Bedfordshire 
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PERTENHALL, a parish in the hundred of STODDEN, county of BEDFORD, 2 miles (S. W. by S.) from Kimbolton, containing 324 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry of Bedford, and diocese or Lincoln, rated in the king's books at £18, and in the patronage of the Rev S. R. Martyn. The church is dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul. Here was formerly a preceptory of the Knights Templars, of which only the site, surrounded with a moat, is now remaining There is a chalybeate spring, called Chad-well.
[A Topographical Dictionary of England - Samuel Lewis - 1831]
By Local Government Board Order 6,982, dated 9 Oct. 1879, detached parts of Pertenhall were added to Bolnhurst, Little Staughton and Keysoe.
[Kelly's Directory - Bedfordshire - 1898]
The 1851 Census Index for Pertenhall can be found in the 1851 Index to Census of Bedfordshire, Volume 2, Book 1 available from the Bedfordshire Family History Society.
The full 1891 Census of Pertenhall Parish is available as fiche set C14 from the Huntingdonshire FHS.
Church of England
The church of St. Peter is a structure of stone in the Transition, Early English and Later styles, consisting of chancel, clerestoried nave of the 13th century, north aisle, south porch and a Perpendicular western tower of four stages, with a fine octagonal broach spire with dormer lights, and containing 3 bells: the chancel is Decorated, and there is a good Perpendicular rood screen with rich tracery, painted and gilt: three Transition arches divide the nave and aisle, and at the east end of the latter is an Early English recess, in which is the recumbent stone effigy of a knight, in mail armour, cross-legged: on the eastern gable of the nave is a sanctus bell turret: on the south wall of the nave is a small marble tablet to various members of the Rolt family, who lived during the 17th century, including Mary, wife of Edward Rolt, 1632, and youngest daughter of Sir Oliver Cromwell: in the vestry, which is on the site of a Lady chapel, now destroyed, date 1280, is a classic mural monument of freestone, with Latin inscription, to Susan (Fisher), wife of Simon Gray, 1685 ; there are also several modern tablets to the Martyn and King families: in the floor of the vestry is the original altar slab, removed from the chancel A.D. 1643 by one of William Dowsing's agents, under a warrant from the Earl of Manchester: in 1393 the arcade was taken down and rebuilt, and new roofs put on the nave and north aisle: there arc 200 sittings. The register dates from the year 1582.
[Kelly's Directory - Bedfordshire - 1898]
Non-conformist
There is a Moravian chapel, built and endowed in 1827 by the Rev. J. K Martyn M.A. who resigned the curacy of Pertenhall in 1809, and having joined the Moravian church was the founder of a Moravian society in this parish and at Kimbolton.
[Kelly's Directory - Bedfordshire - 1898]
Church of England
The parish record transcripts for St. Peter are available on microfiche for the period 1560-1812 from the Bedfordshire Family History Society.
The ancient Manor house of Pertenhall, situated near the church on the site of a former moated mansion belonging to he Knights Templars, belongs to Mrs. Campion. and is a large building in the Elizabethan style, with small central gable and gabled wings, formerly relieved by tall oriels; there are still three tiers of mulioned windows : in 1588 it became the property of Bishop Fox, founder of Corpus Christi college, Oxford, and was by him presented to that college, in whose possession it remained until purchased in 1877 by the late Edward Campion esq. by whom it was thoroughly restored ; during the work of restoration portions of no less than 23 human skeletons were found; the house contains a quantity of very fine old oak carvings and wood work. Wood End, occupied by William H. Pope esq. is a pleasant residence, and commands a most picturesque view. There are three manors in his parish, viz. Hoo, Pertenhall and Bell's alias Conington's Fee. The lords are the Martyn family, Corpus Christi college, Oxford, and Mr. William Claridge respectively.
[Kelly's Directory - Bedfordshire - 1898]
National School (mixed), built in 1870 on a site given by John Martyn esq. for 60 children; average attendance, 34 ; Miss Kate Elson, mistress.
[Kelly's Directory - Bedfordshire - 1898]
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[Last updated 8 January 2005 Martin Edwards]