Contents
- Committee Vacancy – secretary
- Next Talk – Thurs 16 Jan: The Good School Guide to 19th century Bishops Stortford
- Articles in the Independent – 1 Jan 2025
- Articles in the Independent – 4 September 2024
- Article in the Independent – 14 August 2024
- History Walk – 17 May 2024
- New Publication – Bishop’s Stortford Yesterday & Today Revisited
- Historic Environment Record viewer
Committee Vacancy – Secretary
We are looking for a new secretary for the committee. We have an active chair plus a programme organiser and webmaster, so the main duty is providing minutes of the committee meetings, held about every 2 months. If you are interested or would like further information, then please contact the chair, Tim Howard-Smith (bshschair@btinternet.com).
Next Talk – Thurs 16 Jan: The Good School Guide to 19th century Bishops Stortford
Starting from nothing, the 19th century saw the building of a range of schools in Bishop’s Stortford to serve the needs of a growing population. Many of these are still operating today, with some of the original buildings being used until the 1960’s and now re-purposed. The provision also reflected the religious division within the town.
Article in the Independent – 1 Jan 2025: “Red Letter Day for history society’e blue plaque plans”
The Independent published a two page article outlining the plan to honour the town’s most illustrious former residents with blue plaques, including a short list of 10 names plus an invitation to the public to nominate others they think may also be worthy of this honour.
Articles in the Independent – 4 September 2024
The Society was featured in two articles forming a double page spread. The first, entitled “Bishop’s Stortford History Society looks to the future and it’s 70th anniversary” highlighted the recently published “Bishop’s Stortford Yesterday & Today Revisited” and further publications, including a re-issue of the “Local History Chronicles” part I” and books on Waytmore Castle, the opening of the Stort Navigation in 1769 and its impact on the town, and a history of the Corn Exchange. The second article provided summary of the 2024-5 season of talks. Follow the link for the full articles.
Article in the Independent – 21 August 2024
The Independent published an article on the Society’s forthcoming book on the Corn Exchange, with a call out to share your Corn Exchange memories, so we can extend our oral history archive.
History Walk – 17 May 2024
Tim Howard-Smith, Mike James and Chris Connell led a town history walk for the Library, as part of their Local History Week. This was well supported, with a large waiting list. This was subsequently reported in the Bishops Stortford Independent, in an article by Dr Gareth Oakland, under the title “From St Michael’s to the castle, via Betty’s brothel….”
New Publication – Bishop’s Stortford Yesterday and Today Revisited
We have revised and updated the original edition published in 1971, with new colour photographs, to complement the archive images. This is now available and will be on sale at our meeting on 16 May, £5 (members) and £6 (non-members).
Historic Environment Record viewer
Hertfordshire County Council has launched a new website – the Historic Environment Record viewer.
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