Newsletter
Monuments to his Foresight
Frank (William Francis) Buckland – Cambridge Mayor 1898-1903 and 1905-1910 Cambridge was in an uproar when it was suggested that the saleyards move from Jubilee Gardens to a site on Taylor Street. The hotels would…
Read MoreThe hero behind the street name
Tucked away just opposite the entrance to Resthaven Retirement Village, is a quiet cul-de-sac called Donald Lane. Who was Donald and why was a street named after him? The answers can be found in the…
Read MoreFrom Timber Mills to Landmarks: The Story of SPND in Cambridge
Explore the history of Speight Pearce Nicoll & Davys, the local builders whose work from 1908 onward helped shape Cambridge’s homes, businesses, and streetscapes.
Read MoreExcommunicated: Two Centuries of Complicated Family History
Family history is rarely tidy and Craig Hoyle shows just how much the past can shape the present. In his memoir Excommunicated, the journalist does more than recount his painful departure from the Exclusive Brethren; he explores his grandfather George Hayward’s diaries and letters, tracing echoes of faith, control and belonging that span generations.
Read MoreLooking Back at Te Koutu / Lake Te Koo Utu
Lake Te Koo Utu (formerly called Te Koutu) is one of Cambridge’s most loved green spaces and its history is layered with stories of flourishing Māori communities, followed by town community effort, vision, and a fair bit of hard work. In the 1950s, a dedicated group of locals rolled up their sleeves to improve the lake and its surroundings. Their efforts, ranging from road building and planting projects to ambitious fundraising drives, left a lasting mark on the park we know today.
Read MoreThe Cambridge Star Redoubt by Robert J. McQueen
A booklet on the Cambridge Star Redoubt published in November 2024 is available as a free download because of the generosity of author and researcher, Robert J. (Bob) McQueen. About the booklet The booklet is…
Read MoreTwin Towns: Le Quesnoy, France and Cambridge
Twin towns: A Celebration of Freedom and Friendship Le Quesnoy (pronounced ler ken-wah) and Cambridge in New Zealand officially became twinned towns in 2000, although their connection began during World War I. While none of…
Read MoreThe story of Moon Creek, the water tower and the town’s first piped water
Until the building of the water tower in 1903, Cambridge was without a piped water supply. Residents had to cart water from creeks and springs, or rely on rain collection tanks for their daily needs.…
Read MoreA Day in the Life of Museum Staff
If you were fortunate enough to see Te Papa’s exhibition Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War, featuring larger than life sculptures of WWI soldiers, you will enjoy this article. The first sculpture in the exhibition…
Read MoreThe Cambridge Daffodil Show
This article was written by Clive Denton. He recently published One Hundred Years of Cambridge Daffodil Shows. Sourcing archives for Clive was a fascinating process for Museum staff. A copy of his book is held…
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