Project Updates
1901 Census
The Group has been collating and analysing all the data contained in the 1901 Census for Sandy & district. As all the originals were handwritten, transcribing the data to a spreadsheet file will take some considerable time. We hope to have some results to show at some point.
Archiving Sandy
Our Group photographer, Pete Messenger, is currently photographing various parts of Sandy, in order to give us an historical view in the future, We are also in the process of compiling photographs from the 1970's, which will give us a snapshot comparison between then and now. We hope to be able to display some of these in the near future.
Local Schools
Laburnum Road Lower School celebrated its' 100th birthday in September 2006 and we hope at some point to have photographs and anecdotal material from this event.
There is also old and new St Swithun's schools to compare and we have some material already which is displayed in the Members area.
We have also made a presentation to Maple Tree Lower School, where we were able to establish a high degree of interest from a group of enthusiatic young students.
Sandy Then and Now
In conjunction with the 'Biggleswade Chronicle, Sandy Historical Research Group was able to feature some of the old views of Sandy versus the Sandy of today, with the new photos being taken by Chronicle photographers. This was published in the Chronicle on February 2nd 2007 and tied in neatly with the publication of our new Book.
Sandy Pubs:
We used to have many more public houses in and around Sandy than we do now. At this time (January 2007), some of the remaining few are also under threat. The Group has collected a pub sign from the Stoneaxe in Stratford Road. The pub has long since been demolished but we are in the process of restoring the sign and will be displaying it at future exhibitions.
The 'New Inn', on the corner of St Neots Road and the A1 Great North Road, is now re-opened as an Indian Restaurant, 'The Akbar'.
Recently, Ken Page and John Goodlet came along to one of our Open Meetings and gave an illustrated talk on Sandy Pubs, past and present', which filled in a lot of gaps in our knowledge. We are grateful to Ken and John for allowing us to use some of the materil in our new book, launched in November 2009, as well as a full article for our lates edition of SHRUB, the group's twice-annual newsletter, available free of charge to all members.
Local Place Names
Michael Rutt, a former member of the Group and long time local resident, has researched some of the local place names and their origins. Click here to read his article.
Book
The Group has launched our next book of local views: 'Pictorial Memories of Sandy, Volume 2', which contains 40 or so new images of views and memorabilia of the Sandy of Yesteryear. The book will be available from Sandy Tourist Information Centre, online, or directly from the group. Click here to learn about the new book launch, which was held at Sandy Library in the presence of Sandy Town Mayor, Geoff White
Click here for more details about the book and also about our Postcard Packs.
Forum
Now, you can post your comments & questions about Sandy and its' history over the past 150 years or so. We will try to answer questions posted based on information we have to hand (we do have some gaps however). Please feel free to add to any debate or query about aspects of Sandy life that you find on the Forum. Please click here to go there.
Other project updates will appear here as and when details come to hand.
If you want to know more about Sandy Historical Research Group, please email the Chairman .
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