Huntingdonshire
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Nearby Places
Nearby churches
Godmundcestre (xi cent.), Gutmuncetre, Gudmencestre, Gumencestre, Guncestre (xii cent.), Gumecestre, Gudmundcestre (xiii cent.), Godmanchester (xiv cent.).
The parish and borough of Godmanchester are conterminus. The River Ouse forms the northern boundary and divides Godmanchester from the Borough of Huntingdon. The land near to the river is liable to flooding, but the ground rises gradually to the south where it is mostly arable. The population is chiefly occupied in agriculture although in recent years it has become a dormitory for those working elsewhere.
The town arose on the site of a Roman settlement (Durolipus), but its layout was changed to suit the requirements of a market town. Ermine Street, the Roman road from London to the north, and the Roman roads from Sandy & the south east and from Cambridge which joined it, stop abruptly at the points where they touched the Roman town. Whilst the Great North Road still exists, traffic now by-passes Godmanchester as it does Huntingdon, on a dual carriageway/motorway system
In the 17th century Godmanchester was described as 'a very great country toune, and of as great name for tillage, situated in open ground, of a light mould and bending ye sun'. In 1604, the borough charter tells of like conditions, and especially exempted the store horses and others employed in agriculture from the King's service. Of other industries, coal porterage on the Ouse was once an important business, and in the 19th century a Tan Yard, iron foundry and brick works existed, and basket making was also carried on.
The parish was inclosed by a private Act of Parliament in 1803.
Monumental Inscriptions of Godmanchester (St. Mary's Church and Churchyard - including the Nonconformist Section) (approximately 544 entries) together with the Particular Baptist Chapel Cemetery - 1811 to 1874 (30 entries) are available as Fiche M-26 from the Huntingdonshire FHS.
Census information for this parish (1841 - 1891) is held in the Huntingdon Records Office.
The full 1841 Census of Godmanchester Parish is available as fiche set C96.
The full 1851 Census of Godmanchester Parish is available as fiche set C46.
A surname index of the 1881 Census of the Huntingdon Registration District, in which Godmanchester was enumerated (RG11/1603, Folios 36a - 90b), and which took place on 3rd April 1881, is available as Fiche C3.
A full transcription of the 1891 Census of the Huntingdon Registration District (RG12/1237) in which Godmanchester was enumerated, and which took place on 5th April 1891, is available as fiche set C9.
The above mentioned fixhes sets are available from the Huntingdonshire FHS.
The church of St Mary was mentioned in the Domesday survey of 1086
but, except for a few stones in the walling, nothing of this early
building remains. The church seems to have been rebuilt about the middle of the
13th century, and of this period are the chancel, the west wall of the nave and
small parts of the west walls of the aisles.
About 1340 a north vestry
was added to the chancel, and at the end of this century (and extending into
the next) a further reconstruction took place beginning at the west end of the
aisles and embracing the arcades, clerestory and porches, and the raising and
altering of the chancel.
The tower and spire being ruinous were taken
down and rebuilt in 1623. The upper part of the south porch was rebuilt around
1669. The roof and parapets were repaired early in the 19th century, and the
church was generally restored in 1853, the vestry was rebuilt and the organ
chamber and choir added in 1860. Another general restoration took place in 1885
and the chancel restored in 1912.
Births: Some births for 1653-1674 are recorded in the Burial Register for
1653-1718.
Baptisms: 1604-1752 (indexed - extracts only), 1604-1754, (Two
baptisms in 1753 are recorded in the Burial register 1653-1718), (1700-1851
indexed transcription available on request), 1754-1798, 1798-1812, 1813-1838,
1838-1851, 1851-1875, 1875-1893, 1893-1935, 1935-1960, Indexed register
transcripts 1700-1851 available on request.,
Banns: 1754-1812 (indexed
transcripts), 1783-1813, 1911-1941, 1941-1952, 1952-1962, 1962-1973,
1973-1987.
Marriages: 1604/5-1837 (indexed transcripts), 1604-1653,
1653-1718, 1718-1751, 1783-1811, 1813-1851, 1837-1872, 1872-1920, 1920-1929,
1929-1938, 1938-1945, 1945-1953, 1953-1961, 1961-1968, 1968-1974.
Burials:
1604-1750/1 (Indexed extracts only), 1700-1851 (indexed transcriptions
available on request), 1604-1653, 1653-1718, 1718-1751, 1754-1798, 1798-1812,
1813-1851, 1851-1895, 1895-1924, 1924-1957.
Bishop's Transcripts: 1604-5,
1608, 1612, 1617-19, 1625, 1627, 1629/1674-83, 1686-7, 1690-3, 1706-9, 1712-14,
1716, 1718, 1720, 1722-7/1729-40/1741-6, 1748-51, 1753-5/1756-84, 1789-90,
1806, 1809-12/1813-22/1823, 1825-39/1840-52/1853-66.
These are available in the Huntingdon Records Office.
The Huntingdonshire Marriage Indexes include marriages from this parish. These are, at present, issued in alphabetical listings in series: 1601-1700, and 1701-1754, and are available from the Huntingdonshire FHS.
Godmanchester has been in the Huntingdon Registration District continuously since 1st July 1837.
A GENWEB page for Godmanchester is available. A page on the modern town of Godmanchester is available on the Huntingdonshire District Council pages. Stuart and Clare Bond have produced up to date information on Godmanchester at the start of the 21st century.
An old map of the parish of Godmanchester in the 19th century is available.
The war memorial with detailed information about those who fell is available on the Roll of Honour site for Huntingdonshire.
Population in 1801 - 1573.
Population in 1851 -
2337.
Population in 1901 - 2017.
Population in 1951 -
2502.
Population in 1971 - 3115.
Population in 1991 - 5389.
The parish of Godmanchester was part of the Huntingdon Union for Poor Law
administration.
Births and Deaths registered in the
Huntingdon Union Workhouse (1838 - 1949) are available, as fiche set D10, from
the Huntingdonshire
FHS.
The parish of Godmanchester consists of 4832 acres of land and 75 acres of land covered by water.
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