Here is our timeline of Spaldwick’s history, from 1914 (the start of World War I) to the present day. Links to our information pages and photographs are provided. If you know dates for events we’ve missed, please get in touch by emailing info@spaldwick.com.
1914–1933 · 1934–1953 · 1954–1973 · 1974–1993 · 1994–2013 · 2014–2025
1914
Population of Spaldwick: 258 (1911 Census, the most recent taken before the war).
Spaldwick resident Harold Ashton (War Correspondent of The Daily News) publishes the book ‘First From The Front’. He is the son of the village grocer.
1915
Percy Jules Hulbert becomes Vicar of Spaldwick.
Spaldwick’s oldest resident, Rhoda Paine, dies in February at the age of 104. She kept a small sweet shop, lived in part of Manor Farmhouse and was affectionately remembered by village-born writer Harold Ashton. Read her story in our Rhoda Paine page.
Arthur Robert Chandler dies in action, aged 25 (Mar). He is listed on the Spaldwick War Memorial.
Walter Whittlesea Dighton dies in action, aged 24 (Nov). He is listed on the Spaldwick War Memorial.
1916
Harold Ashton (War Correspondent of The Daily News) publishes the book ‘Private Pinkerton, Millionaire’.
Percy William Chandler (brother of Arthur, above) dies in action, aged 31 (Jun). He is listed on the Spaldwick War Memorial.
William Woodham dies in action, aged 39 (Oct). He is listed on the Spaldwick War Memorial.
Organ installed in Spaldwick Church (Oct).
1917
John William Burton dies from wounds, aged 38 (Apr). He is listed on the Spaldwick War Memorial.
Harold Ashton (War Correspondent of The Daily News) publishes the book ‘The Tale of a Tank and other Yarns’.
1918
John William Chapman dies in action, aged 19 (May). He is listed on the Spaldwick War Memorial.
1919
Herbert Theodore Harvard-Jones becomes Vicar of Spaldwick.
John H Belton “the well-known miller of Spaldwick” dies, aged 71 (Oct). Visit our Spaldwick Windmill page.
1921
Population of Spaldwick: 262 (1921 Census).
The Bell Inn (a Wells’ pub) passes to another brewer – Marshall Brothers.
Bells rehung in Spaldwick Church.
Spaldwick Victory Hall opened by Commander Locker Lampson MP (Dec). View the photo.
1922
The sails of Spaldwick Windmill are blown off and are not replaced. Visit our Spaldwick Windmill page.
1925
The Bell Inn ceases to be a pub and becomes a draper’s shop.
1928
The Spaldwick Funeral Bier is presented to the village by Miss A. Busby.
1931
Population of Spaldwick: 242 (1931 Census).
1938
Cap of Spaldwick Windmill comes down, and its hub is lost. Visit our Spaldwick Windmill page.
1940
Evacuees arrive in Spaldwick (Sep). Sylvia Black, aged five, was one of them and went on to make Spaldwick her lifelong home. Read her story in our Sylvia Black page.
1943
Donald Robert Church dies in action, aged 24 (May). He is listed on the Spaldwick War Memorial.
1944
Leonard Cyril Nickerson dies in action, aged 22 (May). He is listed on the Spaldwick War Memorial.
1949
Spaldwick Darby and Joan Club is founded. View the photo.
1950
Morley Headlam Wells becomes Vicar of Spaldwick.
1951
Population of Spaldwick: 284 (1951 Census).
1953
Electricity arrives in Spaldwick.
Lionel Watson Goodwin dies in action in Korea, aged 19 (Apr). He is listed on the Spaldwick War Memorial.
Church spire damaged during a storm (May).
1956
Newspaper cuttings describe a violent whirlwind near West Lodge, west of Spaldwick. Cottages and farm buildings were damaged, a tree was uprooted and a three-ton cattle lorry was reportedly lifted from the road (Jun). Read our page.
1957
Eric Lindsay Forster becomes Vicar of Spaldwick.
