Holywell-cum-Needingworth Parish Page

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Holywell-cum-Needingworth

Haliewell (xi cent.), Halywell (xiii cent.).
Nidingworth (xiii cent.), Niddyngworth (xiv cent.).
Holliwell-cum-Needingworth (xvii cent.).

The parish lies to the north of the River Ouse immediately east of St. Ives. It is said to have gained a few more acres by the river acquiring a more southerly course in the 14th century. The old river bed is still traceable in the meadows and is still called the Old River. The land rises from the rich pastures along the Ouse northwards where, at about Needingworth, it becomes arable heath land which covers a little more than half the total area of the parish. The soil is clay and loam, but gravel is still worked at Needingworth. An Inclosure Act for the parish was passed in 1800.

Holywell takes its name from the well on the south side of the churchyard, and gained importance from the ferry over the Ouse to Fen Drayton. The well was repaired in 1845 by the Rev. S B Beckworth, the then rector, when a brick curb and a covering arch were built. The village lies along two roads running irregularly east and west, which are connected at east end. The Church is at the west end of the southern road. Along both roads were picturesque timber-framed tiled cottages.

Needingworth lies father northward. The High Street is the main street of this village, which forms part of the road from Ely to St. Ives. Most of the village was burned down on 16th September 1847, but some 17th and 18th century houses and cottages survived.

Prehistoric and Roman remains have been found in the parish.

Cemeteries
Census
Church History
Church Records
Civil Registration
Description and Travel

Maps
Military History
Population
Poorhouses, Poor Law etc.
Statistics

Cemeteries

Monumental Inscriptions from the Parish Churchyard (approximately 393 entries - £1.50 inclusive of postage worldwide) are available from the Huntingdonshire FHS Bookstall.

Census

Census information for this parish (1841 - 1891) is held in the Huntingdon Records Office.

The full 1841 Census of Holywell-cum-Needingworth Parish is available as fiche set C99.

The full 1851 Census of Holywell-cum-Needingworth Parish is available as fiche set C49.

A surname index of the 1881 Census of the St. Ives Registration District, in which Holywell (RG11/1609, Folios 4a - 6a) and Needingworth (RG11/1609, Folios 6b - 19a) were enumerated, and which took place on 3rd April 1881, is available as fiche set C4.

A full transcription of the 1891 Census of the St. Ives Registration District (RG12/1234) in which Holywell-cum-Needingworth parish was enumerated,and which took place on 5th April 1891, is available as fiche set C12.

The above mentioned fiche are available from the Huntingdonshire FHS.

Church History

OS Grid Square TL 336708.

The church of St John the Baptist consists of a chancel, south vestry, nave, north aisle, south aisle and west tower, together with a modern south porch. The walls are of rubble with stone dressings, the west tower is of ashlar and the roofs are of tiles and slates.

Although mentioned in the Domesday survey of 1086, it is doubtful if anything earlier than the 13th century remains, to which date the chancel may be assigned. the north arcade and aisle were built towards the end of the century, and about the year 1300, the south arcade and south aisle were added. The tower is recorded as having been built in 1547 of stone brought from Ramsey Abbey, the material being largely of 14th century date. The clearstory is of the early 16th century.

The church was rather drastically restored in 1862 when the vestry was added and the porch rebuilt. The tower was restored in 1915 and other works were done in 1919.

A Baptist chapel was built in the centre of Needingworth since 1861, and at the western end of this village was a Methodist Chapel dating from 1888.

Church Records

Baptisms: 1667-1747, 1747-1812, 1813-1858, 1858-1912

Banns: 1754-1822, 1823-1956, 1955-1980

Marriages: 1667-1746, 1747-1754, 1754-1812, 1813-1837, 1837-1963, 1963-1968, 1968-1973, 1973-1977, 1977-1979, 1979-1986

Burials: 1667-1746, 1747-1812, 1813-1901

BTs.: 1604-5, 1607-8, 1610, 1612, 1618-19, 1625, 1660-8, 1670-1, 1674, 1676-78, 1684-87, 1690-91, 1693-1716, 1718-20, 1722-1751/1752-87, 1789-1813/1813-19/1822-35, 1837-43, 1845, 1848-56.

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..