Huntingdonshire
Contents
Nearby Places
Nearby churches
Waldhyrst, Waldehirst (xiii cent.), Woldhirst, Wold Hyrst (xiv cent.), Waldehurst, Whollde Hurst (xvi cent.).
The parochial chapelry of Old Hurst (or Oldhurst) lies in the centre of the hundred of Hurstingstone. The land is mostly arable producing wheat, barley and oats. The soil is heavy clay. The land rises to 130 ft. above sea-level on its western boundary from which it slopes down to the low-lying ground around Somersham to the east. Old Hurst and Woodhurst, no doubt from their names, formed at one time a wooded district but there is now virtually no woodland left. They are both chapelries in the parish of Slepe (or St. Ives) and were in existence as such in the 12th century. Parochial rights were obtained shortly before the middle of the 13th century. The chapelty of Old Hurst has now been united with that of Woodhurst.
The stone known as the Abbot's Chair is on the boundary between Old Hurst and Woodhurst on the St. Ives road. Here the hundred courts were held.
The village, which is now by-passed, stands on high ground at the west side of the parish on the road from Huntingdon to Ramsey, about five and a half miles from Ramsey and three and a half miles from St. Ives. From the village two branch oads connect the rad from Huntingdon with that from St.Ives to Chatteris, and it is around the ring formed by these roads that the village is built. The village is composed of the parochial chapel lying on the north side of the more norrthern of the two branch roads, and some farmhouses, cottages and a Public House. In the late 20th century, much new housing has been added.
No monumental inscriptions for Old Hurst have been recorded by the Huntingdonshire FHS.
Census information (1841 - 1891) for this parish is held in the Huntingdon Records Office.
The full 1841 Census of Oldhurst Parish is available as fiche set C122 from the Huntingdonshire FHS.
The full 1851 Census of Old Hurst Parish is available as fiche set C72 from the Huntingdonshire FHS.
A surname index of the 1881 Census of the St. Ives Registration District, in which Old Hurst was enumerated (RG11/1605, Folios 14a - 16b), and which took place on 3rd April 1881, is available as fdiche set C4, from the Huntingdonshire FHS.
A full transcription of the 1891 Census of the Warboys sub-District of the St. Ives Registration District (RG12/1238) in which Oldhurst was enumerated, and which took place on 5th April 1891, has also been produced by the Huntingdonshire FHS (as Fiche C-10). This is available from the Huntingdonshire FHS.
OS Grid Square TL 300774.
The church of St Peter consists of a chancel and nave under one roof, and a
modern vestry on the north. The walls are of rubble with stone dressings and
the roofs are tiled.
The church or chapel was possibly built by Ralph
Mowin who is said to have presented to it in the reign of Henry II (1154-89).
The thickness of the north wall suggests that it is of 12th century date, but
the church was practically rebuilt and slightly lengthened late in the 13th
century. A considerable restoration took place in 1868, and the east wall was
rebuilt in 1903. Other works took place in 1924-05.
Baptisms: 1672-1812 (indexed).
Banns: 1756-1816, 1780-1810
(indexed).
Marriages: 1654, 1670-73, 1694-1836 (all indexed), 1756-1812,
1838-1964.
Burials: 1691-1812 (indexed).
Bishop's Transcripts:
1604-5, 1607-9, 1612, 1618-19, 1620, 1625-7, 1660-68/1684, 1690-1702, 1704-12,
1714-16, 1718, 1720, 1722-45, 1747-56, 1758-65, 1767-74, 1776-82, 1790, 1795,
1800-13/1813-24/1825-57.
For 1746, 1757, 1766 and 1775, see WOODHURST
Bishop's Transcripts.
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.
Old Hurst was originally in the St. Ives Registration District from 1st July 1837. Subsequently, it was in the Warboys sub-District. From 1st April 1997, it comes directly under the Huntingdon Registration District.
An old map of the parish of Old Hurst in the 19th century is available.
Population in 1801 - 118
Population in 1851 - 166
Population in 1901 -
103
Population in 1951 - 267
Population in 1971 - 263
Population in
1991 - 232.
The parish of Oldhurst was in the St Ives Union for Poor law
administration.
Births and deaths registered in the St Ives Union
Workhouse (1836 - 1913) are available as fiche set D9 from the Huntingdonshire FHS Bookstall.
The parish of Oldhurst consists of 1077 acres.
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