All Saints’ Long Marston

Following a very successful first season in 2007, our 2008 campaign started on Saturday 12 April with the church open for visitors from 10am to 4pm. This will be repeated on the second Saturday of each month up to and including October. Information on the church and Parish Archives, Parish Census Records (from 1841 to 1901) and a selection of Parish Registers and related documents will be on display. Long Marston is on the B1224 York to Wetherby Road and the church is situated on Angram Road.

Contact Christine on  01904 738456

Bishopthorpe Local History Group

The preparation of a leaflet of a historical walk through Bishopthorpe is going ahead and it is hoped to have it ready for the Bishopthorpe Village Gala in June. An open meeting is planned for 20 May including a talk by Elizabeth Smith about the Knavesmire, to showcase the local history archive and create more interest in the Group and expand the membership. More historical details are being added to the Bishopthorpe website and this can be accessed at www.bishopthorpe.net/mt/history.

Contact: D Forrester 01904 705396

Derwent Archaeology Group

We have completed a resistivity survey as requested by the Landscape Historian, Steve Moorhouse, in relation to his earthwork survey of the mediaeval village of Scoreby. This covered only a small section of the area and we are hoping to have a site meeting with Steve to decide which section to focus on next. Our group field trip to Thornborough Henges last year was very successful and we are debating where to go during this year. Any constructive suggestions would be welcome.

Contact Kay Wheater: 01904 489407 for more information.

Dringhouses Local History Group

Everything is increasing: numbers of attendees at meetings, archive material being received, contact with the local community, research ….We recently had a display entitled More Images of Dringhouses in Dringhouses Library and then in the Central Library. We are holding a public Heritage Event on Saturday morning 21 June in St Edward’s Church Hall, Dringhouses. There will be a wide variety of artifacts, maps, documents and photos etc covering 2000 years of history of Dringhouses. Our 2008-9 programme will be available shortly after our AGM on 15 May. Everyone is welcome to all our meetings.

Tel 01904 706384 or 703970 for more information.

Dunnington Through the Ages

We are not meeting as a group for a period but individuals are continuing to work on various projects including collecting old photographs, researching the manor court rolls, investigating the chicory industry and reading through church magazines from the early 1900s.

On 6 September we are planning, with the Derwent Archaeology Group, planning our second exhibition in the Reading Room at Dunnington (10.00am to 4.00pm) when we hope to recruit some younger members. Everyone is welcome.

Contact: Marilyn Jones 01904  488433

Friends of Hob Moor

A geophysical survey on 'the Triangle' was carried out in January, the results of which were inconclusive and unfortunately did not show any obvious signs of the water mill. We are considering our options. The group is currently working on new display materials and leaflets. To coincide with National Archaeology Week, Elizabeth Smith will be leading a walk 'Landscape History on Hob Moor' on Wednesday 16 July at 7.30pm starting from the Edmund Wilson Baths car park. Full details of all summer events can be found at http://friendsofhobmoor.org.uk/Events 

You can contact us on 01904 784616, also at simon@palmour.eu or via the website.

Friends of Hagg Wood

Stephen Moorhouse’s initial discoveries at Scoreby Manor Farm and in Hagg Wood are recorded in the FHW booklet ‘Hagg Wood – Past, Present and Future’ together with Barry Wright’s survey of Scoreby Hedgerows.

FHW have received a grant of £250 from the Rotary Club of York Vikings, which will allow Steve to continue his fascinating historical research in Hagg Wood.  Fieldwork at Scoreby Manor Farm is also planned, with the Derwent Archaeological Group - telephone York 489127 if you’d like to know more.

Barry is leading a walk down Intake Lane, Dunnington, on Thursday 22 May, meeting at the children’s play area at 6.30pm.  All welcome.  The species in the hedgerows vary considerably from one side to the other and Barry is still unravelling this mystery (as well as many others) so we hope you’ll come along and hear the latest theories.  We’re surveying the hedgerows of Dunnington this summer, under Barry’s guidance, and 22 May will be the perfect time for making plans.  We look forward to seeing you then.

Please contact Linda Maggs on 01904 489127.

Haxby Local History Group

Towards the end of last year three of our members were industriously working on the publication of a new book entitled “Haxby Remembered”.  The book gives a photographic history of Haxby from about the beginning of last century to the present day. Publication was completed before Christmas and sales proved to be so popular that an additional print-run had to be ordered to satisfy further demand. Local reviews have acclaimed the book a resounding success.

In order to keep all members informed, the Group is now publishing a quarterly Newsletter; the first issue was available for our March meeting. Subjects include Information about our publications, projects currently being researched, trips, and events.

So far this first quarter we have enjoyed a trip to the Tithe Barn and village at Poppleton, a film on the History of Transport, and a very entertaining presentation about the Victorian Railways.

For more information contact  Ian Mason, Secretary: ian@ianrmason.wanadoo.co.uk

Holgate Windmill

Work has been completed on restoration of cast-iron machinery associated with the 4 millstones.

