This is the page celebrating 100 years of Spaldwick. During 2014, and with your help, we filled in the timeline below. If you know dates for important developments or events in Spaldwick during this time, please get in touch with Stuart Dixon, Mark Heath or email info@spaldwick.com. If you have any old photos, these would be much appreciated and we can scan them to add to our growing archive.
The photo above shows an event held in 1957 in the Spaldwick Victory Hall, kindly provided by Liz Smith.
| Year | Description or Event |
|---|---|
| 1914 | Population of Spaldwick: 258 (1911 Census) Britain declares war on Germany (Aug) Spaldwick resident Harold Ashton (War Correspondent of The Daily News) publishes the book 'First From The Front'. He is son of the grocer in Spaldwick |
| 1915 | Percy Jules Hulbert becomes Vicar of Spaldwick Spaldwick's oldest resident - Rhoda Payne - dies aged 104 at the Huntingdon Workhouse. For a long period she has enjoyed the reputation of being the oldest person in the county (Feb) Arthur Robert Chandler dies in action, aged 25 (Mar) Walter Whittlesea Dighton dies in action, aged 24 (Nov) |
| 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) William Woodham dies in action, aged 39 (Oct) Organ installed in Spaldwick Church (Oct) |
| 1917 | John William Burton dies from wounds, aged 38 (Apr) 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) |
| 1919 | Herbert Theodore Harvard-Jones becomes Vicar of Spaldwick John H Belton "the well known miller of Spaldwick" dies, aged 71 (Oct) |
| 1920 | |
| 1921 | Population of Spaldwick: 262 (1921 Census) The Bell Inn (a Well's pub) passes to another brewer - Marshall Brothers Bells rehung in Spaldwick Church Spaldwick Victory Hall opened by Commander Locker Lampson MP (Dec) |
| 1922 | |
| 1923 | Sails of Spaldwick Windmill blown off and are not replaced |
| 1924 | |
| 1925 | The Bell Inn ceases to be a pub and became a draper's shop |
| 1926 | |
| 1927 | |
| 1928 | The Spaldwick Funeral Bier presented to the village by Miss A. Busby |
| 1929 | |
| 1930 | |
| 1931 | Population of Spaldwick: 242 (1931 Census) |
| 1932 | |
| 1933 | |
| 1934 | |
| 1935 | |
| 1936 | |
| 1937 | |
| 1938 | Cap of Spaldwick Windmill comes down |
| 1939 | Britain declares war on Germany (Sep) |
| 1940 | Evacuees arrive in Spaldwick (Sep) |
| 1941 | |
| 1942 | |
| 1943 | Donald Robert Church dies in action, aged 24 (May) |
| 1944 | Leonard Cyril Nickerson dies in action, aged 22 (May) |
| 1945 | |
| 1946 | |
| 1947 | |
| 1948 | |
| 1949 | |
| 1950 | Morley Headlam Wells becomes Vicar of Spaldwick |
| 1951 | Population of Spaldwick: 284 (1951 Census) |
| 1952 | |
| 1953 | Electricity arrives in Spaldwick! Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II (Mar) Lionel Watson Goodwin dies in action in Korea, aged 19 (Apr) Church spire damaged during a storm (May) |
| 1954 | |
| 1955 | |
| 1956 | |
| 1957 | Eric Lindsay Forster becomes Vicar of Spaldwick |
| 1958 | Mid-air collision over Spaldwick, lighting up the sky and pilots killed (13 Jun) |
| 1959 | |
| 1960 | |
| 1961 | Population of Spaldwick: 275 (1961 Census) |
| 1962 | |
| 1963 | |
| 1964 | |
| 1965 | 'Knife and Fork' cafe in existence (in same location as current village shop |
| 1966 | |
| 1967 | |
| 1968 | |
| 1969 | Spaldwick Primary School opens (as a two-class school) |
| 1970 | |
| 1971 | Population of Spaldwick: 271 (1971 Census) |
| 1972 | |
| 1973 | |
| 1974 | |
| 1975 | Joseph Wilcox becomes Vicar of Spaldwick |
| 1976 | |
| 1977 | Silver Jubilee celebrations in Spaldwick (Jun) |
| 1978 | |
| 1979 | Mr Ronald Carter buys the Post Office (Walton's House) |
| 1980 | Michael Jenner becomes Vicar of Spaldwick |
| 1981 | Secretary of State orders Spaldwick bypass (A604 now A14) (Sep) Emily Blatch becomes Leader of Cambridgeshire County Council |
| 1982 | |
| 1983 | Spaldwick bypass (A604 now A14) opens - five months ahead of schedule (7 Apr) |
| 1984 | |
| 1985 | |
| 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) |
| 1987 | Andrew Thomas Schofield becomes Vicar of Spaldwick Spaldwick Primary School extended Emily Blatch created Baroness Blatch of Hinchingbrooke (4 Jul) |
| 1988 | 'Original' Spaldwick garage closes (May) |
