Cambridgeshire
Huntingdonshire
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Nearby Places
Nearby churches
"LONGSTOWE is a parish on the Huntingdonshire border of the county, half a mile west from Old North Road station on the Bedford and Cambridge branch of the London, Midland and Scottish railway, 10 north-east from Royston and 12 west from Cambridge, in the hundred of Longstowe, union and petty sessional division of Caxton, county court district of Cambridge, rural deanery of Bourn and archdeaconry and diocese of Ely."
"The soil is heavy clay; subsoil, strong clay. The chief crops are wheat and oats, and some land in pasture. The area is 1,544 acres the population in 1921 was 249."
[Kelly's Directory - Cambridgeshire - 1929]
The Monumental Inscriptions in the graveyard of St. Mary the Virgin are recorded in the Cambridge Records Office for the years 1603-1988. These inscriptions are also available on microfiche from the Cambridgeshire Family History Society Bookstall.
The Census Records from 1841-1891 can be found in the Cambridge Record Office. In addition the 1851 Census for Longstowe is available in full transcript form, on microfiche, from the Cambridgeshire Family History Society Bookstall.
"The church of St Mary the Virgin is a building of brick faced with flint stone, built 1863-1864 on the site of the old church; it consists of chancel, nave, north chapel, south porch and a low embattled western tower containing one hell, and also a peal of six tubular bells presented in 1898 by Mrs. Rushton, to which two others were added in 1903 as a memorial to her: the original church was blown down in 1719, and the monuments to the Cage family which it contained are now in the chancel of the church. The small chapel on the north side was built by the late Captain Sidney Stanley : the stained east window, a memorial to John Sharp esq. of Manchester, and Dorothea his wife, was presented by their children in 1864; the west window was erected by Mrs. Rushton to her three brothers, and in 1904 a memorial window was erected to Mrs. Sharp: the church has 180 sittings. An oak lych gate was erected in 1896 by his widow as a memorial to the Rev. James Rushton M.A. rector here 1852-95. A beautiful rood was erected in 1920 as a memorial to the men of the parish who fell in the Great War, 1914-18. The register dates from the year 1569."
[Kelly's Directory- Cambridgeshire - 1929]
Longstowe, St. Mary the Virgin: Records of baptisms 1570-1923, marriages 1570-1836, 1839-1989, burials 1570-1812 and banns for 1754-75, 1798-1800, 1810-85 reside in the Cambridge Record Office. The Bishop's Transcripts for the years 1599-1679, 1711-56, 1786-1856 can be found in the Cambridge University Library. Indexed transcriptions of baptisms 1568-77, 1584-1861, marriages 1570-77, 1584-1640, 1653-1860 and burials for the years 1569-77, 1584-1861 reside in the Cambridge Record Office. Parish register transcripts of Longstowe St Mary the Virgin, 1568-1861, are available in full transcript form, on microfiche, from the Cambridgeshire Family History Society Bookstall.
Primitive Methodist Church: Records exist for the St. Neots Primitive Circuit of which Longstowe is part.
"Longstowe Hall is an ancient mansion purchased in Queen Elizabeth's reign by the Cage family, who rebuilt the house; it was acquired by W. A. Briscoe esg. J.F. in 1906: in 1907-12 new terraces and a courtyard were added and extensive interior alterations made: it stands in a park of about 175 acres, and has well laid out pleasure grounds; there are fish ponds in the park, which is well studded with timber besides having good plantations."
[Kelly's Directory- Cambridgeshire - 1929]
Records exist at the Cambridges Record Office for Longstowe & Arrington Union Workhouse, later the Public Assistance Institution, for births 1838-47, 1866-1928 and deaths 1914-30.
Land Tax: records were compiled afresh each year and contain the names of owners and occupiers in each parish, but usually there is no address or place name. These records reside in the Cambridge Record Office for the years 1798 (on microfilm), 1829-32 and 1946-48.
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[Last updated 21 January 2007 Martin Edwards]