Middleton Cheney History Society was formed in February 2008 and is an informal meeting place for like-minded people to discover more about the fascinating history of Middleton Cheney in particular; and national and international events that would have affected the rural area of South Northants. Everyone is welcome and it is hoped that our meetings will generate interest and lively discussion on a variety of topics. You don’t have to be a history expert to join us but if you are, we will welcome you too!
Membership is currently £10.00 per annum and meetings take place on the 4th Monday of each month at 7.30pm in the library (visitor admission £2.00 per meeting).
If you check out the heritage section of this site you will find several interesting articles about Middleton Cheney, listed below is the 2010/2011 programme.
HISTORY SOCIETY PROGRAMME 2010 - 2011
Monday 22rd March - Dino Lemonofides - A Soldier of the Great War.
Dino is a member of the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Research Team and his talk encompasses the local & regimental history of the Ox. & Bucks Light Infantry, with references to the men of Middleton who served in the ‘War to End Wars’.
Monday 26th April - David Hewitt - The Life & Times of the Culworth Gang.
The Culworth Gang were a notorious band of a dozen or more thieves who terrorised the communities along the Old Banbury Lane for more than 15 years in the 1700s. How did it all end?
Monday 24th May - Richard Middleton - The Witch Trials of Salem; Massachusetts (1693).
Richard is a member of MC History Society and has carried out extensive research on this fascinating subject.
Monday 28th June - Liz Bartlett - Lace Villages.
Middleton was a typical lace village in the 1800s. Liz will talk about local lace customs and related industries carried out by the men, such as woodturning. Copies of Liz’s book will be available for purchase.
Monday 26th July - Martin Sirot-Smith - Sheep That Eat Men.
A History of the Washington Family and the Wool Trade.
Monday 23rd August - ‘The Village Pump’- A return of the popular and informal meeting where members have the chance to share village history and exchange research ideas.
Monday 27th September - Brian Goodey - A Face in the Crowd; Family History & Big Events.
Brian is a member of MC History Society and will reveal how individual family research can be associated with national events.
Monday 25th October - Ted Flaxman - The Real Lark Rise.
A thousand years of Cottisford parish history. A vanished corner of rural England situated just over 10 miles away from Middleton Cheney. Copies of Ted’s book will be available for purchase.
Monday November 22nd - Brian Little - Is Banbury Still a Market Town?
Brian conjures up an evocative image of times past.
Monday 27th December - No meeting - Happy Christmas!
2011
Monday 24th January - David Thompson - God’s Acre.
David is a member of MC History Society and Churchwarden, he explores the History, Heritage & Folklore of Parish Churchyards.
Monday 28th February - AGM followed by ‘Within Living Memory’ - Recent additions to the oral history records of Middleton Cheney with voluntary parish archivist - Nancy Long
Meetings are held in the Library, Main Road, Middleton Cheney at 7.30pm
Visitors are welcome