Local history groups keep our past alive

By finding local links to the past, community organisations have a vital role in keeping stories alive

This piece was written for us by NN Journal member Rachel McGrath. For more Saturday features as well as local, independent news straight to your inbox sign up below

By Rachel McGrath

The Abbey Centre in East Hunsbury, Northampton is a deceptively unremarkable red brick building, but inside it’s a hub of thriving activity for the local community and the venue for meetings held by the Far Cotton History Group.

There are currently 87 members of the group and before the pandemic there was a waiting list to join. The group covers all sorts of history talks and the only condition of membership is a connection to Far Cotton - whether it be having lived there previously or currently, worked there or family ties. Most members are retired and keen to get out and mix with other people. 

“We’re a friendly group in Far Cotton. The area was like a close-knit family, years ago. A lot of people worked on the railways and it was a railway community. I worked at the local post office from 1966 before reti…