Huntingdonshire
Contents
Nearby Places
Nearby churches
Grantesden (xi cent.), Grantendene, Granceden (xii cent.), Grauntedene, Magna Granteden (xii cent.), Grantisden (xiv cent.), Grandesden, Gransden (xvi ceny.).
The greater part of the parish of Great Gransden is arable land; the sub-soil consists of Ampthill clay and Lower Greensand. Various streams crossing the parish are: Waresley Dean, College Dean, Vicars Dean, Mandean and Gransden Brooks, while Home Dole Brook separates the parish from Little Gransden in Cambridgeshire.
The village is large and lies about 4 miles to the north-east of Gamlingay, Cambridgeshire. the streets form an irregular low-sided figure. The principal part of the village is at the south-east angle of this figure where stands the fine 15th century church. To the north-west of the church is the vicarage, a brick house with tiled roof built by Barnabas Oley, vicar, probably during the second period of his ministrations from 1660 to his death in 1685. To the south is College Farm belonging to Clare College, Cambridge, an 18th century brick house with shaped gables and a tiled roof. There are many half-timbered houses and cottages of the 17th and 18th centuries in the village.
Great Gransden owes much to Barnabas Oley, who was first instituted to the vicarage in 1633. He was a Fellow of Clare College and editor of George Herbert's works. During the English Civil War, he was one of the most active Royalists in the University. He was ejected from his fellowship and living in 1644, but they were restored to him in 1660. From 1664 he lived chiefly at Great Gransden, and he left many benefactions.
Monumental Inscriptions from the Parish Church and churchyard of Great Gransden (St Bartholomew) 1733 - 1950, together with those of the Church interior (circa 1328 - 1967), the parish cemetery (1928-2000), Old Meeting House (1928 - 2000) and the Baptist Chapel (1765 - 1945), are available on one fiche, as fiche set M31, from the Huntingdonshire FHS.
Census information for this parish (1841 - 1891) is held in the Huntingdon Records Office.
The full 1841 Census of Great Gransden Parish is available as fiche set C97.
The full 1851 Census of Great Gransden Parish is available as fiche set C47.
A full transcription of the 1891 Census of the Huntingdonshire (Miscellaneous Parishes) Registration District in which Great Gransden was enumerated, and which took place on 5th April 1891, is available as fiche set C16.
The above mentioned fiche sets are available from the Huntingdonshire FHS.
OS Grid Square TL 271556.
The church of St. Bartholomew consists of a chancel with a 19th
century organ chamber and a vestry on the north, nave, north aisle,
south aisle, west tower and north and south porches. The walls are of
rubble with stone and clunch dressings, and the roofs are covered with
lead.
Although mentioned in the Domesday survey of 1086, there
are no remains of this early date existing and, with the exception of
the tower which is of the late 14th century, the whole church was
rebuilt and widened to the south in the 15th century, and most
architectural features belong to these two periods
respectively.
The church was restored in 1873 when the organ
chamber and vestry were built, and the north porch entirely rebuilt.
Baptisms: 1538-1653/4, 1655-1700/1, 1701-1752, 1753-1812, 1813-1862,
1862-1927.
Banns: 1754-1823, 1823-1942.
Marriages: 1538-1653/4,
1654-1700, 1701-1752, 1754-1812, 1813-1837.
Burials: 1539/40-1653/4,
1654-1700/1, 1682-1683, 1701-1752, 1753-1812, 1813-1883.
Bishop's
Transcripts: 1604-5, 1607-10, 1612, 1618-19, 1625-7, 1660-70,
1672/1674-88, 1690-6, 1698-1702, 1704-12, 1714-16, 1718, 1720,
1722-1742/1743-1813/1813-24, 1826-30/1825, 1831-7, 1839-58.
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 Bookstall.
Great Gransden was originally in the Caxton Registration District of Cambridgeshire.
A GENWEB page for Great Gransden is available.
An old map of the parish of Great Gransden 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 and also the Canadian Air Force Memorial.
Population in 1801 - 412.
Population in 1851 - 665.
Population
in 1901 - 504.
Population in 1951 - 396.
Population in 1971 -
520.
Population in 1991 - 850.
The parish of Great Gransden was part of the Caxton Union of Cambridgeshire for Poor Law administration.
The parish of Great Gransden occupies 3402 acres of land.
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