PROJECTS UPDATE FOR 2022

Current Projects Under Research

Pianoforte Supplies Limited (PSL)

The Company was formed in London in 1919 by Cyril Cripps (later Sir Cyril) and established at Roade in 1923. Our objective is to collect as much history, memorabilia and memories as we can of the company which had such a major impact on the social and economic development of our village and community. This will form the basis of a centenary exhibition in 2023, which we hope will include the reinstatement of the pipe-bender, an iconic landmark that stood outside the Blacksmith’s shop.

The History of Roade Methodism

The Society has transcribed a copy of an unpublished document which traces the history of Roade Methodist Church from around 1837 to 1924. This, together with the Church’s 1975 publication celebrating the Centenary of the second Methodist Chapel in Roade (now the Church Hall) and articles from the British Newspaper Archive have now been collated. The 150th Anniversary of the opening of the current Chapel is in 2025. A time capsule was concealed in the foundations when this first opened. Input from congregation members welcome.

Roade Methodist Church

Roade Remembered Heritage Walks

Consideration is being given to producing an interactive heritage walking route map of the village. We know what we want, but not how to do it!

Help required please.

Past Project Updates

Cutting Remarks

The History of Roade’s Railways and Cutting through the Ages:

Delayed due to the Covid 19 pandemic RLHS launched this publication in November 2021, it has been well received by residents, the rail enthusiast fraternity and those interested in rural and social history. It was runner-up against stiff competition for the NHF Hindsight’s award 2022.

The Society is actively engaged in publicising its availability to the wider audience. To obtain your copy click here

Physical Archives

We continue to display items from our collection of memorabilia in a cabinet donated in memory of the late Dr John Gwilt MBE sited in the Roade Junction Community Library.

We are desperately seeking a storage facility for our large collection of items. CAN YOU HELP?

The Every Brothers – Their Story

A five act play written by RLHS Archivist Ron Johnson as part of the village’s 2019 Remembrance commemorations. It is the story of three brothers, sadly all casualties of WW2, whose family were evacuated to Roade during the conflict. First performed on 9th November 2019 at the Elizabeth Woodville School Roade to a packed audience its acclaim was such that it was scheduled to be restaged at the Deco Theatre Northampton in 2020. Due to Covid 19 restrictions this had to be cancelled, however, the cast stuck together and it was eventually performed at that theatre to vociferous applause and, unusually, to a standing ovation in November 2021.

The play was runner-up in two categories at the Northamptonshire Heritage Forum’s Hindsight 2022 Awards

180th Anniversary of Roade Cutting Grand Exhibition (2018)

The exhibition coincided with the award of a National Transport Trust ‘Red Wheel'.

This exhibition was awarded the Northamptonshire Heritage Foundation’s ‘Best Event’ at the 2019 awards.

The model of Roade Cutting through the ages constructed by members was ‘Highly Commended’ in the L&NWR Society/British Railway Modelling Magazine awards 2010.

Society member John Martin was voted ‘Volunteer of the Year’ at the 2019 Northamptonshire Community Foundation awards 2019.

The model of the Cutting will shortly be on public display at Rushden Historic Transport Museum.

World’s First Night Navigation Flight (Claude Grahame-White) Exhibition 2016

The story of the village’s part in the achievement of the world’s first ever night-time navigational flight. It is our ambition to commemorate this World First with a representative sculpture sited close to the landing & take off site on former PSL land.

World Wars – National Servicemen, Roade Roll of Honour & Canadian Airmen Memorial

The Society continues to update the Roll of Honour, copies of which can be found in the Reference section at Roade Junction Community Library and in St Mary’s Church and Roade Methodist Church. We are grateful for the help received by the local Royal British Legion Branch and continue to support the annual Remembrance commemorations.