Events
Programme of Events 2025-2026
All meetings are on the 4th Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm in Little Houghton Parish Hall (Note: The December meeting is Saturday the 6th December and starts at 7.00pm).
23rd April
Life at Little Houghton House
Speaker: Richard Deacon
A second attempt to present this talk. Delving into the online archives of the Northampton Mercury newspaper articles discovered a good deal about life at the “bighouse” in the days of the Smyths, from huge social events to the sale of hens.
28th May
Alpha to Omega- a history of headstones
Speaker: Kevin Varty
Not a morbid subject by any means, headstones reveal not only stories of the person/family concerned, but a look at the styles and design over time.
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​25th June
Thomas Hardy - Cut a Caper Band
Music: Andrew Castley & Band return
With a dramatization of rural life at the time of Thomas Hardy​.
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23rd July
An American eye view of Northamptonshire
Speaker: Gary Scheiffer
Popular speaker Gary gives a man’s view of our county from the perspective of relocation by an American multinational and becoming a Blue Badge Guide​.
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27th August
The Sibleys of Little Houghton ​
Speaker: Ted Barnes
Postponed on account of a family health problem, this talk was due to be heard earlier this year. During research of families in Cogenhoe, Ted has unearthed a long forgotten but important family from Lt Houghton with quite a colourful story.
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24th September
The Battle of Britain remembered 85 years on
Speaker: Steven Hollowell
A look at the elements, human and machine, that turned Britain round after Dunkirk in the late summer of 1940.
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​22nd October
The Judicial County Buildings of Northampton
Speaker: Richard Blacklee
Well known public buildings in the town centre with a long history and multiple uses, Richard brings the complete story.
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​26th November
The History of Billing Road Cemetery
Speaker: Chris Addison
Chris is a Friend of the Cemetery and will recount the history of this once privately owned cemetery opened after all the town centre churchyards were full. Another forgotten open space that we have passed by countless times, without perhaps a thought.
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Saturday 6th December
Social plus Quiz
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​2026
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28th January
History of Kelmarsh Hall
Speaker: Liz Hopes
Liz is a guide at the Hall and will tell us its history and the families who have lived there.
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25th February
Deserted Villages of Northamponshire
​Speaker: Christine Ansell
There are around 100 villages or settlements that have disappeared over the centuries. What happened to them?
Christine will give us the answers.
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25th March
AGM followed by Silverstone WW1 to F1
​Speaker: Gerald Lovell
Another talk delayed by illness,
A local village long associated with motor racing, Gerald tells the story of the origins of the nearby airfield in WW1 through the Second World War, the first post war Grand Prix to the international track it is today.
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