Goodliff Awards Presentation – 10th November 2016

The Society received a large number of applications for the Goodliff Awards scheme this year our President Dr Simon Thurley was pleased to present the awards for 2016 at the President Lecture on 10th November at the Huntingdon Town Hall:

Centre for Hearth Tax Research – Dr Evelyn Lord, Dr Ken Sneath, Mrs Beth Davis and Mrs Liz Ford

Dr Evelyn Lord, Dr Ken Sneath, Mrs Beth Davis and Mrs Liz Ford have been researching the Huntingdonshire Hearth Tax returns for 1667 and 1674 and are publishing their findings as a part of the wider Hearth Tax Project, which aims to produce transcriptions of Hearth Tax Returns for all the counties of England.  Work on Huntingdonshire Hearth Tax was started by the late Dr Mary Carter, but research stopped on her death. The project was taken up by Dr Lord et al with the transcriptions of all available documents about Huntingdonshire from The National Archives pertaining to Hearthtax returns being undertaken.  This research will become a part of the joint publication of the Centre for Hearth Tax Research, the British Record Society, the Cambridgeshire Records Society.

Mr Kevin Clement

Publication of the History of Cricket in Huntingdonshire from the first recorded game 1741,  Centred around Huntingdon County Cricket Club. Contains an A-Z biographies of close on 1000 cricketers who have played for the full HCCC side and 120 other prominent individuals.  These include Phyllis Goodliff’s father Richard, three uncles, two cousins. Nobby Clark, born in Huntindonshire (Elton), who played for England, the leading international women’s run scorer Charlotte Edwards who was born in Pidley, and may other well know local families such as Cades, Edwards, Maules, Tebbutts and Tillards.

Covington History Group (Mrs Mary-Ann Parsons)

Publication of a booklet on the History of Covington School. The request is for funding the production of the booklet.  The intention for this history group, project ,led by Mary-Ann Parsons, is to produce a history of the tiny village, a rural Huntingdon community tucked away on the Huntingdonshire/Bedfordshire/Norhamptonshire border. They have looked at archaeology and church history, produced a History Trail and founded a website.

The Civic Society of St Ives (Mr Peter Baker)

Partial funding for the replacement of the removed Victorian wall lamp from the Parish Church of All Saints. The original light was granted a Grade 2 Listed status but was sadly removed and replaced with a modern sodium light. The Civic Society are raising public awareness about the threat to all heritage lighting in St Ives in an attempt to conserve the town’s heritage. 

Revd. Stephen Day

Publication of a book on Huntingdonshire stained glass windows. Rev Day has carried out extensive research into the substantial number of stained glass windows in Huntingdonshire Parish churches and has categorised them chronologically, historically, thematically and artistically and documented them in a book.  In his book he has also included a brief outline of windows, not illustrated in the book, so that the book can be used as a guide to stained glass windows in all churches in Huntingdonshire.

Porch Museum Godmanchester (Mr David Stokes)

The purchase of new display cabinets for the Museum for the housing of an increasing number of fine Roman, Iron Age and ancient artefacts found in the Roman town of Durovigitum (modern day Godmanchester). The Porch Museum is a volunteer run organisation open to the public, with a summer season of displays.

The Manor Hemingford, (Mrs Diana Boston)

Publication of the history of The Manor, Hemingford Grey (Green Knowe). This had been originally researched and written in 1999 by the late Mary Carter with a guide to the house by Diana Boston.  The book will included plans drawn by Peter Boston before and after the 1939, 1940 restoration of the house by Lucy Boston and photographs of the house in the 1950s.

Friends of Hinchingbrooke School (Mr Mike Baker)

Publication of a book of essays and presentations given to The Friends. Over the past few years they have compiled a Book of Essays on Hinchingbrooke House. This is a collection of essays from academics, experts, and local historians that are based on lectures presented to the Friends.  The book seeks to place Hinchingbrooke in a wider context.  Some of the essays provided include ‘The Mediaeval Nunnery’ by Dr Rosemary Horrox, Director of Studies in History, Fitzwilliam College; ‘The Cromwells of Hinchingbrooke’, by Dr David Smith, Director of Studies in History, Selwyn College; ‘Dark Days for the Country House 1945 -1970’, by the popular academic and ex Huntingdon Grammar School teacher Roger Mitchell.

Mr John W Jolly

Publication of a booklet on the origins, construction and development  of Alconbury Airfield from 1937 – 1945.  Mr Jolly, now aged 82, relates his experiences as a child living on a farm that was originally built by the Goodliff family in the early 1900s, next to the airfield during the first two years of WW2.  His father was one of the last men employed to removing the hedges and when the airfield expanded his house became encompassed, although the family remained living in the airfield until October 1944.  Mr Jolly tells of life on the airfield, children crossed the runway on their bikes to go to school, the types of aircraft and all sorts of incidents on the runway.

Norris Museum (Mrs Sarah Russell)

The preservation, conservation and cataloguing of the Marshall Sisson archive relating to Huntingdonshire churches .  The preserved archive would be made accessible to researchers and other interested parties. The Norris Museum has recently been awarded a major redevelopment grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.  As part of this grant there is a budget for conservation, but this is for collections that will form the new displays.  This Marshall Sisson archive is predominantly for research and also, as a new acquisition , is not covered by the Lottery Fund.  Nineteen churches are covered in this archive.  The archive consists of quinquennial reports, schedule of works and correspondence relating to the care, conservation and maintenance of the churches.

Ramsey Rural Museum (Mr Terence Heslin)

To provide audio visual support to several of Ramsey Museum’s display areas. The Whitehall barn a projector and screen would act as a focal point for the main display area housing Ramsey Abbey artefact, TVs and DVDs for the Pump room could show fen drainage.  Displays in the barn annex showing blacksmith, wheelwright and wood turner as well as a history of farming in the last 200 years. The Museum is primarily concerned with the market town of Ramsey and its environs. This equipment would enable visitors to see how some of the museum exhibits were used, quite an advance on simply viewing the items on display.  The aim is to provide a living window onto the past, for example video displays of local people using horse and plough.

Sawtry History Group (Mr Philip Hill)

Although much is known about the Cistercian Abbey at Sawtry and the surrounding area, little archaeological research has been carried out on the grounds. The Sawtry History Group are expanding their research into Sawtry Abbey and Surrounding area by means of carrying out a full geophysical survey of the Abbey complex to establish how much of the Abbey remains. Although Sidney Inskipp-Ladds surveyed the Abbey and published detailed plans in the 1850s, this only represented the Abbey Church and Claustral complex. What is missing from the Inskipp-Ladds plans are the position and layout of the Abbot’s lodgings, infirmaries and any domestic buildings.  This is a Cistercian abbey, its nearest likeness might well have been Roche Abbey in south Yorkshire, and information from Historic England suggests that foundations,  walls and floor surfaces may still be there. The intention is to update the Inskipp Ladds publication, continue with research into National Archives and Cavendish archives, and publish a booklet about the Abbey.

Mr Martyn Smith

Mr Smith has carried out extensive research into the Hunts Cyclist Battalion and it officers and troops. He has built a webpage dedicated to the history of the Battalion, and regularly gives lectures, provides displays at venues and gives advise to history and family researchers. Mr Smith’s application is for funding to provide a set of desk mounted display boards that can be easily handled, assembled and show off the research to its best. In 2015 he gave eight lectures, 10 individual displays at large history and military events and numerous open question and answer sessions at multiple events around the country.

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