Up until a few years ago, Clavering had a thriving Local History Group, which was run by the former Local History Recorder, Eileen Ludgate. This ran for nearly 20 years, during which time many distinguished historians visited to give talks, a number of projects were carried out and Eileen wrote two books. When this closed down, the Clavering Village Society was started and one of its aims was to continue inviting history speakers to give evening lectures. This is continuing, but so far there has been no revival of the practical aspects of the group - until now.

In October 2003, we opened our first evening class as a Local Centre for the Cambridge Continuing Board of Education, who help people throughout the region to set up such classes. Our first course is entitled 'Discovering your local landscape' and is tutored by Dr Susan Oosthuizen, a landscape historian of great repute. The course takes place in the Clavering Christian Centre, the newly- refurbished former United Reformed Church, which is now a church and community meeting place. The course has proved enormously popular, with 32 students and a waiting list.

Our 2003 class led to the formation of the Clavering Landscape History Group, which is currently running Project Castle (see separate item on this). In autumn 2004 we organised a second class, this time on 'Archaeology and Landscape' tutored by archaeologist Paul Palmer. As in the previous year, it was completely subscribed, with 30 participants. In autumn 2005 we held our third course, this time tutored by Leigh Alston, a Suffolk expert on timber-framed buildings and medieval life. The fourth course, in autumn 2006,is  'Place names, Settlements and Landscape' is tutored by Dr John Baker

Jacky Cooper
Local Centre organiser