Sadly, Long Bennington Local History Society has now been dissolved following our last meeting on 21st November 2023.
It began following a Public Meeting in the Village Hall in February 1992 and at its peak the Society had over 70 members. However, after the pandemic attendances at meetings began to decline and in summer 2022 all of the committee agreed that they had run out of steam so if it was going to continue beyond 2023 the Society should have new leadership. Unfortunately, but perhaps unsurprisingly, a new committee did not emerge. So the meeting in November was our last.
During the 30 years of its existence the Society held more than 200 talks on local history. We published a booklet about the History of Long Bennington written by local historian Brian Widdowson and in 2013 the Society donated 250 copies to the Long Bennington Church of England Academy so every child in the village could have one at home. We also made a sizeable donation towards the cost of the Heritage Trail from our limited funds with a view to encouraging interest in our village’s rich history in the wider community.
We have also received many donations of old photographs, maps, documents and stories. These were recorded on our website, distributed to appropriate local organisations or deposited in Lincolnshire Archives to be kept safe in perpetuity for future students to study.
Four other organisations within the village have now benefited from our remaining funds. With the demise of the society there is now no-one available to answer any questions or provide further information on this website. There are other organisations within the village who may be able to be of assistance and a list of these can be found on the Long Bennington Parish Council website.