1958
A mid-air collision over Spaldwick lights up the sky, killing the crews of both aircraft (13 Jun).
1961
Population of Spaldwick: 275 (1961 Census).
1965
The ‘Knife and Fork’ café is operating on the site of the present village shop. View the photo.
1967
Tony Wakefield and Graham Milton of Spaldwick Service Station finish third in the French Grand Prix and fourth in the Sidecar World Championship on a privately entered BMW. Visit our British Magnum page.
1969
Spaldwick Primary School opens (as a two-class school).
1971
Population of Spaldwick: 271 (1971 Census).
1974
The remains of Spaldwick Windmill are photographed as a ruined stump on Belton’s Hill. Visit our Spaldwick Windmill page.
1975
Joseph Wilcox becomes Vicar of Spaldwick.
British Magnum, the racing sidecar designed and built at Spaldwick Service Station by Tony Wakefield and Graham Milton, makes its Isle of Man TT debut: Milton finishes fourth and Robin Williamson seventh. Visit our British Magnum page.
1977
Silver Jubilee celebrations in Spaldwick (Jun).
1979
Mr Ronald Carter buys the Post Office (Walton House).
Graham Milton and John Brushwood finish fifth in the Isle of Man TT Sidecar race on a British Magnum; Tony Wakefield and Eddie Kiff finish twenty-first. Visit our British Magnum page.
1980
Michael Jenner becomes Vicar of Spaldwick.
1981
Population of Spaldwick: 309 (1981 Census).
Secretary of State orders Spaldwick bypass (A604 now A14) (Sep). View our Spaldwick Service Station page.
Emily Blatch becomes Leader of Cambridgeshire County Council.
A tornado strikes Spaldwick, causing damage to buildings and trees across the village (23 Nov).
1983
Spaldwick bypass (A604 now A14) opens – five months ahead of schedule (7 Apr). Visit our Spaldwick Service Station page.
1986
Spaldwick Welcome Club launches (with 16 members, transferring from the former Darby and Joan Club) (Mar).
Ronald Carter applies to redesignate the Post Office (now Walton House) as a dwelling house, on the death of his wife.
Church clock restored by Robert Rushbrook (Oct). View the photo.
1987
Andrew Thomas Schofield becomes Vicar of Spaldwick.
Spaldwick Primary School extended.
Emily Blatch is created Baroness Blatch of Hinchingbrooke.
1988
‘Original’ Spaldwick garage closes (May). View our Spaldwick Service Station page.
1990
Spaldwick Primary School extended.
1991
Population of Spaldwick: 288 (1991 Census).
1992
Baroness Blatch becomes Minister of State for Education.
Bells rehung in Spaldwick Church when £50,000 was raised for strengthening the Church spire.
1994
Baroness Blatch becomes Minister of State for the Home Office.
1995
John Alford becomes Vicar of Spaldwick.
1998
Flood, affecting some houses (made worse by inadequate drainage) (Mar) – see new flood defences in 2005.
Fuller Close comes into being (Dec).
1999
Burton Way comes into being (Jul).
2000
Val Cameron becomes headteacher of Spaldwick Primary School (Jan).
Opening of the Spaldwick Village Sign by Baroness Blatch (Jul). View the photo.
Planning permission for a major extension to the Village Hall refused.
2001
Population of Spaldwick: 613 (220 households) (2001 Census).
Jonathan Priestland Young becomes Vicar of Spaldwick.
Spaldwick Primary School extended.
Baroness Blatch becomes Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords.
2002
Village Hall sold (Jun).
Playtimes Playgroup’s new purpose-built building is opened by Baroness Blatch (Sep). View the photo.
Repairs to Spaldwick Church tower and roof.
The Commemorative Plaque, to mark the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, is installed.
2003
Spaldwick School’s first website, developed by Dr Mark Heath, launches, leading to future innovations, including the Egg Cam (Jul). Read our About This Site page.
