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Biggleswade History Society
Project Plan

Projects completed May 2006 to January 2010:

  1. Full transcription of the 1851 census for Biggleswade - Mike Strange
    This is not being made available to the public; there is a look-up facility for members or those who
    purchase one of our publications (one surname printed out per purchase)
  2. In-depth reorganisation of storage of photographs - Mike Strange
    This is the structure of our photographic records.
  3. Detailed recording of photographic records - Indexing and scanning by Roy Chadwick and Penny Gilbert
  4. In-depth reorganisation and cataloguing of storage of artifacts - Tim Haddow and Mike Strange
  5. Transcription of 1915 Qualification of Electors and Jurors - Babs Elsworth
  6. Publication of "Townsfolk of Biggleswade" - Ken Page, Mike Strange, Eric Lund and Jennifer Lawrence
    Volume 1 - 2007, Volume 2 - 2008 and Volume 3 - 2009.
  7. Transcription of the Rose Lane School Registers - Babs Elsworth and Peter Horn - also see below ....
  8. Transcription of Spong's Directory & Almanac 1914 contains 1300 heads of household - Jean Strange
    Follow the link down to Trade and Residents Directories on our Research page.
  9. Added an on-line listing of the interviews the Society has carried out with Biggleswade townsfolk and other Biggleswade Society audio recordings.
  10. Provided an on-line surname list from the school admission registers - Mike Strange

Projects in the pipeline:

  1. In-depth reorganisation and cataloguing of storage of ephemera, maps and books - Tim Haddow

Ideas for the future :
The History Society would like to undertake a number of projects in the future; there are two main limitations: insufficient willing and skilled volunteers and funding. Given that these could be overcome by members with sufficient enthusiasm, knowledge and skill and with aid from grants we would like to:

  1. Produce a Biggleswade Heritage Trail walk leaflet and booklet. Ken Page has supplied the outline content for these and detail from the heritage plaques; this can be seen here.
  2. Produce Volume 2 of the "Heritage Trail" book. Volume 1 includes the High Street and Market Square; our next objective would be Shortmead Street. It was said that you could be born and buried in this street and want for nothing else; sadly no longer a true state of affairs but it does have a number of buildings and sites of interest and these are portrayed in our Research section under Roads.

Ideas Shelved due to Lack of Resources or Interest:

  1. Reinstate the "Beating the Bounds" ceremonial walk around the parish boundary as an annual event in Rogation Week, between the fifth Sunday after Easter and Ascension Day.
  2. Have a town museum.