Hillam Historians arose as the result of an article by Betty Wright. This was published in the February/March issue of local magazine Hillam News.  The article, entitled ‘A walking tour of Hillam and a bit of Monk Fryston’, invited answers to questions about the history of our village.

Geoff Woodall provided a list of answers, and Jenny Hoare suggested that a booklet be put together.  Betty and Les Wright and Stuart and Jenny Hoare arranged meetings in the Community Centre on 28 April 2002 and 30 June 2002 with financial support from the parish council.  The aim was to gather together long-term residents and interested newcomers in order to collect information, display photographs and documents, record who owns what, and tape recollections of willing participants in and around the village.

On 22 September 2002 we held the inaugural meeting of Hillam Historians, elected officers and decided to apply for funding.

We now meet on the fourth Wednesday of alternate months at 7.30pm at Hillam Nurseries.