Moonrakers – Cowling Local History Group – worked hard this month to complete document conservation. All that remains now is the task of indexing, so that documents can be retrieved easily from the archive. This will go ahead in June. Members who had visited the newly refurbished Bay Horse public house reported to the group the opening up of a double fireplace in a rear room (dining room), which looks original to the building. One looks a suitable size for a range. It was suggested that the adjacent fireplace could have housed a bread oven. Any information about these fireplaces would be welcome. The May meeting is the first of the year at another venue, Cowling Hill Baptist Chapel. Here it is hoped to find out more about the oldest religious building in the parish and hopefully learn more about Cowling Hill or Head as it was known. As the original home of ‘Cowinheeaders’, it is, along with Ickornshaw, the oldest settlement in the parish. There are however very few written facts about its history. May also sees members displaying at the Holy Trinity Flower Festival during the late May Bank Holiday. The next meeting is on Thursday, May 1, Cowling Hill Baptist Chapel, 7.30pm or 7.15pm at St Andrew’s if a lift is needed. Contact the group on (01535) 637352 or visit moon-rakers.co.uk.