Snippits of Godmanchester News 1954-2004 from "The
Bridge 2004"
Caroline Kesseler has compiled a collection of
some of the news from Godmanchester. The information was collated from,
and is reproduced with the kind permission of, The Hunts Post.
Sept.9th 1954
BATTLE OF BRITAIN SERVICE & MARCH PAST
Air Vice Marshal A.F.Hutton…..will take the salute at a march past
which will follow the annual Battle of Britain service of Huntingdon branch
of the Royal Air Forces Association, to be held this year at Godmanchester
Parish Church on Sunday, September 19th. The service conducted by the
vicar, Rev.P.J.Disney, will be attended by the Mayors, Councils &
Officers of the boroughs of Godmanchester, Huntingdon and St. Ives…..’
Sept.16th 1954
'HE’S A MASTER OF “MASTER THATCHERS”
Competing against master thatchers from a radius of 40 miles around Northampton,
Mr Oliver Seaman, of 11 London Street, Godmanchester, won first prize
at Northampton Agricultural Show on Saturday, for house-thatching. Mr
Seaman, who is a member of the East Midlands Master Thatchers Association,
competed against 11 other competitors, and finished 20 points ahead of
his nearest rival.’
June 30th 1955
'GODMANCHESTER’S NEW SCHOOL
Built on a site off Park-lane which was once a Roman burial ground, this
new junior school at Godmanchester will be officially opened by the Countess
of Sandwich next Wednesday….. The building is the first instalment
of a complete County Primary School, and forms a junior school of four
classrooms and assembly hall…….The future will see the school
developed by an infants’ wing on the north east side of the assembly
hall. This wing will consist of an additional three classrooms and ancillary
accommodation - dining room and kitchen. When this is complete the infants
will leave St Anne’s-lane school.’
July 14th 1955
‘MOST MODERN SCHOOL IN ONE OF COUNTRY’S OLDEST BOROUGHS
Opening the new Godmanchester County Junior School on Wednesday of last
week, the Countess of Sandwich described it “as one of the most modern
in the whole of England, but situated in one of the oldest boroughs of
the country”. Referring to the perfection of the school’s design,
she said, “We see the school almost in miniature – a model on
an architect’s table. While it has a utility purpose it may serve
as a model for many schools to come – both in Huntingdon and throughout
England”...The Headmistress, Miss E.M.Thackray said that although
it was too early to tell what effect the new surroundings were having
on the children, she had “seen many things which make me hopeful
for the future”….’
Sept 8th 1955
‘HE CONTINUES EXCAVATIONS …’
Some 1,800 years ago the Romans built a handsome inn at the farming settlement
we now know as Godmanchester – an inn that might still have been
undiscovered had it not been for a lucky find by workmen laying a sewerage
pipe in 1939. In the garden….of Pinfold –lane, the workmen found
“pink cement”, identified by Mr C.Hunnybun as part of a Roman
pavement. Mr Hunnybun began to excavate the site, but illness forced him
to give up. The excavations are now being continued by Mr H.J.M.Green……a
member of Cambridge Antiquarian Society. Two feet below the surface, Mr
Green found…..great stone walls…mosaic and concrete floors and….large
quantities of Roman pottery….Only the main block of the inn has been
discovered so far. It is ninety feet long with rooms opening on to a corridor
and facing….a large yard. The building runs parallel to The Stiles,
the line of the old Roman road…’
Feb.11th 1960
‘MORE ROMAN FINDS AT GODMANCHESTER
More evidence of a Roman settlement at Godmanchester has been found near
the Godmanchester – Cambridge road……While laying water
pipes in the back garden of ….Cambridge Villas….a number of
complete pots and small drinking vessels [were found]….the county’s
experienced archaeologist MrC.F.Tebbut…identified the findings as
Roman cremation groups. Each group consisted of a cremation urn, in which
the ashes were placed, and around each urn were smaller pots and drinking
goblets.’
Feb. 18th 1960
‘2,000 GALLONS ‘DISAPPEARING’ EVERY HOUR
Two thousand gallons [of water] are being “lost” every hour
in Godmanchester……a mystery the Borough Council is desperately
anxious to solve…..The Borough Surveyor ..reported…that so far
all efforts to trace the wastage had failed…[and] publicity might
speed a solution…..any householder, puzzled by any untoward plumbing
noises ..[were asked]..to inform his department.’
Feb. 25th 1960
MYSTERY NO LONGER – WATER ESCAPED THROUGH CRACK
Godmanchester water mystery has been solved. The “loss” of 2,000
gallons an hour….was caused by a cracked four-inch main in West-street…..Water
escaping from it was running into an old culvert, and disappearing into
a ditch without leaving a trace.’
April 29th 1965
‘THOSE BOOMS – BOROUGH MAY PROTEST TO DEFENCE MINISTRY
The “monstrous invasion of the peace of the citizen” could become
a regular feature unless “ we let the Government know it is the last
straw”, wrote the Rev. Neil Munt, vicar of St.Mary’s, Godmanchester,
in a letter to the mayor. Mr Munt was referring to last week’s booms
from supersonic flights at Upwood.
Mr Munt wrote that he had…. been disturbed in his work by the bangs….the
bangs frightened young children and affected the sick. There was no escape
from them – not even in the middle of Portholme.’
May 6th 1965
‘ROMAN GATE – FLATS COMMEMORATE GODMANCHESTER HISTORY
From old cottages to wasteland cluttered with rubble, and finally to modern
flats containing all the necessary amenities. This process has taken about
seven years……council members seem satisfied with their achievement
in building these 13 flats which are sited opposite the mouth of Godmanchester’s
London-road. Because the site has Roman connections, the council decided
to name the flats “Roman Gate”…County and Borough Archivist,
Mr Philip Dickinson…..thought that after St.Mary’s Church, the
buildings were among the most impressive in Godmanchester
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