Timeline item 11: 1827 - The Rev. William Sawyer moves into the hall with his sister Louisa. He rebuilds the stone church after a fire and continues to improve the village, building the reading room, school and '5 row' cottages.
Timeline item 19: 1939-1945 - The Ordnance Depot opens in 1940 to support the Second World War effort. By 1942, over 2,000 military personnel and 1,700 civilians are based here. In 1943, a POW camp is established for Italian and German prisoners,…
Timeline item 14: 1895 - Charles James Phillips, well-known brewer, buys the estate. As the primary local employer, he donates the unusual four-faced clock to the church to ensure his workers arrive on time
Timeline item 16: 1914-1918 - Eleven village men are killed while serving in the First World War. A commemorative plaque is placed in the church; the parish presents all local soldiers with cups
Timeline item 17: 1931 - Eva Howe (1914-1991) is a pupil-teacher at the old school. She lives in Old Dalby all her life, attending the school as a child and teaching here until retirement
Timeline item 21: c1957 - Major Blount, C J Phillips's nephew and heir, vacates the hall. The estate is divided into lots and sold, thus ending 780 years of the Manor of Old Dalby
Timeline item 22: 1961 - On 18 June, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh sleep over on the train at Old Dalby station. This becomes a regular occurrence for members of the Royal Household into the 1980s
Timeline item 26: 1984 - On 17 July, the stability of a nuclear flask is demonstrated in a simulated train crash at the Old Dalby test track. Also in 1984, the parish council purchases the old school and establishes the village hall committee to…