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 sessions 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 achieved 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. 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. In 2010 the pump refurbishment was completed when, in keeping with the original structure, the concrete steps were replaced with steps of York stone. At regular intervals the pump is opened for pumping. On two such occasions, Village Day 2009 and Village Day 2010, the Square was also the scene of a gathering and parade of historic farm vehicles.

 Jigsaws
2006 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. Many hours of work have produced a copy for local consultation. The original has been lodged with North Yorkshire County Record Office, Northallerton, for wider availability

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 listed. After being displayed for villagers to see and share, they are now in the care of the County Record Office. The most important of these documents is the Inclosure Award book and map. This shows the allocation of land within the township of Hillam in the year 1811. It was effectively the land register of its day. The map is a fascinating archive, brimful of the names of all those who owned a piece of village land, whether small or large. To ensure that villagers, now and in the future, did not lose touch with this historic document, Hillam Historians arranged for the map to be scanned and stored and available to be reproduced. Hillam PC subsequently purchased a copy on behalf of the community. The Community Association kindly agreed to house it, and it was unveiled in May 2008 by Hillam PC Chair, Jean Collinson. Details of the Inclosure Award map are on the order form.

Roll of Honour
Two research challenges were instigated by the Rev John Hetherington. One, a full list of churchwardens at St Wilfrid’s, has now been handed over to the Rector. The other provided a definitive record of servicemen of the parish who died as as a result of conflicts during the last century. The plaque, including five names which do not appear on the stone memorial, was unveiled and dedicated in St Wilfrid’s on 11th April 2010.
Click here to see the list of names.

Censuses
As a result of hours of collation, we can provide census details for Hillam, Monk Fryston and Burton Salmon, covering the seven census years from 1841 to 1901. We are also willing to carry out genealogical research into Hillam families.

Projects 2010 onwards

• Continuing interviews of long-term residents
• Continuing research into the village’s farming history
• House names: continuing a resident’s research, the many unnumbered houses in the village are to be marked onto the Parish Council’s official maps
• Restoration of Millstone Lodge summerhouse (a listed structure): support for the owner’s application for funding
• Pictorial record: vintage photos of the village, plus current view of the same scenes
• Computerised overlaid maps of Hillam