The poet John Clare was born in Helpston in 1793 and is buried in the churchyard of St Botolph's.[2] The thatched cottage where he was born was bought by the John Clare Trust in 2005.[4] The John Clare Cottage, at 12 Woodgate, has been restored using traditional building methods and is open to the public. In 2013 the John Clare Trust received a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to help preserve the building and provide educational activities for youngsters visiting the cottage.[5]
John Clare Primary School is named after the poet. [6]
The name Helpston is Anglo-Saxon in origin and means the farmstead (tun) first settled by Help (an Old English personal name).[7]
Helpston is well known for its athletics club, Helpston Harriers AC, who aspire to improve local running standards.
In July 1822 it was reported that a deodand of 20 shillings was laid upon the cart held responsible for the death of John Price, aged twelve, the driver of the cart. The inquest was held at the Bell Inn. Deodands were abolished under the Deodands Act 1846 24 years later.[8]
