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Wyton

Witune (xi cent.), Witton, Wytton (xii cent.), Wyton (xiv - xx cent.).

The parish of Wyton is composed of the arable fields in the north and the rich low-lying pasture on the river bank. It is, as it were, a twin settlement lying side-by-side with Houghton. Each is a strip with its narrow southern end based upon the River Ouse. Each has its houses grouped about the road from St. Ives to Huntingdon which traverses the southern part of the strip. Each has its church between the road and the river, and its Manor farm to the north of the road. Houghton is slightly the larger in population and acreage.

Each settlement was assessed in AD 1086 at 7 Hides, but the hide in Houghton contained 6 virgates whilst 5 virgates only went into the Wyton Hide. The village of Wyton is continuous with that of Houghton; both were given to the Abbey of Ramsey by Earl Alfwold and the tenants in both held the Manor of Houghton-cum-Wyton whose descent has been traced under Houghton (q.v.).

The two parishes were inclosed under a common Act in 1773. In about 1780, the eccentric politician, John Horne Tooke, purchased a small estate at Wyton in order to carry out agricultural experiments.

Several traces of early occupation have been found. These include implements of the Neolithic period. There are also indications of Romano-British occupation, particularly in the Jubilee Oak field. The civil parish of Wyton was abolished in 1935 to help create the Houghton & Wyton civil parish.

Cemeteries Census Church History Church Records Civil Registration

Maps Military History Population Poorhouses, Poor Law etc. Statistics

Cemeteries

Monumental Inscriptions from the Parish Churchyard (approximately 107 entries - fiche set M18) are available from the Huntingdonshire FHS.

Census

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

• The full 1841 Census of Wyton Parish is available as fiche set C100 from the Huntingdonshire FHS.
• The full 1851 Census of Wyton Parish is available as fiche set C50 from the Huntingdonshire FHS.
• A surname index of the 1881 Census of the St. Ives Registration District, in which Wyton was enumerated (RG11/1609, Folios 80a - 85a), and which took place on 3rd April 1881, is available as fiche set C4, from the Huntingdonshire FHS.
• A full transcription of the 1891 Census of the St. Ives Registration District (RG12/1234) in which Wyton parish was enumerated, and which took place on 5th April 1891, is available as fiche set C12 from the Huntingdonshire FHS.

Church History

OS Grid Square TL 277723.

The Church of All Saints consists of a chancel, 19th century north vestry and organ chamber, nave, north aisle, 19th century tower at the south-west corner, and south porch. The walls are of rubble with stone dressings and the roofs are covered with tiles and lead.

Although the church is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, nothing of that period remains. The western half of the south wall of the chancel and the south wall of the nave are thick and probably are of 12th century date. The nave arcade and north aisle were built about 1200-1210, the nave being extended westwards as is indicated by the easterly position of the south doorway. The chancel was rebuilt and extended eastwards to nearly double its former size in the late 14th century, the chancel arch being rebuilt at the same time.

In 1866 the chancel was restored and the north aisle rebuilt, the south porch added and a south-west tower rebuilt replacing one of brick of 1846 (the ancient tower being of timber). The north vestry and organ chamber are also modern having been erected in 1912.

Church Records

Baptisms: 1605-1838 (indexed transcriptions), 1813-1959, 1961-1973.
Banns: 1754-1819 (indexed transcriptions), 1960-1971.
Marriages: 1605-1837 (indexed transcriptions), 1837-1956, 1957-1961, 1962-1967, 1968-1971, 1971-1973.
Burials: 1607-1838 (indexed transcriptions), 1813-1974.
Bishop's Transcripts: 1605, 1607-10, 1612, 1617-19, 1625/7 (see Houghton's BT's for 1678, 1687-8, 1690-2, 1694-1702, 1704-8, 1710-16, 1718, 1720, 1722-46, 1749-75, 1777-1809, 1811-13),1813, 1815/1846-7, 1849-55.

These are available in the Huntingdon Records Office.

The Huntingdonshire Marriage Indexes include marriages from this parish. These are at present, issued in alphabetic listings in series: 1601-1700, and 1701-1754, and are available from the Huntingdonshire FHS.

Civil Registration

Wyton was originally in the St. Ives Registration District from 1st July 1837, which became a sub-District until 31st March 1997. It is now in the Registration District of Huntingdon.

Maps

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

Military History

The war memorial, which includes Houghton and Wyton, with detailed information about those who fell, is available on Genweb Huntingdonshire.

Population

Population in 1801 - 213.
Population in 1851 - 267.
Population in 1901 - 143.
Population in 1931 - 445.
Population figures from 1935 are incorporated into Houghton's population figures.

Poorhouses, Poor Law etc

Wyton was part of 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.

Statistics

The parish of Wyton occupies 1470 acres of land.

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