Our Projects

Village Pump Restoration
2006 saw our major project come to fruition, the restoration of the village pump located in The Square.
Over the year we had a number of working parties to dismantle the working parts, which were placed in storage. It was necessary either to find someone who could make replacement parts using the original material where possible, or to buy reproduction workings. It was at this point that local agricultural engineer Roy Hill came on the scene.  Roy and the group worked until they acheved their aim. A new casing was made for the workings and this culminated in the pump restoration ceremony, which took place at noon on Sunday 23rd July 2006, see photo gallery

An appeal for local chemists to test the water was answered by Chris Fell, Yorkshire Water project engineer. After laboratory analysis, results were pretty conclusive. Sadly, the pump water is contaminated with traces of bacteria and high levels of lead, and no longer safe to drink. 

Jigsaws
Late 2006 also saw the production of our village jigsaws, a 96 piece aimed at the younger element and a 704 piece for older children and adults. Both designs provide a snapshot of Hillam scenes through the seasons. See details.

Methodist Sunday School Register 1865-1913
This register was donated by the daughters of the late Charlie and Mary Denton. It is of substantial size, the book being 1 inch thick. After many, many hours of hard work by Neal Wilson, Vivienne Wilkinson, Valerie Richardson and daughter Elaine, we now have a copy for local consultation. The original has been lodged with North Yorkshire County Record Office, Northallerton, for wider availability.

 PROJECTS CURRENTLY BEING ACTIONED.....
1. Hillam Parish Council Archive
With the approval of the Parish Council filed documents have been examined, and those which are of historic interest have been assembled and listed. Investigations are under way to find a secure home for the archive. The plan is that once its destination has been decided, full cataloguing will be carried out.

2. Recording Villagers' Memories 
With a view to preserving the reminiscences of long-term and elderly Hillam residents, Olympus digital recording equipment has been purchased. A working list of topics and questions has been drawn up, and a start has been made on interviewing and transcribing villagers' recollections of bygone times.

Projects for 2008

  1. Continuing interviews of long-term residents, and collection of photos
  2. Farming community photos, with details/comments - joint project with Hillam News
  3. Pump - replacement of concrete steps with steps of York stone
  4. Open meeting for display of PC archives
  5. Limited edition prints of the Inclosure Award map (1811)