Timeline of Events in Ickwell

c.1565: Earliest documented account of May Day festivities found in Church Wardens accounts.

c.1630: Ickwell Dovecote built, octagonal in design, it has 768 nest holes in fourteen tiers of 56 holes and a wood revolving potence.

1639: Thomas Tompion known as 'the father of English watchmaking' born in a cottage near Ickwell Green.

1683: Ickwell Manor House built by John Hervey.

1872: Squire John Hervey had a permanent maypole erected to celebrate the birth of his son.

1877: John Hervey died and left instructions in his will for the sum of 2 10s to be paid per annum for the upkeep of the festival 'as it has been in my lifetime'.

1900: Ickwell Bury opens as Horton Preparatory School, the school closed in 1937.

1937: On the 20th September, shortly after Horton School had closed, Ickwell Bury was gutted by fire started by an arsonist. The manor house was rebuilt on a small scale by Colonel George Hayward Wells at the corner of the stable block which had survived the fire, the house was completed in 1940.

1945: The Ickwell and District May Day Committee formed, it is this committee which currently organises the event.

1957: Ickwell blacksmiths forge closes.

1966: Ickwell Dovecote and Ickwell Grange are Grade II listed. 

1977: The turret of Ickwell Bury clock restored.

1978: Ickwell Bury opens as The Yoga for Health Foundation.

1982: A new 52 foot high Maypole erected in April to replace the previous one that had been vandalised.

1984: Ickwell's only shop closes.

1985: The Bee House at Ickwell Bury is Grade II listed. 

1989: Ickwell Cricket pavilion destroyed by fire in September.

1990: On the 27th October the new cricket pavilion opened by former England player Geoff Millman.

2006: The Yoga for Health Foundation closes.