Waresley Parish Page

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Waresley

Wedreslei (xi cent.), Weresai, Werisleg (xii/xiii cent), Werisley (xvi cent.).

The parish of Waresley is located on the south-east extremity of the county; it was well-wooded, the chief being Waresley Wood, Weaverley Wood and Sand Wood. There was also a Deer Park in Waresley Park, which is to the west of the village. The sub-soil of the area is Ampthill clay and lower green sand, and the soil is a fertile clay growing chiefly cereals. Most of the parish is now farmland.

The village lies on the main road from Bigglewade to St Ives, two and a half miles from Gamlingay. It contains many fine 17th and 18th century thatched houses. A skeleton with a small Roman jug in its hand was found in 1740 near Balls Bridge over Gransden Brook.

The parish was inclosed under a private Act of Parliament in 1808. In 1965 part of the parish was transferred to Gamlingay in Cambridgeshire.

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 170 entries) are available as fiche set M23 from the Huntingdonshire FHS.

Census

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

The full 1841 Census of Waresley Parish is available as fiche set C80.

The full 1851 Census of Waresley Parish is included as fiche set C30.

The full 1891 Census of Waresley Parish is available as fiche set C13.

A surname index of the 1881 Census of the St. Neots Registration District, in which Waresley was enumerated (RG11/1611, Folios 122a - 126b), and which took place on 3rd April 1881, is available as fiche set C5.

The above mentioned fiche are available from the Huntingdonshire FHS.

Church History

OS Grid Square TL 250546.

The ancient church which appears to have been dedicated to St Andrew, but later was generally spoken of as St James the Great, stood at the east end of the village. It was destroyed by a storm in 1724 and in 1728 was rebuilt 'in humble imitation of Pembroke College' (Cambridge). It had only one small bell without a wheel.

This church was pulled down and a new church was built on another site in 1856, but the ancient churchyard continued to be used as a burial ground.

The present church of St James consists of a chancel with vestry and organ chamber on the north, nave with north aisle and a large mortuary chapel on the south, and a tower with spire on the west end of the north aisle. The walls are of stone and the roof is covered with slate; the spire being of timber covered with oak shingles. There are three bells. The church is adorned with numerous monuments.

The church and priest of Waresley were mentioned in the Domesday survey of 1086.

Church Records

Baptisms: 1647-1781, 1782-1812, 1813-1960
Banns: 1754-1812.
Marriages: 1662-1750, 1754-1812, 1813-1835, 1837-1979, 1964-1973.
Burials: 1663/4-1781, 1782-1812.
Bishop's Transcripts: 1604-5, 1607-10, 1612, 1617-19, 1625, 1627, 1631/1681-2, 1685-6, 1688, 1690-1702, 1704-16, 1718, 1720, 1722-44, 1746-58, 1760-71, 1773-1812/1813-1824/1825-58.

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.