Publications - Books and Booklets

The Village Society have produced a series of books and booklets that are available for collection in Histon or by post. You can also see our list of cards and postcards here.

Postage and Packing

  • 2nd Class UK mainland unless specified otherwise Price on Application (POA).

  • 1 Book £3.50 except the new Histon Station Book, Photographic Memories and the new Chivers book which are £4.50.

  • 2 Chivers books are £7.99 because of their size

  • Up to 2 small pamphlet books £2.50

  • For all additional books POA.

Please contact us using the order form here stating delivery preference and whether you wish to pay by cash/cheque or on line bank transfer.

The Chivers Story

  • £15.00

  • Step back in time and immerse yourself in the fascinating tale of the Chivers and Sons’ empire. This book, brings the story to life, giving wonderful and eclectic insights into the social history of this period. Written by the Histon and Impington Village Society’s historian Eleanor Whitehead, using material carefully assembled over the past 40 years, including photographs, memorabilia and both employee and villagers’ personal recollections.

Histon On and Off the Rails

  • £12.00

  • Drawing upon the memorabilia and highly entertaining memories of local residents, this beautifully illustrated book provides an in-depth guide to the history of Histon Station and its effect on the people and villages it served. Boasting over 200 photographs, it celebrates bygone times and captures a lost era of the village – a must read for all local residents and train enthusiasts alike.

Cheers!

  • Sold Out

  • A fully illustrated history of the pubs and people of Histon and Impington from 1686. Our pubs have been central to many village community activities for centuries, developing against different historical backgrounds and giving us tales of mighty feats of strength, ghosts and lively characters. Originally by the late John Allen and members of the H&IVS History Group. Revised in 2013 and updated in 2018. In 2014 it was awarded the Cambridge Association for Local History book prize.

Impington Hall

  • £10.00

  • Chronicling its owners and estates, this Magnum Opus tells the tale of this beautiful country property from 1550 to 1992, drawing upon a unique local collection of documents, photographs and maps. These include its long connection to the Pepys family – Samuel Pepys the Diarist in 17th century is the best known member. Written by Eleanor Whitehead, Histon and Impington historian, (assisted by Stephen Harper-Scott). Published 2016.

Photographic Memories

  • £10.00

  • Deservedly popular, this book provides a vivid picture of life in Histon and Impington over 140 years. Not just in photographs, there are factual commentaries to go with them, covering also the unofficial details of daily life. Compiled by local historian Eleanor Whitehead. Published 1999. In 2000 it was part of the Special Award to the Village Society for the quality of their range of publications over the previous 20 years given by the Cambridge Association for Local History.

Pepys Terrace

  • £10.00

  • Building started there in 1892 and this is its subsequent 125 year history by one of today’s residents of Pepys Terrace, with lots of details of its inhabitants. This is a fascinating illustrated insight into the lives of the people in one small street in the Cambridgeshire village of Impington. Compiled by Bob Tonks. Published 2018. It was given a Highly Commended award by the Cambridge Association for Local History.

The Histon and Impington Chronicle 1770-1851

  • £10.00

  • Extracts from the local newspaper, the Cambridge Chronicle, brought to life by a villager who lives here. They tell us of 81 years of happy and sad times, of heritage and daily life, from the days when the newspaper was the only way of recording and receiving news, long before television and the internet. Compiled by Bob Tonks. Published 2016.

Impington 1911

  • £10.00

  • In 1911 Impington was a thriving community; the population had nearly doubled to 743 people in just 20 years. There was a well attended school, numerous shops and three public houses. The 1911 Census provides details of everyone living in the parish at that time. This book provides additional information on each family including marriage details, numbers of children, parents, maps of where the families lived in the village together with illustrations of the cottages and houses.


    Compiled by R S Tonks

The Wolfe Family of Histon and Impington

  • £6.95

  • In the early 19th century, three sons of Edward Wolfe, Moses, Aaron and Samuel, moved from Madingley to settle in Histon and Impington. By the time of the 1911 census there were 90 direct descendants living in the villages with family names including Wolfe, Clayton, Moore, Muncey, Smith, Stern, Tibbett, Wakefield, Waters and Wilderspin, among others. This booklet contains a wealth of information on the Wolfe family using the parish registers, and the 1911 census.

    Compiled by Robert S Tonks and published 2023

The Firs, Histon

  • £4.00

  • The Firs in Histon has served the community in many ways since 1855. First as a private house, owned by, amongst others, the alleged embezzling solicitor William Peed, then purchased by Chivers & Sons to form part of their next door food manufacturing business. Used as a convalescent hospital in WW1 and by the ARP in WW2, in 1978 two village doctors moved in. It has remained the local surgery ever since then, with so many people having memories of it. The original book was by the late Dellas Oates (whose husband’s ancestor built The Firs). Now revised and updated by members of the HIVS History Group. Published 2017.

Impington Mill

  • £3.00

  • Described in detail by the current owner, and with outstanding explanatory drawings by the late Alan Eade, for 23 years the Chairman of Histon and Impington Village Society, this is the fascinating tale of Impington Mill. It tells us about how and why a windmill works, suitably illustrated, plus the story of its lengthy restoration. Written by Steve Temple. Published 2012.

Histon Parish Church

  • £3.00

  • St Andrew’s, Histon, dates back to Norman times, but the booklet also tells us of another adjoining church of St Etheldreda, demolished in the 1590s. St Andrews has been looked after, with variable results, over the centuries and remains an active centre of village community life. It’s beautifully illustrated with explanatory line drawings by the late Alan Eade. This history has proved so popular that it’s now in its third revision. Originally written by Robert Walker, (retired Chief Cambridgeshire County Council Conservation Officer and noted authority on the churches of East Anglia) and now updated. Published 2015.

Elizabeth Woodcock

  • £2.50

  • Buried in the dark in the snow and with nobody to hear her cries for help. This was the nightmare ordeal endured by the frozen Elizabeth Woodcock for eight days and nights in February 1799. Eventually rescued, this became major news of the time and here is her tale, as described and written then in the original 1799 text. The booklet was compiled by the late John Whitmore and published by the Histon & Impington Village Society in 2000, reprinted and updated in 2023.

Not Bad For A Village Team…

  • £2.50

  • Known as the Stutes (read inside to find out why), Histon Football Club has long been a key feature of village life and enthusiasm. This illustrated booklet tells us the story from 1904 to 2009, charting the ups and downs and the people involved over the years. Written by villager Mike Pride. Published 2011.

Street Names in Histon and Impington

  • £2.50

  • Do you want to learn more about the road in which you live? This is the chance for villagers to find out the background to their own local patch, as this booklet, with maps, covers their derivations and history. Compiled by the late Clive Ennals and Eleanor Whitehead. Published 2005.

William Rooke Impington 1885-1919

  • £2.50

  • This pamphlet gives details of the life and family of William Rooke, chauffeur to Stephen Chivers, and a newspaper account of his sad demise in a crash on his way to the factory.
    Compiled by Robert S Tonks

Heritage Bulletin Unwins

  • £2.00

  • For decades, Unwin’s Seeds was a major business in Histon and became one of the largest seed firms in Great Britain. This is the story of William, 1875-1947, founder, and his successes which brought world-wide fame for his sweet peas – and pleasure to flower lovers everywhere. Compiled by village historian Eleanor Whitehead. Published in 2012.