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Upton

Map Opetune (xi cent.), Vptone (xii cent.), Opton (xiii cent.)

The parish of Upton consists mostly of clay growing cereals and beans. There still remains some woodland but the remainder of the land is about half arable and half pasture. The ground rises from Alconbury Brook, which forms the western boundary and where it is about 77 ft. above sea level, to the village where it reaches 162 ft.

The rather straggling village is built around the meeting place of the road from Ermine Street in the east, Hamerton in the west, and along Coppingford Lane from Coppingford on the north-east. The church is in the middle of the village, and to the east of it is Manor Farm, built within a moated site, of which only fragments of the moat survive. On the north side of the village is Christ's College Farm - another moated site. The existing farmhouse was built early in the 17th century and received an addition to the north side about 50 years

Cemeteries

Monumental inscriptions for Upton parish have not yet been recorded by the Huntingdonshire FHS.

Census

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

The full 1841 Census of Upton Parish is available as fiche set C95 from the Huntingdonshire FHS.

The full 1851 Census of Upton Parish is available as fiche set C45 from the Huntingdonshire FHS.

A surname index of the 1881 Census of the Huntingdon Registration District, in which Upton was enumerated (RG11/1601, Folios 71a - 73b), and which took place on 3rd April 1881, is available as Fiche C3 from the Huntingdonshire FHS .

A full transcription of the 1891 Census of the Sawtry sub-District of the Huntingdon Registration District (RG12/1235) in which Upton was enumerated, and which took place on 5th April 1891, has also been produced by the Huntingdonshire FHS (as Fiche C7). This is available from the Huntingdonshire FHS.

Church History

OS Grid Square: TL 174785.

The church of St Margaret consists of a chapel, modern vestry on the north, a nave, north aisle, south aisle, west tower and modern south porch. The walls are faced with rough ashlar and the roofs are covered with tiles and lead.

The church is mentioned in the Domesday survey of 1086, but the earliest parts now existing are the 12th century south doorway and the font. The chancel, nave arcades and south aisle are of 13th century date, but the whole church underwent a complete reconstruction in the early years of the 14th century beginning with a partial rebuilding of the chancel, and following on with that of the aisles, which were also heightened, the building of the clearstory and, possibly, the rebuilding of the west wall. The combination of two single-light west windows, and the three buttresses, suggest that this wall may have been surmounted with a bell-cote.

In the 15th century, the chancel arch was rebuilt and a west tower and spire were built within the nave. At some period, both aisles were shortened at the west end. In 1870-1, the church again underwent a complete reconstruction when the north aisle was rebuilt and widened, a vestry was built on the north side of the chancel, both aisle were restored to their original length, the whole of the roofs were renewed, and a south porch was added. the west-end of the south aisle was under-pinned and repaired in 1908.

Church Records

Baptisms: 1604-1626, 1660-1851, 1776-1877.
Banns: 1755-1849, 1824-1876.
Marriages: 1604-1625, 1664-1850, 1775-1876.
Burials: 1604-1626, 1662-1851, 1784-1876.

Bishop's Transcripts: 1604-5, 1607, 1610, 1612, 1614, 1617-19, 1625-6, 1660-71/1672-8, 1682-3, 1685-8, 1690-5, 1698, 1701-2, 1704-7, 1709-15, 1717-22, 1724-33, 1735-57, 1759, 1761, 1765-71, 1776, 1778, 1788, 1790, 1794-1801, 1803-12/1813, 1815-24/1825-9, 1831-5, 1837, 1851-5.

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.

Civil Registration

The parish of Upton-cum-Coppingford was originaly in the Huntingdon Registration District from 1st July 1837. Subsequently it became part of the Sawtry sub-District. Once again, from 1st April 1997, it is directly under the Huntingdon Registration District.

Description and Travel

A GENWEB page for Upton is available.

Maps

An old map of the parish of Upton in the 19th century is available.

Population

Population in 1801 - 137
Population in 1851 - 169
Population in 1901 - 91
Population in 1951 - 142
Population in 1971 - 240
Population in 1991 - 183.

Poorhouses, Poor Law etc

Upton 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.

Statistics

The parish of Upton occupied 1216 acres of land.

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[Last updated: 17 March 2003 - Martin Edwards.]