An exhibition of ongoing research into those from the Giddings who served in the Great War has been mounted in St Michael’s Church.
The exhibition will run from Friday 7th November until Thursday 13th November, and will be open from 8.30am – 4.00pm each day.
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.
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°.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
The two lights are now one !
This Saturday, new material,new maps, new documents.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Another challenging year for gardeners but we feel sure that even after all the difficulties we’ve faced with the weather, the village show is going to have some great entries. It’s always a pleasure to see the fantastic results people achieve with their vegetables and fruit and more than anything it’s being part of a fun village event so please don’t think your entry isn’t worth showing – it will be!
As to the baking side of things, there are all sorts of classes and hopefully you’ll get a chance to try some of the entries. This year we are doing a ‘sealed envelope’ auction where people can put an undisclosed amount of money in an envelope with their name on and we’ll then pick out a bag of goodies from the show and match it with the envelope. People will still be able to retrieve their entry before this auction but if you donate vegetables, fruit or cakes we would be very grateful .
We look forward to seeing you at the BBQ even if you can’t make the show so come along with the family and enjoy a relaxing time with the rest of us. Remember, anyone can enter you don’t have to live in Gidding!
Sue Jarvis
Its back, the tournament you can’t say no to. Monday August 25th sees the annual Aunt Sally Tournament starting at 2pm Great Gidding time. This is in addition to the regular Thursday evening game which has been extended from its original 8 week run to the end of August. Three things of note, that the weather has been quite summery, we now have some regular players and the skill level is still woeful. There are occasional glimmers of fine play but these are usually short lived.
My thanks to Ian Alexander for taking on the game for the rest of the summer and our hosts at the Fox & Hounds for allowing such a silly game to be played.
If anyone would like to sponsor this event, I’m sure we can find a suitable category to place your donation.
This year the food theme is Pork Pies. Currently patrons of the Fox & Hounds are researching quality Pork Pies and the Aunt Sally Tournament is an ideal event to expand the research so if you have a favourite Pork Pie either bought or home made then bring it along for a taste test, actually any pie will be warmly welcome Game, Vegetarian or Sausage.
Previously……….
The latest video is of dawn breaking over the Jubilee Wood in Great Gidding on Saturday 21st June 2014. The camera was set to record from first light which occurred at around 3.50 am. The street lights on Main Street are on. The camera ran until 8 am.
Things to look out for include an early bird, Swallows swooping over the pond at about 7. 25 am, a Magpie and a couple of Corvids (Crows or Rooks) having a splash and a Rabbit.
The Camera used is a Brinnio BCC 100 and was set to record a photo every second.