A Multiview Card from Roger Newman's collection
What's New
Newmarket contains a wealth of architecture, much of it a legacy from the monied residents of the late Victorian era. An example of the varied styles of building exists in Rous Road and for a page of pictures select here
Please note that there have been changes to the programme as shown on the NLHS membership card, affecting the Isleham visit. The correct programme is shown below. More on Icewell Hill. As more information becomes available we now have a second page devoted to Icewell Hill.The old Icewell Hill complex was demolished in the 1960s to make way for the present day flats. The properties were becoming run down and living conditions were not deemed acceptable for the post war world. Today many people remember with affection the community spirit that existed in the narrow streets and tightly packed cottages of Icewell Hill.
Thanks to local historian Peter Norman, former resident of Icewell Hill Derek Coombes and NLHS archives we are able to look back at what life must have been like for those living in Icewell Hill. To start go to Page 5 of this site from where you can move to the second page. select here The National Horseracing Museum, situated close to The Jockey Club in Newmarket's High Street opened its doors to the public for the 2009 season on April 7th. The Museum contains much of interest for horseracing enthusiasts and also includes a shop and cafe. Their website is at www.nhrm.co.uk/ December 2008. Woolworths in the High Street closed after a partnership with Newmarket lasting more than an eighty years. For a brief history go to page 6, or select from Index above.
Visitors to this site can now enter their own messages or queries by clicking on the Guest Book link on the SITE INDEX above.
Longer messages or contributions can be emailed to webmaster@newmarketlhs.org.uk and will appear on the Correspondence pages
To read the letter select here For a page of pictures of Newmarket during The Great War select here
Newmarket's War Memorial as it is in 2009, inscribed with the names of 218 men who lost their lives in The Great War and 94 men and women during World War II select here
Newmarket's Roll of Honour for the two World Wars, with individual details of the fallen, now including Newmarket's civilian casualties has been researched and compiled by Rodney Gibson, aided by NLHS Archivist William Smith. Please go to Roll of Honour Calendar of Events 2008/2009
Tuesday 21st July - Visit to Isleham Church, Ian Powys
Tuesday September 15th - History of Records Part 2, Bill MorrisHow do I join the Newmarket Local History Society?
It is quite simple really, you may do so by attending one of the programmed meetings, the doors open at 7 pm, and you can then join whilst there, the cost is just £8 per head, or you may wish to visit for one evening without commitment, this will cost £2 and you can go away and decide.NEWMARKET'S ORIGINS (notes provided by N.L.H.S Committee Member Sandra Easom)
Mention Newmarket and most people think of the pounding hooves of horses and rolling expanses of green turf. The town is justly famous for both of these but its very long and varied history goes far beyond what most people expect.
Unlike most mediaeval towns, Newmarket is not centred on either of its parish churches, St. Mary's or All Saints. Rather, it is centred on the initial reason for its existence - the ancient Icknield Way - the oldest road in Britain. Its route approximated to the present High Street. People have journeyed along the Icknield Way since the Stone Age when flint was mined in Grimes Graves in Norfolk and then supplied an extensive trade network.
The area where Newmarket now stands has springs of water and a small river which is essential for any settlement. Bronze Age barrows, showing evidence of early occupation, were scattered across Newmarket Heath until the 19th century when they were cleared to make better conditions for horse racing.
Later, nearby Exning was a main settlement of the Iceni tribe (best remembered for their famous Queen Boudicca or Boadicea who led a major rebellion against the Romans). The Iceni were renowned breeders of horses and dogs, so the Heath has probably seen many more races than we are aware of!
The area where the town now stands was given as dowry to Sir Richard de Argentein in 1200 A.D. when he married Cassandra, daughter of Robert de Insula, Lord of the manor of Exning. Sir Richard encouraged development of the town and was granted a charter for a market almost immediately by the King. In 1223 Newmarket received its first charter for an annual fair. It is important to note that the Plague arrived at Exning in 1227. Therefore, the Victorian theory that people left Exning to start a new town at Newmarket at this time cannot be true (although it is very persistent!).
Newmarket thrived because of its market and a lucrative trade in accommodating travellers and so it continued for centuries, until King James I "discovered" its Heath in February 1604 as a great leisure venue for his court and Newmarket's sporting associations began.....NEWMARKET AND HORSERACING
The local history of Newmarket is inextricably tied up with the history of horseracing. The town is home to the National Horseracing Museum, at present situated in part of the Jockey Club building. An enlightening article on Newmarket's racing history and the work of the museum written by the former Museum Director, Hilary Bracegirdle appears on this site select article here
The museum also has a very good website of its own www.nhrm.co.uk where much information on Newmarket's racing past is available.
Newmarket Local History Society and the National Horseracing Museum have much in common in that we both receive many queries from people on topics related to horseracing. Often people wish to enquire about their forebears who were jockeys, or in some way connected to racing. As Hilary says in her article, it is difficult to trace individuals unless they were high profile personalities. The best approach for persuing ordinary family history queries is through the Bury St Edmunds County Records office (for Suffolk related queries) or The Cambridgeshire Family History Society (for the Cambridgeshire part of Newmarket). Both the Museum and our Society wish to be as helpful as possible and welcome any queries of general interest. Queries to the Museum should be addressed in writing to Graham Snelling, Curator, National Horseracing Museum, 99 High Street, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 8JS. Our Society's postal and e-mail addresses are given on page 3.
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