During the Napoleonic era Britain faced invasion on a grand scale. Before 1793 men could join the Army or the militia, a kind of army reserve. Each county had to supply and pay a quota of men of eligible age 18-45. This was done by ballot. The men undertook active service in war and in peacetime had to do a month’s military training. In 1793 the Army numbered 45000 which were not nearly enough to repel a French Army of 100000. The Supplementary Militia Act of 1796 was brought in to raise more men. Recently the Society has been given a 1796 list of the quotas required from the Bedfordshire Hundreds (an administrative division in which Maulden came under the Redbournstoke Hundred). Maulden was obliged to provide 74 men, Flitwick 60 men and Ampthill 90 men).  By 1797 the invasion threat was so dire that a national census took place to see how many fighting men Britain could rely on.  The men of Britain volunteered on a scale never seen before to protect our shores from the French. When the threat of invasion declined the volunteers joined the militia or returned to their homes.

Can anyone tell the Society if this house used to be a butchers or bakers? A photograph would be fantastic!

We have been asked if anyone might have information on previous occupants of this house (possibly 83 Clophill Rd) who were the parents of Godfrey Place VC.

In November we hosted a very successful Open Evening. Visitors saw displays of old photographs and articles,  lace making demonstrations and were able to see how our graveyard survey is coming along. Maulden Lower School kindly lent us photos and artefacts. We would like to thank everyone who lent us items for the exhibition and would also like to remind you not to throw away old photos etc in your keeping but pass them onto us. Even photos of unnamed people are useful as they show changing fashions etc and give us a challenge trying to date them!