The George closes for extensive refurbishment.
Village Gala. View the photos (Jul).
2004
Following a campaign by Dr Mark Heath, ADSL broadband launches in Spaldwick from the Woolley exchange, delivering speeds of 1-5 Mbps (Jul). Visit our Broadband page.
2005
Baroness Blatch dies (31 May).
Flood defences (costing £280,000) are completed in Spaldwick and Ellington, to protect 35 residential and 20 commercial premises.
2007
Theft of lead from Spaldwick Church roof, costing £15,000 to replace.
Registration of Spaldwick.com (Sep). Read our About This Site page.
Father Christmas makes his first visit to Spaldwick (Dec), beginning an annual village tradition.
2008
The first Spaldwick News magazine (produced by Mike Townsend) launches (May). See his first edition.
Open Gardens held, opening the village’s beautiful gardens to the public (possibly the first) (15 Jun). View our Open Gardens photographs.
Louis Smith visits Spaldwick School (Jun).
Village survey carried out for the Spaldwick Parish Plan (Jul).
Spaldwick website launches (Sep). Read our About This Site page.
John Blatch becomes Editor of the Spaldwick News magazine (Dec). See his first edition.
2009
Brian Appleyard wins the Silver Roman Bowl in the annual Round the Island (Isle of Wight) race.
Family and dog walk to Leighton Bromswold (Jun).
The first Spaldwick Fete (in its modern form) (Jul). View our Spaldwick Fete photographs.
Tom Jackson – one of Spaldwick’s oldest residents – dies, aged 92.
Garden Party (Sep).
Barn Dance (Sep).
New Village Hall Management Committee is created, to progress options for a new village hall (Dec).
2010
Valentine’s Ball (Feb). View our Valentine’s Ball photographs.
Spaldwick Open House starts (Mar).
Inaugural event for the Spaldwick Youth Group.
Church Garden Party (Jun).
Brian Appleyard wins the Gold Roman Bowl in the Round the Island (Isle of Wight) Race.
Spaldwick Fete (Jul). View our Spaldwick Fete photographs.
Young people vote to call the Spaldwick Youth Group ‘Escape’ (Jul).
Hawaiian Hoedown.
Number 12 shop and deli opens (23 Sep). View the photos.
First night ever for the Spaldwick Youth Group (26 Nov).
2011
Population of Spaldwick has grown significantly to 631 (2011 Census).
Royal Wedding Garden Party and street party, to mark the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton (30 Apr).
Spaldwick Fete (Jul). View our Spaldwick Fete photographs.
Number 12 the Spaldwick Shop wins the Hunts Post award for the best independent retailer in Huntingdonshire (Oct). View the photos.
Theft of lead from the Church roof (Nov).
Dr Mark Heath launches the Spaldwick Village community Facebook page, reflecting the growth of social media. View our About This Site page.
2012
Cozy Pubs withdraws from The George and new operators take over (Jan).
Valentine’s Ball (Feb).
First-ever meeting of the Spaldwick Gardening Club (14 Mar).
Spaldwick Funeral Bier restored by Wally Smith. View the photo.
First Easter Fayre (14 Apr). View our Easter Fayre photographs.
Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in Spaldwick, including bell ringing at Spaldwick Church (4 Jun). View our Queen’s Diamond Jubilee photographs.
Spaldwick Fete (Jul). View our Spaldwick Fete photographs.
Jo Corbin – Spaldwick’s oldest resident – dies aged 98 (15 Aug). View her photo from the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
Dr Mark Heath becomes Broadband Champion, and instigates a broadband improvement campaign, with 86.2% of households registering their demand. Visit our Broadband page.
Applegreen officially acquires the Spaldwick Service Station. Visit our Spaldwick Service Station page.
2013
Quiz Night (19 Jan).
Easter Fayre (13 Apr). View our Easter Fayre photographs.
