GENUKI Home page

Up Bedfordshire Contents Contents Nearby PlacesNearby Places NeighboursNearby churches



LITTLE BARFORD

BARFORD (LITTLE), a parish in the hundred of BIGGLESWADE, county of BEDFORD, 2½ miles (S. by W.) from St. Neots, containing 123 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry of Bedford, and diocese of Lincoln, rated in the king's books at £13.16. 3., and in the patronage of the Rev. John Alington. The church, dedicated to St Mary, is an ancient building with a Norman arch over the south door, and a curious wooden screen between the nave and the chancel. The river Ouse forms the western boundary of the parish. Nicholas Rowe, the dramatic writer, and poet-laureat to George I., was a native of this place; he was buried with much pomp in Westminster abbey in 1718.

[A Topographical Dictionary of England - Samuel Lewis - 1831]

Church History

Church of England

The church of St. Denys is a small structure in the Early English, Decorated and Perpendicular styles, consisting of chancel, nave, north aisle and a western tower containing 4 bells, and was thoroughly restored in 1871: the roof is of open timber work, a portion of which is beautifully painted: a Perpendicular rood screen separates the vestry from the body of the church, and its lower stage is decorated with red and white roses : the south doorway shows some fine Norman work, with an inserted arch of Early English date: the north doorway, also late Norman, has a well-carved arch on two shafts : the chancel had a south aisle, the arches of which were formerly built into the wall: there is a peculiar brass to Thomas Perys, 1535, and Agnes his wife: the stained east window is a memorial to the Alington family : the organ was presented in 1876 by A. H. Royds esq. and it has since been improved at a cost of £100: there are 110 sittings. The register dates from the year 1661.

[Kelly's Directory - Bedfordshire - 1898]

Church Records

Church of England

The parish record transcripts for St. Denys are available on microfiche for the period 1661-1812 from the Bedfordshire Family History Society.

Census

The full 1891 Census of Little Barford Parish is available as fiche set C13 from the Huntingdonshire FHS.


Find help, report problems, and contribute information.


[Last updated 16 March 2003 Martin Edwards]