Home Cogenhoe & Whiston Heritage Society

2024 to 2025  Open Meetings

All meetings will be at 7.30pm   
in the York Room, Cogenhoe Village Hall,

York Avenue, Cogenhoe NN7 1NB

Wednesday 8 May
The Mann Family of Cogenhoe
Robert Vaughan
A tale of endeavour and enterprise with a Northamptonshire family rising to pre-eminence in the world of prestige shoe making.  They created a hive of industry in Cogenhoe but almost nothing remains except for several splendid houses – and a curious exhibit in Abington Park Museum!  The Society’s commemorative plaque 8 is placed on the remaining wall of their factory on Whiston Road.


Wednesday 12 June
To the Manor Born
Derek Blunt
A light-hearted and entertaining illustrated talk by Northamptonshire author and artist Derek Blunt.  A keen local historian and explorer of our county of spires and squires, he says ‘I have acquired much interesting and sometimes amusing information about the manors, the big houses and their fascinating owners’.  Derek has some revealing local stories with facts, figures and absorbing history for all to enjoy.


Wednesday 10 July

Kelmarsh Hall
Liz Hopes
A short history of the Hall, its owners and tenants!


Wednesday 14 August
Philip Manfield
Izabela Robinson
Philip Manfield- His life and contribution to the development of shoemaking in Northampton. Sir Philip was a prominent local businessman, politician and public servant whose contribution to the establishment and growth of the footwear manufacturing industry is intricately linked with the history of Northampton itself. This talk will focus on his life, his work and his legacy.


Wednesday 11 September
Overstone South Excavation
Simon Markus
Simon gave a talkWe hope to have a display of artefacts from the Overstone north and south sites.


Wednesday 9 October
The Life of Edgar Mobbs – a Northamptonshire sporting icon
Graham McKechnie

BBC Radio Northampton sports editor and Saints club historian Graham McKechnie tells the extraordinary story of Saints and England captain Edgar Mobbs – from Franklin’s Gardens to the battlefields of the Western Front.  Mobbs captained Northampton Saints and England.  During the war he rose to command his battalion of the Northamptonshire Regiment and was awarded the DSO. He was killed in action at Ypres.


Wednesday 13 November2
D-Day and Dunstable
Jean Yates
The Met. Office Forecast that changed WWII


Wednesday 11 December  
Christmas Customs
Chris Bazeley



2025


Wednesday 8 January
Adams Bakery
Robert Vaughan

Wednesday 12 February
A History of Royal Fotheringhay
Douglas Goddard


Wednesday 12 March

Silverstone: WW1 to Formula 1
Gerald Lovell