Paul Hall collects an MBE at Buckingham Palace for his coaching of Olympic medal winner Louis Smith (Jun).
Internet voting for the annual village scarecrow competition launches (Jul). View our photos.
Spaldwick Fete. View our Spaldwick Fete photographs.
2014
Number 12 shop and deli launches Internet shopping.
Burns Night at The George (24 Jan). View our Burns Night photographs.
Vicar Jonathan Young retires, aged 70 (Feb).
New Vicar, Stephen Bowring, takes over (16 Feb).
First St George’s Day celebration held in The George (23 Apr). View our St George’s Day photographs.
Open Gardens (22 Jun). View our Open Gardens photographs.
Superfast fibre broadband arrives, delivering speeds up to 80 Mbps (24 Jun). Visit our Broadband page.
Spaldwick Fete (13 Jul). View our Spaldwick Fete photographs.
Broadband Minister Ed Vaizey visits Spaldwick as part of a Connecting Cambridgeshire fact-finding visit (8 Aug). Visit our Broadband page.
Dr Mark Heath receives a Point of Light award from Prime Minister David Cameron for his volunteer work as Spaldwick’s Broadband Champion (Oct). Visit our Broadband page.
2015
Number 12 shop and deli closes (Jun). View the photos.
Spaldwick Fete (Jul). View our Spaldwick Fete photographs.
Spaldwick hits national news with an arson attack, when three masked, armed robbers break into the Spaldwick Service Station. The fire destroys the building (3 Aug). Visit our Spaldwick Service Station page.
A temporary portable cabin opens at Spaldwick Service Station (Sep). Visit our Spaldwick Service Station page.
2016
Spaldwick’s Zoë Perkins is one of five brass finalists in the BBC Young Musician of the Year 2016.
Planning permission is approved for the Service Station’s rebuild, following the 2015 fire (Nov). Visit our Spaldwick Service Station page.
2017
Grand re-opening of the Spaldwick Service Station. The multi-million pound complex introduced an expanded food court with a larger shop, Costa Coffee, Greggs and Subway (Sep). Visit our Spaldwick Service Station page.
2018
Louise Worrell becomes headteacher of Spaldwick Primary School (May).
Chris Hubbard becomes Editor of the Spaldwick News magazine (Jun). See his first edition.
Applegreen acquires a majority interest in Welcome Break; Spaldwick joins the Welcome Break network (Nov).
2019
Spaldwick Parish Council takes responsibility for the Spaldwick Community Room, to support the community (Jan).
Spaldwick War Memorial is granted Grade II listed status by Historic England, helping to preserve the 1922 landmark (Feb). Visit our Spaldwick War Memorial page.
Philip Howson becomes Vicar of Spaldwick, succeeding Stephen Bowring (Jun).
A major lorry fire closes the A14 (Jul).
Residents Jason Patel and Dr Mark Heath establish a Community Fibre Partnership with Openreach (supported by Connecting Cambridgeshire) to bring full-fibre broadband to Spaldwick. Visit our Broadband page.
Opening of the A14 Huntingdon Bypass, dramatically reducing journey times for village residents (9 Dec).
2020
COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic affects life throughout the village. View our Spring and Coronavirus (2020) photographs.
Church services are remotely provided via the Internet.
Allotment plots are handed over to local residents (May).
2021
Population of Spaldwick has decreased slightly to 604 (2021 Census).
Full-fibre broadband arrives in Spaldwick, completing an 18-year journey from the first demand campaign to gigabit-capable connectivity, delvering speeds up to 900 Mbps (Jul-Aug). Visit our Broadband page.
2022
Spaldwick Primary School joins the ACES Academy Trust, a major organisational change (Apr).
Spaldwick celebrates the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in a series of events (2-5 Jun). View our Platinum Jubilee photographs.
The full A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon upgrade project is completed, bringing car journey times to Cambridge down to 25 minutes (Jun 2022).
Spaldwick Church joins the national celebrations by ringing a dedicated 5,040 Treble Dodging Minor peal (Jun).