Floorboards and staircases for the first and second floor are being installed.

Restoration of the brake wheel is in progress ready for incorporation into the new sheer frame which supports it along with the windshaft;  the iron cross to hold the 5 sails;  the covering cap and the new fantail.  Once assembled together as a unit, this will all be craned onto the top of the mill later this year.

Open Days Sat/Sun 11 am until 4 pm 10/11 May then first weekend each month until October.

Contact: Jen Hay (george_hay@btinternet.com)

Poppleton History Society

In furtherance of the geophysical survey of the complete Scheduled Ancient Monument, some preliminary survey work has been carried out from the edge of the site towards the River Ouse with the aim of verifying the extent and method of retention of the site perimeter. The report on the survey was presented to the Timeline York Plus meeting on 19 April 2008. Further research into the Tudor Manor location is planned together with investigations into the areas adjacent to the Ancient Monument. We will hold a Heritage Weekend over 25 and 26 October incorporating the scheduled Geophysics Study Day and a Heritage Photo Treasure Hunt.

The History Society continues its monthly presentations, starting at 7.30pm, at the Methodist Church Hall in Poppleton on the first Wednesday of each month. For further details contact 01904  338610.  We have a History Society website as part of the  www.poppleton.net

Stillingfleet Chroniclers

A dedication service along with the unveiling of a memorial plaque was held in St Helen's Church on 14 Feb. This was in memory of the seven airmen who lost their lives at Stillingfleet on that day in 1943 when their Halifax bomber crashed.  The service was very well attended with members of the local RAF stations, R.A.F.A. York branch, Church Fenton Air Cadets, our local MP and several veterans from Bomber Command. A very moving service was conducted by the Rev John Hetherington and the plaque was unveiled by "Bluey" Mottershead DFC, President of 158 Squadron Association. As well as the Last Post & Reveille played by a young lady bugler, there was a short fly-past by RAF Church Fenton, followed by tea and refreshments in the village hall.

Another plaque has been given by an anonymous donor, to mark the site of the crash, and it's hoped to put it in position with a small ceremony later this year, when the squadron association have their annual weekend in East Yorkshire.

We are progressing with our village housing survey and have transcribed all the details from the 1910 Valuation Survey field books for each property. In summer we hope to photograph each house.

Contact:  Yvonne Clark  01904 728877

Stockton and Hopgrove Local History Group

We are now into our second year and are continuing with some on-going projects as well as becoming a little more ambitious and taking on two longer-term and committed activities.

We are continuing with our collection of village memorabilia and work is progressing with a history of the Stockton railway and the Church and Stockton Hall. Oral interviews are continuing and we hope to complete nine in 2008.

There has been a full study and recording of Village Genealogy by Maureen Sutcliffe, and Terry Cooper has almost finished a fascinating project covering the surprising military history of Stockton.

One of our members, Joy Moseley, has composed a full and detailed document laying down the work and disciplines needed for a full archaeological survey of the whole parish.

Finally we have started to prepare a Village Book – the project will take some years but will be well worth the effort.

Contact: Terry Briggs 01904 400013

Strensall Local History Group

The topographical survey of the grounds and fields surrounding Strensall Manor House continues although progress has been hampered by poor weather. In the meantime, transfer of the data

onto a computerised database proceeds. The Buildings History Sub-Group continues with the visual and historical survey of the houses in the old part of the village. A survey of the large, mature trees remaining in Strensall has commenced and comparison will be made with the Ordnance Survey mapping to establish how many trees have survived. A survey of what is believed to be a Roman road had been planned for the summer but a change in land ownership and crop sowing has meant that the survey has had to be delayed. A large collection of photographs has recently been donated to the Group and will be added to our extensive collection.  As the Group now has a large amount of archive material, the task of cataloguing has started. The programme of events for the year is being drawn up.

For more information contact: 01904 794540 or 01904 490413.

York Young Archaeologists Club

We meet at the Yorkshire Museum or out at a particular site nearby on the second Saturday of the month.

Contact Helen (helen@bachelor5884.freeserve.co.uk) or

Jon Kenny (jkenny@yorkarchaeology.co.uk)

Other Groups’ Contact Details

Acomb Local History Group: Contact:  John Terry  01904 798956

Bishop Wilton Local History Group:  Website: www.bishopwilton.info

Forest and Hopgrove Local History Group:  Contact: Terry Briggs:Tel. 01904 400013 or Steve Burton: Tel. 01904 400066

Hungate Excavation (Hungate Community Archaeology Group):  Contact:  Liddy Dalesman 01904 332784

Naburn Local History Group:  Contact: Iris Wells [iriswells@btinternet.com]

South Ainsty Archaeological and History Society:  Contact: Phil tel: 01943 600447.

Tang Hall Local History Group:  Contact Jon and Jane Burrows [jburrows17@rhrt.fsnet.co.uk] or 01904 345942, Wendy Simmons – 01904 410982, and John Garton – 01904 416222.