Peterborough SF Club is proud of the local history that has shaped its ancestry. This chronology is an introduction to some of the people and events that make up the background of the Club. (It does not contain references to the weirder pieces of local history or folklore).

• 1302 - 1317. Robert Mannyng was a Cannon at Sempringham Priory, Bourne, Lincolnshire. In 1302 he started writing "Handlyng Synnel" This contains a section known as "The Dancers of Colbek", a fantasy featuring a curse and animated limbs.
  
• 1642. Sir Isaac Newton born at Woolsthorpe Manor, Lincolnshire.
  
• 1707. Thomas Hartley born, later Rector of Winwick.
  
• 1756. William Goodwin born in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire.
  
• 1784. Thomas Hartley dies.
  
• 1812. Lady Charlotte Bertie born in Uffington, Lincolnshire.
  
• 1814. October 30, Byron spends the night at The Haycock Inn, Wansford.
  
• 1818. "Nightmare Abbey" published by Thomas Love Peacock, a Gothic parody set in the Lincolnshire fens.
  
• 1824. Charles Kingsley moves to the Rectory, Barnack, Cambridgeshire.
  
• 1857. American writer Nathaniel Hawthorne visits Peterborough.
  
• 1865. "Hereward the Wake", by Charles Kingsley, published.
  
• 1873. J. D. Beresford born in Castor, Cambridgeshire.
  
• 1875. Paul Verlaine lives for the year in Lincolnshire.
  
• 1885. William Morris, designer, socialist and Fantasy author visits Peterborough.
  
• 1895. L. P. Hartley born in Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire.
  
• 1897. "Dracula" published. In the book his boxes are brought from Whitby to London by train, presumably passing through Peterborough.
  
• 1901-05. William LeQueux owns a house in Castor.
  
• 1908. "The wind in the Willows" published. Kenneth Grahame spent holidays at Elton Hall by the River Nene which may have inspired some of the classic childrens books.
  
• 1911. "The Hampdenshire Wonder" by J. D. Beresford, published.
  
• 1912. "The Stoneground Ghost Tales" by E. G. Swain, published.
  - "Testament of Magdalen Blair" by Aleister Crowley published, which includes scenes set at Peterborough Cathedral.
  
• 1915. John Charles Hynam (John Kippax) born in Alwalton, Cambridgeshire.
  
• 1920. "Arthur Jermyn" written by H.P. Lovecraft. One of the ancestors of the central character was sent to the madhouse in Huntingdon in 1765.
  
• 1924. "Night Fears & Other Stories" by L. P. Hartley published.
  - "The Story of a Great School Master" by H.G. Wells.
  - Biography of F.W. Sanderson, Headmaster of Oundle public school.
  
• 1925. Dan Morgan born in Holbech, Lincolnshire.
  
• Late 1920's. David I. Masson educated in Oundle, Northampton.
  
• 1938. E. G. Swain died at Peterborough Cathedral.
  
• 1952. "Alien Analysis" by Dan Morgan, published in New Worlds.
  
• 1954. John Kippax's first stories published.
  
• 1955. "Cee Tee Man" by Dan Morgan, published and "Children of Green Knowe" by Lucy Boston published.
  
• 1960. "Facial Justice" by L. P. Hartley published. Peter F. Hamilton born.
  
• 1963. The National SF Convention, "Bullcon", held in Peterborough.
  
• 1969. "The House on the Borderland" starts trading in Peterborough.
  
• 1970. "A Thunder of Stars" by Dan Morgan and John Kippax published.
  
• 1973. Diarist Fred Bason dies in Peterborough on July 3rd and is buried in Orton Waterville churchyard with the words "Cockney Author" on his tombstone. Was acquainted with H.G. Wells.
  
• 1974. John Kippax dies.
  
• 1975. Release of the film "Rollerball", includes many local people as extras.
  
• 1976. Peterborough Science Fiction Club founded by Christine Wakelin.
  
• 1977. November 10, Dennis Wheatley died and his funeral service was conducted by Cyril "Bobby" Eastaugh - the retired Bishop of Peterborough.
  
• 1983. "Dedalus" start publishing fantasy/decadent books in Sawtry, Cambridgeshire.
  
• 1984. "Dragon in Class 4" by June Councel published.
  
• 1985. "Dream" starts being published by Trevor Jones in Godmanchester.
  
• 1987. "Small Heirlooms" by M. John Harrison published, mentions Peterborough Railway Station.
  
• 1988. "Congregate" held at the Moat House Hotel, Bretton, Peterborough.
  - "Dr. Who - Cybermen" published, contains material by Adrian Rigelsford.
  
• 1990. The Filk Convention, "Con2bile" held in Peterborough.
  - "Gino's Bar and Grille", by Tony J. Forder, is published in "Dark Voices 2".
  - Lucy Boston dies.
  - "Bodywork" by Peter F. Hamilton published in "Dream".
  - "Harmless Ghosts" by Jessica Amanda Salmonson published. In the story "Jeremiah", a letter is sent to Jane Bradshawe of Oundle.
  - At the Eastercon, "Drabble 2" is released which includes a contribution by Cardinal Cox.
• 1991. "Playing Possum" story in Skeleton Crew by Gillian Paddock.
  - Dogsthorpe in the comic "Hellblazer".
  
• 1992. "Dr. Who - The Monsters" by Adrian Rigelsford.
  First Fantasy Fair at the Cresset, Bretton.
  
• 1993. "Mindstar Rising" first novel by Peter F. Hamilton.
  - First Trek Dwarf Con organised by local fans.
  - "Colin the Librarian" published, first novel by Rich Parsons and Tony Keaveny.
  
• 1994. First Writers Gate convention organised by Nth dimension.
  - First Cult TV convention organised by local fans.
  - "Warriors Gate" team win Telly Addicts.
  
• 1995. Museum has "Into Orbit" festival celebrating space flight.
  - Helen Sharman speaks at Key Theatre.
  - "The Secret of this Book" by Brian Aldiss published. In the linking material between the stories Brian mentions relatives in Wisbech and an Uncle who compared the Earth to a Pea in Dogsthorpe Road.
  - The Peterborough SF Writers Group produce their collection.
• 1996. "Stoneground Ghost Tales" re-published by Ash Tree Press, includes introduction by Cardinal Cox.
  
• 1997. Allen Adams works on "Babylon 5 Security Manual".
  - Alex J. Geairns works on the "Avengers Companion".
  - Simon Clarke's "King Blood" includes a description of a post-disaster Peterborough.
  
• 1998. "The Twinkling of an Eye" by Brian Aldiss published, includes many descriptions of Brian's childhood visits to Peterborough.
  - "Tears of Arial II" includes contributions from Simon Williams.
  - Cardinal Cox's "The Windsor Bell Hath Struck Twelve" comes joint-first in competition organised by the Friends of Arthur Machen, and his poem "Katherine's Tomb" comes runner-up in Poet for Peterborough competition.
  
• 1999. "Creation Villanelle" by Cardinal Cox runner-up in Poet for Peterborough competition.
  
• 2000. Peter F. Hamilton agrees to become the Honourary President of the Peterborough SF Club.
  - "Con-Nubile" by Cardinal Cox commended in competition organised by Roadworks magazine.