Backed by a £270,000 investment, Kerry and Simon take over the running of The George, with a grand re-opening (15 Oct).
Following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, Spaldwick Church participated in the nationwide tolling of bells.
Dr Ian Campbell, Spaldwick resident and Interim Executive Chair of Innovate UK, is awarded an MBE in the 2023 New Year Honours for services to innovation.
2023
Subway closes at Spaldwick Service Station. Visit our Spaldwick Service Station page.
Spaldwick Common Ground launches, aiming to transform the local church into a vibrant community space.
King Charles III’s Coronation celebrations, with extensive street decorations (May).
2024
The Spaldwick Common Ground project – to enhance facilities in Spaldwick Church for community use – receives official charity status (Jan).
Full-fibre broadband speeds are increased – now up to 1600 Mbps (Apr). View our Broadband page.
The inaugural Summer Spaldfest takes place (Sep).
Tony Wakefield, of British Magnum motorcycle-racing fame, dies (Oct). Visit our British Magnum page. View our In Memory of Tony Wakefield photographs.
Little Waitrose opens at Spaldwick Service Station (20 Nov). Visit our Spaldwick Service Station page.
John Blatch, RAF test pilot, husband of the late Baroness Emily Blatch and a huge contributor to village life, dies at the age of 93 (Dec). View our In Memory of John Blatch photographs.
2025
Costa Coffee at Spaldwick Service Station is replaced by Starbucks (2 Apr). Visit our Spaldwick Service Station page.
Beer Festival at The George (May).
VE Day 80th-anniversary celebrations take place (May).
Please get in touch by emailing: info@spaldwick.com
Sources
Spaldwick Service Station. Source for the Service Station’s 2016–2018 rebuild and 2023–2025 changes (Subway, Little Waitrose, Starbucks).
Broadband in Spaldwick. Source for the 2004 ADSL launch and the 2021 arrival of full-fibre broadband.
British Magnum: Spaldwick’s world-challenging motorcycle team. Source for the 1967, 1975 and 1979 racing results.
The George and Local Restaurants. Source for Kerry and Simon taking over The George in 2022.
About Spaldwick.com. Source for the 2011 launch of the Spaldwick Village Facebook page.
Wisbech Standard: Cambridgeshire heroes recognised in New Year’s Honours list. Source for Dr Ian Campbell’s MBE for services to innovation (2023 New Year Honours).
Wikipedia: Emily Blatch, Baroness Blatch. Source for John Blatch’s death in 2024, citing The Times Register, 17 December 2024.
Kimbolton & District Churches: Licensing of Rev Philip Howson. Source for Philip Howson becoming Vicar of Spaldwick in 2019.
City Population: Spaldwick. Source for the 2021 Census population figure (604).
Wikipedia: Spaldwick. Source for the 1981 Census population figure (309) and the corrected 1991 Census population figure (288).
Historic England: Spaldwick War Memorial. Source for the memorial’s unveiling in 1922, its commemorated casualties and its Grade II listing in 2019.
Historic England: Parish Church of St James, Spaldwick. Source for the architectural history, restoration and listed status of Spaldwick Church.
Spaldwick Roll of Honour. Source for the Spaldwick residents who served and died during the First World War.
UK Parliament: Baroness Blatch. Source for Emily Blatch’s peerage and parliamentary career.
Hansard: Introduction of Baroness Blatch. Source for Baroness Blatch’s introduction in the House of Lords on 5 June 1987.
Points of Light: Connecting Cambridgeshire. Source for Mark Heath’s Point of Light award and his work as Spaldwick’s Broadband Champion.
National Highways: A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon. Source for the opening of the new A14 bypass and completion of the wider improvement scheme.
Victoria County History: Huntingdonshire. Source for the published historical account of Spaldwick and the surrounding area.
Huntingdonshire Local History Society. Source of further historical research and published records relating to Huntingdonshire.