Husthwaite

Origins of the Husthwaite Local History Society

In 1986 we established a series of local history lectures at Husthwaite through the WEA under the leadership of Jennifer Kaner. We met for four years either in the Methodist Hall or Husthwaite School.

We developed the concept of ‘Coxwoldshire’ with the help of Bob Eyre a former geography lecturer in Leeds living in Husthwaite – that is a realisation that the group of villages around Coxwold had formed a pre Roman estate. These villages included Husthwaite, Coxwold, Baxby, Oulston, Yearsley, Thirkleby, Thornton and Osgodby.

Jennifer, who died in 2004, was a tireless researcher and provided us with much original material culled from primary sources in the Public Record Office, North Yorkshire Archives and the Borthwick Institute.

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The original members of the group included Isabel Ballard, Stephen Barker, Mary and Peter Brown, John Butler, Brenda Duffield, Bob Eyre, Moira Fulton, Tony and Jane Rogers, Elaine Smith, Cynthia Wentworth, David Wilkinson and Mary Younger.

At the end of the lecture programme, which ran for four years, we decided to produce a book on the local history of the area, which we called ‘Aspects of Coxwoldshire: Historical Aspects’. Most members of the group contributed a chapter and the work was co-ordinated by David Wilkinson. It was published by William Sessions in 1992 [ISBN 1 85072 110 6] and was a success, selling over 1000 copies almost immediately. A few copies are still available from the publisher [Sessions of York, Ebor Press, tel 01904 659 224].

Following the book we decided to form the Husthwaite History Society, which continues to the present day. It has produced many books on the village, including a millennium review of Husthwaite and its inhabitants – ‘Husthwaite Then and Now’, 2002 [ISBN 0 904775 372, on sale at the village shop] and ‘Houses of Husthwaite - with glimpses of the past’ by Brenda Duffield, 2000, [out of print]. The group meets regularly, still publishing and arranging a series of lectures held in the village.


The below table contains historical items published in Husthwaite Newsletters from 2004. Click here or on the PDF picture to download a document containing all the below items. To stop the text scrolling, simply place your mouse over it.

Publications

Coxwoldshire: Historical Aspects (1992)

Houses of Husthwaite by Brenda Duffield (2000) out of print

Husthwaite Then and Now (2002)

A series of four booklets covering the memories of people who live or once lived in the village, together with newspaper cuttings and other memorabilia from the 20 century has recently been completed.

Husthwaite Reminiscences, 1900 - 1930s (2007)
Husthwaite Reminiscences, 1930s - 1950s (2005)
Husthwaite Reminiscences, 1950s - 1970s (2006)
Husthwaite Reminiscences, 1970s - 2000 (2008)

Copies may be obtained from Angela Ovenston (01347-868347) or the village shop.

Recent talks

Occasional illustrated talks on a range of subjects from local speakers are organised. In recent years the subjects have ranged from archaeology to famous local figures from the past, eg

Graham Lee, archeological conservation officer for North Moors National Park, on “Recent archeological discoveies on the North York Moors”

Susan Harrison, regional curator of archaeology, on “English Heritage Archeology Collections housed at Helmsley”

Steven Moorhouse, landscape historian, on “Medieval and local ancient pottery”
[Note – any one interested in pursuing this topic further as a group activity, please contact the society]

Cooper Harding, curator of Thirsk Museum on “Henry Peckitt – famous apothecary” [note- his better known brother William Peckitt (1731 – 1795) was famous for reintroducing the art of stained glass – a plaque commemorating his birth in the village can be seen in the wall in front of the church.. Leaflets about him by Fred Pickstone are available inside the church]

Patrick Wildgust, curator of Shandy Hall, on “Lawrence Sterne, vicar of Coxwold 1760 – 1768”

Current projects

These include researching the history of the old school, the pubs, the old village orchards, individual houses and their occupants, field names and the medieval field system. We meet about three times a year and have subgroups which meet more regularly when engaged on specific topics.


Contact with the group may be made through Lawrie Hill (01347-868667)