Part I

The Society's Inauguration

The John Hampden Society was founded on 27th October 1992 at a ceremony (above) in the Great Hall of John Hampden's ancestral home, Hampden House.

In order to achieve charity status, which was granted on 2nd July 2003, the Society's original aims and objectives were amended to read:

1. To advance the education of the public in the character and achievements of the great parliamentarian, John Hampden, known as The Patriot, [1594-1643].
   
2. To provide a library and archive of materials for research into the life and works of John Hampden, for the public benefit.
   
3. To preserve, conserve and erect monuments and preserve and conserve artefacts associated with John Hampden, for the public benefit.

A Guard of Honour was supplied by members of Colonel John Hampden's Regiment of the English Civil War Society under the command of Captaine Derek Lester (above, second left), and the inauguration was attended by representatives of local heritage organisations and local government dignitaries, as well as by press & television.

The Society received a letter of congratulation on its formation from The Rt. Hon. Betty Boothroyd, MP, Speaker of the House of Commons, in which she spoke of John Hampden's lasting contribution to the securing of modern Parliamentary freedoms.

Forward to Part II        

The Society's activities