| 1989 | |
| 1990 | Spaldwick Primary School extended |
| 1991 | Population of Spaldwick: 304 (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 |
| 1993 | |
| 1994 | Baroness Blatch becomes Minister of State for the Home Office |
| 1995 | John Alford becomes Vicar of Spaldwick |
| 1996 | Littlecotes Close comes into being (Aug) Ivy Way comes into being (Dec) |
| 1997 | |
| 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 | Opening of the Spaldwick Village Sign by Baroness Blatch (Jul) 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 Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords |
| 2002 | Village Hall sold (Jun) Playtimes Playgroup opened by Baroness Blatch (Sep) Repairs to Spaldwick Church tower and roof |
| 2003 | Spaldwick School website launches (Jul) The George closes for extensive refurbishment |
| 2004 | Broadband launches in Spaldwick from the Woolley exchange (Jul) |
| 2005 | Baroness Blatch dies (31 May) Flood defences (costing £280,000) completed in Spaldwick and Ellington, to protect 35 residential and 20 commercial premises |
| 2006 | |
| 2007 | Theft of lead from Spaldwick Church roof, costing £15,000 to replace Father Christmas visits Spaldwick (Dec) |
| 2008 | Spaldwick News (produced by Mike Townsend) launches (May) Open Gardens (the first ever?) held (15 Jun) Louis Smith visits Spaldwick School (Jun) Village survey carried out for the Spaldwick Parish Plan (Jul) Spaldwick website launches (Sep) Harvest thanksgiving (5 Oct) Father Christmas visits Spaldwick (Dec) Carol Party (22 Dec) |
| 2009 | Brian Appleyard wins the Silver Roman Bowl in the annual Round the Island (Isle of Wight) race David and Charlotte Irwin climb Kilimanjaro Family and dog walk to Leighton Bromswold (Jun) The first Spaldwick Fete (in its modern form) (Jul) Tom Jackson - one of Spaldwick oldest residents - dies, aged 92 Garden Party (Sep) Barn Dance (Sep) Harvest Festival Supper (Oct) New Village Hall Management Committee (Dec) |
| 2010 | Valentines Ball (Feb) 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) Young people vote to call the Spaldwick Youth Group 'Escape' (Jul) Hawaiian Ho-Down Number 12 shop and deli opens (23 Sep) First night ever for the Spaldwick Youth Group (26 Nov) Father Christmas visits Spaldwick (19 Dec) |
| 2011 | Population of Spaldwick: 631 (2011 Census) Royal Wedding Garden Party and street party (30 Apr) Election of new Parish Council (5 May) Spaldwick Fete (Jul) Harvest Support (Sep) Number 12 the Spaldwick Shop wins the Hunts Post award for the best independent retailer in Huntingdonshire (Oct) Theft of lead from the Church roof (Nov) Carol Party (Dec) Father Christmas visits Spaldwick (Dec) |
| 2012 | Cozy Pubs withdraws from The George and present owners start (Jan) Valentine's Ball (Feb) First ever meeting of the Spaldwick Gardening Club (14 Mar) Spaldwick Funeral Bier restored by Wally Smith First Easter Fayre (14 Apr) Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations in Spaldwick (4 Jun) Spaldwick Fete (Jul) Jo Corbin - Spaldwick's oldest resident - dies aged 98 (15 Aug) Harvest Supper (21 Oct) Carol Party (18 Dec) |
| 2013 | Quiz Night (19 Jan) Easter Fayre (13 Apr) Paul Hall collects an MBE at Buckingham Palace for his coaching of Olympic medal winner Louis Smith (9 Jun) Internet voting for Scarecrow competition launches (Jul) Spaldwick Fete Harvest Support (29 Sep) Church Carol Party (17 Dec) Father Christmas visits Spaldwick (22 Dec) |
| 2014 | Number 12 shop and deli launches Internet shopping Burns Night at The George (24 Jan) Vicar Jonathan Young retires, age 70 (Feb) New Vicar, Stephen Bowring, takes over (16 Feb) First St George's Day celebration held in The George (23 Apr) Open Gardens (22 Jun) Superfast fibre broadband arrives (24 Jun) Spaldwick Fete (13 Jul) |
| 2015 | Number 12 shop and deli closes (Jun) Arson attack on Spaldwick service station (Aug) Spaldwick Fete (Jul) Transmission of first Ultra HD TV channel via superfast broadband (Aug) Service Station fire (Aug) |
| 2016 | |
| 2017 | |
| 2018 | |
| 2019 | |
| 2020 | COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic |
Please get in touch by emailing: info@spaldwick.com