by Bridget Flanagan
Ride Away – on new and old roads – Part One
by Bridget Flanagan
I have long been fascinated by the history of the roads and routes in both Hemingford parishes. It’s a huge subject, with the information scattered (and sometimes contradictory), and the early history hard to find - so my research is moving slowly. But for this article and the next I thought I would share some examples of observations gathered so far. We will travel along three roads, starting at the western boundary of Hemingford Abbots.
First, a pause for a small historical detour. Some of you may remember the Cambridgeshire Hunt holding its annual point-to-point steeplechase racing on the Godmanchester Common. The event was accessed from the western end of Common Lane and, although not in the Parish, it was given the address of Hemingford Abbots. The meeting was held there from 1957-1971 and the course of about three and a quarter miles was generally regarded as fairly tough. Point-to -point racing is strictly for amateur Hunt riders and the 1968 race card shows five races at the meeting with competitors from all over East Anglia. In 1971 The Cambridge News reported that the meeting, part of Huntingdonshire’s social whirl for almost 20 years would end because part of the course, one of the most attractive in the region, with a quiet riverside setting, is to be quarried for gravel.
Today Common Lane is a cul-de-sac road. At its western end it adjoins a bridleway that runs westwards across Godmanchester Eastside Common to meet Cow Lane. But 18C and early 19C maps show Common Lane and the bridleway as part of a continuous through route from St Ives and the Hemingfords to Godmanchester. This is a natural route in the river valley – and, as such, very probably an ancient route. (Not unlike the Thicket Path from Houghton to St Ives). It is close to the river but for much of its length is on the slightly higher gravel terraces above most floods. The route passes through and connects old settlements, especially the market towns of Huntingdon and St Ives which are also major bridging points on the Great Ouse. But trying to trace the history of this road using, what might be assumed, an obvious source – maps – is not easy, because roads were (almost) never shown on maps until the late 17C. For example, all county maps of Huntingdonshire, to that date, show (possibly) one road – the Old North Road. But then came a great invention for the traveller. In 1675 John Ogilby published ‘Britannia’ - the first English road-atlas. The concept was new and executed with great simplicity of design. After commissioning extensive surveying he depicted the routes of 73 Main and Cross Roads of England and Wales in strip fashion on a hundred folio sheets. He used a standard scale of one inch to one mile and, very importantly, the statute mile of 1760 yards. (It sounds simple now, but in the 17C cartographers used several different miles).
Susan's book can be purchased from Cliffords the chemist Godmanchester price £10. OR email Susanmortlock890@gmail
Having grown up and lived in Godmanchester for almost all of my life, I feel a connection to the town, a fascination with its long history and some familiarity with many of its old families. I have incorporated into the book many true stories and events, noted down from discussion with some of the members of these old Godmanchester families, as well as details told me by my parents who grew up here too.
To mark the centenary of her birth in Godmanchester, I have tried to paint a portrait in words of my Mother (the Rose Allen of the title), set against the landscape of her childhood as a typical girl of Godmanchester in the 1920s and 1930s.
I have used facts known to me, anecdotes told to me, Hunts Post archives and my imagination to present a composite picture which enables the reader to 'relive' the experience of growing up in the Godmanchester of a century ago.
The book references many places in Godmanchester, most of which can still be seen by us today, and so visitors to the town can stand on the spots mentioned in order to imagine themselves there back in the 1930s. Armchair readers can gain an idea of how we Gumcestrians celebrated the Silver Jubilee of George V and the Coronation of George VI - both topical events in our current times with the recent Platinum Jubilee and forthcoming, long-awaited next Coronation!
In addition, I have given readers a taste of the speech patterns and dialect of the older families, using direct speech exchanges and 'eye-dialect' whereby readers can 'hear' the old Godmanchester voices as they really spoke. As a teacher of English Language A Level, I am helping new generations to value the individuality of regional accents and dialects; this one is mine which I consider it important to preserve.
There are seventeen chapters, dealing with all aspects of a Godmanchester childhood. They are mostly short although those entitled Jubilee! and God Save the New King! Are longer because of all the archive material I researched, as is Around the Year with Rose, a month- by-month glimpse at local activities in my Mother's time.
Many interesting photographs accompany the text, including my grandmother's Munitions War Brooch, inscribed SHE DID HER BIT on the obverse, and Rose's own Silver Jubilee and Coronation medals. Her doll and money-box show us interesting, indeed curious, toys of the time.
Subcategories
Past Events
The Porch Museum holds special exhibitions or events each year.
In May 2010 the Porch Museum showed its first produced film'Godmanchester Remembered', based on interviews with a remarkable man, Neville Markham at 96 one of our oldest residents. The film includes wonderful historic photographs from private collections, the museum and archives.
The film was a great success with over 100 visitors coming to view the film on its first showing. With many requests to purchase a copy of the film it has now been made available on DVD and can be purchased from the Museum Shop.
A preview of the museums second film Children of Godmanchester was show before the museum closed for the winter months. Again over 100 visitors attended and many requests were made to purchase a copy of the film. The museum hopes to release this DVD for sale in Summer 2011
The Porch Museum also made available to purchase, on CD a copy of the Queen Elizabeth's Grammar school Pence Book 1850 and 1855. A copy can be purchased from the Museum Shop.
A new addition to the museums family history boards was the story of George Cross a Godmanchester hero which now forms part of the museums collection.
Museum Open Days
The Museum is now closed for the winter months.
Opening dates for 2014.
| Sunday 6th April | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
| Sunday 4th May | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
| Monday 5th May | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
| Sunday 25th May | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
| Monday 26th May | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
| Sunday 15th June | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
| Sunday 5th July | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
| Monday 6th July | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
| Sunday 24th August | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
| Monday 25thth August | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
| Sunday 14th September | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
| Sunday 28th September | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
Newspaper Articles
A selection of Articles featuring The Porch Museums events and achievements.
Bridge Magazine
Articles in this section were first published by Godmanchesters Community Association in The Bridge magazine.
The Porch Museum would like to thank them for giving us permission to reproduce these articles covering the past 35 years.
Some of the articles have had relevant images added by The Porch Museum.