Huntingdonshire
Contents
Nearby Places
Nearby churches
Heilweston (xii cent.), Hailweston, Halewestan (xiii cent.).
The parish of Hail Weston lies upon a clay soil, with the sub-soil of Oxford Clay. The River Kym, anciently known as the Hail or Hayle from which the parish derives its name, forms the northern and eastern boundary of the parish. There was an ancient bridge over the river which is mentioned in 1377; it was still standing in 1798 when it was described as being built of stone with four arches, but the parapet was ruinous. The present bridge was built in the late 19th century.
There are two springs which are reputed to have had medicinal qualities but they, perhaps, derive more fame from the poem by Michael Drayton entitled "The Holy Wells of Hailweston". These springs were used for medicinal purposes in the 16th and 17th centuries, but later fell into disuse. In 1844, the springs were sold and were then used by the Hail Weston Springs Co., who were aereated water manufacturers.
The village lies on the north side of the road from St. Neots to Kimbolton. The church is at the south-east end of the village, which contains several half-timbered houses and cottages of the 17th century. A few Neolithic implements have been found, but greater importance is given to the bronze statuette of the Romano-british period which was found a few years before 1824.
The parish has always been closely connected with Southoe, and though the civil parishes were separate, ecclesiastically they are still united.
Monumental inscriptions for this parish have not yet been recorded by the Huntingdonshire FHS.
Census information for this parish (1841 - 1891) is held in the Huntingdon Records Office.
The full 1841 Census of Hail Weston Parish is available as fiche set C108.
The full 1851 Census of Hail Weston Parish is available as fiche set C58.
A surname index of the 1881 Census of the St. Neots Registration District, in which Hail Weston was enumerated (RG11/1612, Folios 101a - 108b), and which took place on 3rd April 1881, is available as Fiche C5 .
A full transcription of the 1891 Census of the Kimbolton Registration District (RG12/1243) in which Hail Weston was enumerated, and which took place on 5th April 1891, is available as fiche set C14.
The above mentioned fiche are available from the Huntingdonshire FHS.
OS Grid Square TL 165621.
The church of St. Nicholas consists of a chancel, nave, timber west
tower and a modern south porch. The walls are of pebble rubble with
stone dressings, and the roofs are covered with tiles.
The church,
which was a chapelry of Southoe until the second half of the 20th
century, appears to have been originally built in the 13th century. The
greater part of the east wall being rebuilt at the end of the 15th
century; the south wall of the nave was built in the 16th century, when
the tower was also built. The church was completely restored in 1884
when a north porch was pulled down and the present south porch
built.
The church now forms part of a united benefice with Great
Staughton.
Births/Baptisms: 1644-1653/4, 1653/4-1704/5.
Baptisms: 1705-1812,
1813-1905.
Banns: 1754-1797, 1826-1960, 1924-1926,
1935-1954.
Marriages: 1644-1654, 1653/4-1702, 1705-1756, 1754-1812,
1813-1836, 1837-1960.
Burials: 1644-1654, 1653-1704/5, 1705-1812,
1813-1963.
Bishop's Transcripts: 1604-5, 1607-10, 1612, 1617-19,
1625, 1627, 1631/1673, 1675-8, 1687-8, 1693, 1702, 1704, 1709-16,
1718-20, 1722-4, 1726-33, 1735, 1737-86, 1790-1801,
1803-13/1813-20/1825-45, 1847-57.
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 on fiche.
Hail Weston Parish Registers (baptisms, marriages and burials) 1604-1900, are available as fiche set D45.
The above mentioned fiche are available from the Huntingdonshire FHS.
Hail Weston was originally in the St. Neots Registration District from 1st July 1837. Subsequently it became part of the Kimbolton sub-District, but it is now directly under the Huntingdon District.
A GENWEB page for Hail Weston is available.
An old map of the parish of Hail Weston in the 19th century is available.
The roll of honour with detailed information about those who served, and died, in World War 1is available on Genweb Huntingdonshire.
Population in 1801 - 258.
Population in 1851 - 423.
Population
in 1901 - 251.
Population in 1951 - 282.
Population in 1971 -
302.
Population in 1991 - 584.
The parish of Hail Weston was part of the St Neots Union (for Poor
Law administration).
Births and Deaths registered in the St Neots Union
Workhouse (1913 - 1952) are available, as fiche set D11, from the Huntingdonshire FHS.
The parish of Hail Weston occupies 1583 acres of land.
Find Help, report problems, or contribute information.