Royston History

Community News: The Charity Supporting the RAF Community

Since 1943, the Royal Air Forces Association has championed a simple belief – that no member of the RAF community should ever be left without the help that they need. Not since WWII has the RAF been so constantly deployed on global operations and across the generations, the need for support is becoming ever more […]

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A Question of Royston: Arthur Whydale

Continuing our republished series, “A Question of Royston”, covering the little-known history of Royston, as written by the late Councillor F John Smith (1932-2021). Arthur Whydale – E. Hertbert Whydale, known to his friends as Bert, was the gifted painter and etcher whose work is loved by Royston people. Many of his pictures are held

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A Question of Royston: “Coombes Hole” the route past the allotments

Continuing our republished series, “A Question of Royston”, covering the little-known history of Royston, as written by the late Councillor F John Smith (1932-2021). The Coombes Hole underpass, which runs from Melbourn Road past the Town Council’s Green Street allotments through to Burns Road, opened in 2012 thanks to funding from Sustrans, North Herts Council,

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A Question of Royston: “Fish Hill Square”

Continuing our republished series, “A Question of Royston”, covering the little-known history of Royston, as written by the late Councillor F John Smith (1932-2021). Fish Hill Square is based at the north end of Market Hill and Fish Hill, where those two streets and John Street, Church Lane and Jepps Lane meet. Until shortly after

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Club News: Royston and District Local History Society Celebrates 60 years

The Society was delighted that so many invitees were there in The Old Bull to celebrate this milestone celebration with them on 1st May. Many of our esteemed members have been part of this journey from the very beginning, and some can trace their involvement to the inaugural meeting in January 1965. Their contributions were

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A Question of Royston: “Twitchells”

Continuing our republished series, “A Question of Royston”, covering the little-known history of Royston, as written by the late Councillor F John Smith (1932-2021). They go under different names in different parts of the country and the spelling is probably variable but what do you understand by “Twitchells”? There are plenty of them in the

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Royston Cave Highlights with Emma – What’s On & Tours this June

The ministry of John the Baptist reached its peak when Jesus came to him to be baptised in the Jordan River. John’s outspoken condemnation of Herod Antipas for marrying his brother’s wife, led to his imprisonment. After Herod’s stepdaughter, Salome, danced for him on his birthday, he promised to give her whatever she asked for.

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Royston Cave Highlights with Emma – What’s On & Tours this May

Royston has such a wonderful history, and of course, one of the most unique caves in the country; however, we have noticed that sometimes when families come into the cave, the children are not always as excited as we are! This May half term, there will be age-appropriate tours aimed at those children under the

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A Question of Royston: “A Drop into the Past: The Story Beneath Royston’s Woolworths”

Continuing our republished series, “A Question of Royston”, covering the little-known history of Royston, as written by the late Councillor F John Smith (1932-2021). This article, originally written in 2009, looks back at the closure of Woolworths on Royston High Street – a much-loved store that served the community for generations. Following the chain’s nationwide

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News from Royston Cave: April Update – Tours of the Cave

Monthly Update – From Emma, Royston Cave Manager… April is an exciting month for Royston Cave because we begin our 2025 public tour season. The steps have been swept, the cobwebs dusted away, and the guides are ready to begin their tours. Tour prices have been frozen for this year, and times have slightly increased,

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News from Royston Cave: March Update – King James & The Cave?

Monthly Update – From Emma, Royston Cave Manager… On the 24th of March 1603, Queen Elizabeth I died without a direct heir. King James VI of Scotland, her closest relative, became King James I of Scotland and England. He stopped at Royston on 30th April 1603 as he made his way to London for the

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