Author Archive | hilary

Since the launch of the Heritage Society in May 2007, our stated objectives to protect and promote the social, rural and military heritage of Longstanton, Oakington and the Northstowe site has taken many forms. As well creating the unique LDHS Archives, lobbying to protect landscape heritage assets, arranging talks and promoting the talks and lectures […]

An important event took place this morning to commemorate the shared heritage of Northstowe, Longstanton and Oakington – the opening ceremony for the Oakington Airfield memorial marker. It was lovely to share the occasion with new faces and old friends. Particular thanks must go to Homes England and the charity Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust […]

In recent months Homes England has been in discussion with the Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust about commemorating Oakington Airfield with a memorial marker and LDHS Secretary, Hilary Stroude, was pleased to be consulted on a suitable location for it. With much of the former RAF Oakington site in the process of being developed for […]

It has been agreed that due to the continued uncertainty over the long-term display and storage of the LDHS Archives, that we will extend the membership of current members for another year. The membership form for the new year, which begins on 1 April, will be removed from the website with potential new members being […]

The Heritage Society is pleased to advise that our work with the Northstowe and Longstanton Heritage Steering Group continues as we look to find ways to display and store the LDHS Archives following the collapse of the Heritage Annex building project. Work also continues to try and ensure that the planned displays from the project […]

For everyone who has been following the work of the Heritage Society over the last 15 + years will know that we have long campaigned for Northstowe, Longstanton, Oakington & Westwick, RAF Oakington and Oakington Barracks to have a heritage facility. The history that the villages share with the new town is unique and it […]

May 2022, saw the 5th anniversary of residents moving into Northstowe town and the Heritage Society was delighted to be asked to support their celebrations. In June both Northstowe and Longstanton celebrated the Platinum Jubilee and once again LDHS exhibited a selection of our archives. Both events were well supported and it gave the Heritage […]

LDHS has been protecting and promoting the heritage of Longstanton, RAF Oakington and Oakington Barracks (the airfield is now the site of the new town of Northstowe) since May 2007, and in that time we have made significant contributions to the development of the new town. Below are just some of the successes we have […]

Sometimes, local history discoveries can be shocking but significantly advance our understanding of past customs and practices across our local region. Fenstanton is a village lying between Longstanton and St Ives (not very far away at all) and features in an article that has appeared in a national newspaper, the Daily Mail. This discovery helps […]

All Saints’ church, Longstanton burnt down in the summer of 1349 which would have been in the midst of an outbreak of the plague, which is on record as having reached Crowland Abbey lands in Oakington, Dry Drayton and Cottenham in the autumn of 1348. It is unlikely that the timing of this fire and […]