Time-lapse film of Great Gidding History Day
A time-lapse film recording all the activity surrounding the very successful History Day. I hope you will see this as a record of the day and as a historic document in its self. It will be interesting to see how a You tube video and other digital media helps historians of the future.
For the technical aspect the camera used was a Brinno TLC 200 mounted on a tripod and set to record a picture every second (NB. The video has been speeded up by 200%). The lighting was just daylight and the normal hall light. The camera aperture is F1.2 with a fixed field of view of 140°.
Photo gallery
-
- Patrick Ellis, author and driving force of the Great Gidding History Group
-
- Julie Trolove, history group administrator
-
- WW I display
-
- WWI display
-
- WWI display
-
- Historic photographs displays
-
- Historic photographs display
-
- A tribute to Dennis Veazey, former resident of Great Gidding and stalwart history group supporter
-
- Archelogical dig at 62 Main Street
-
- Archelogical dig
-
- Dig finds!
-
- Earnest discussions
-
- Village chat
-
- Viewing diplays
-
- Signing in desk
-
- Display boards
-
- Copying and scanning corner manned by Paul Burgess
-
- Serious discussions over a cuppa!
-
- Kevin King former resident, Rachel Giddens current resident.
-
- Time for a chat in the “tea room”
-
- Tea and Cakes
Jubilee Wood
Winter maintenance
The Jubilee Wood is in need of some ground maintenance. The area to the right of the main entrance is encroaching onto the grass ride. A five metre band from the entrance to the central grass area needs to be cleared, leaving just the planted trees.
You will need to bring loppers, shears, pruning saws and stout gloves or whatever you have in your garden maintenance armoury.
This work will commence from Saturday 15th November and for the following 3 Saturday’s starting at 10am for a couple of hours or however long you can give. I’m sure we can arrange a coffee break for 11am
Michael
What a lovely September!
Autumn is now here. It’s a great time to get out & about walking, cycling or riding.
Blackberries are out in abundance, with sloes coming to their fullness. Just think of those fabulous blackberry & apple pies not to mention the amazing sloe gin that can be passed around with friends on winter evenings.
I’ve just been out walking with my pruners. There are many blackberry brambles that have grown across pathways & stiles. It’s not a bad idea for folk to do likewise as its a great help. The council usually cut the grass pathways, but they don’t have funding for trimming. So really it’s up to us as walkers & riders to do our bit. Actually it’s quite fun as you’re out in the countryside seeing all that’s going on around you.
Something I did find upsetting was the amount of Dog Fouling on some of the pathways. The bridle way that’s recently be given a lovely new surface leading to the black bridge & the brook was awful. If you see anyone allowing their dog to foul please let me know as it is an offense. Further more it is a serious health hazard, should children come into contact with it.
I’m often asked why it’s OK for horses to excrete on the roads. Well, a well mannered horse & rider should keep their horse moving whilst it does this, so as it is easily washed away by rain. The other thing is that the composition of horse droppings is usually pure grass or cereals orboth. So these break down very quickly, not like a meat based foul. Neither does it carry dangerous bacteria or worms. ( there may be worm infestation, but not dangerous).
However, it is against the law for riders to let their horses mess on the pavements- they shouldn’t be on them anyway! If they do, clear it up.
Happy Autumn,
Rachel
Wheat harvest
Despite very few people in the parish of Great Gidding having any direct link with farming these days its still an important event in the farming calendar. As with every harvest the weather dominates harvesting decisions and this year was no different. A good sunny start in late July followed by an iffy August. Finally harvest was wrapped up in early September under gloom laden skies.
Harvesting time-lapse video, August 2014
Video: Michael Trolove
Great Gidding grown wheat could well be in any number of foodstuffs that you find in your pantry, larder, fridge, freezer, cupboard or secret stash for chocolate bars. We’re talking corn syrup derived from wheat starch, flour for baked products and wheat based breakfast cereal.
Seeing the light(s)
You’ve probably noticed the housing development at Top Farm, all very good and proper but take note of the street lamps outside on the pavement. One is directly outside an upstairs window so obviously the street lighting contractors have been requested to move it.
Yep! another street light appears next to the one in question. All a matter of wiring up and removing the old one. Not so simple, the pavement has been resurfaced all around to a high standard before the light work was done. This happens all the time, repair a road and then dig it up. Barriers then appeared and the cabling unearthed, progress then miraculously the hole is refilled but the old street light is still there and whats more its still connected.
One to watch !
Update 12/10/14
The two lights are now one !
The Great Gidding History Group has been offered the opportunity of having test pits dug by a group of young archaeologists. They are looking for sites where they can dig a test pit on the weekend of Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th October. The test pit will require an area of approx. 1 metre square (or round) to be dug.
What interesting finds might be hidden?
Would you be willing to give permission, and access, for them to dig an area on your property on both days? If so please e-mail: julie.trolove@gmail.com or phone 01832 293591
Great Gidding History Day
This Saturday, new material,new maps, new documents.
History Day Update
History Day takes place between 11am and 5pm on Saturday 18th October, in the Village Hall. There will be a display of photographs and documents showing Who Lived Where, in addition we have researched those villagers who served in World War 1, and this will be accompanied by work from the schoolchildren on World War 2. We will have a series of village maps and aerial photographs on view.
Help the archaeologist
Also an archaeologist will be digging a test pit (or 2) on the day and continuing into the Sunday too – he is wanting people who will join him in excavating the test pit and cleaning and cataloging the finds. Most important – we want people to bring along photographs and documents, and memories, of the Giddings. Entry is FREE (donations to the History Group would be most welcome). Refreshments will be available.
This years Village History Day
18th October 2014
The 2014 Village History day will be an update on what has been discovered since the last Open Day ( 3 years ago ) In addition we would like to meet people who have had connections to the village in the past and to see photographs / documents that have been unearthed from cupboards.
World War 1 researcher
The Gidding History Group is looking for a World War 1 enthusiast, someone to research the impact on the Giddings and those involved in the conflict.
We will display the findings at the Village History Day
Featured Image details
This is a north easterly view along Main Street. Outwardly nothing has changed. The steps are the same but different now. The distant cottage has been demolished and has just been rebuilt in 2013/14 in the interim it was a pony paddock and riding school.