HEMINGFORD GREY
East Hemingeford, Emingeforde (xi cent.); Hamicheford (xii cent.); Hemmingeforde Turbervill,
Turbelville, Trubbevill, or Trubelvill, Hemmingeforde
Parva (xiii-xiv cent.); Hemygforde Grey, Hemingford Priors (xiv-xv cent.).
The parish lies extremely low, mostly at a level of
20–40 ft. above ordnance datum, and Hemingford
Meadow in the north is liable to floods. The soil
north of the Cambridge road is gravelly; to the south
it is a strong loam. The crops grown are wheat,
barley, and market garden produce. The area is
1,725 acres of land and 26 of land covered by water.
On the south side of St. Ives Bridge a suburb of
St. Ives is growing up, but Hemingford Grey village
lies in the opposite direction, away from St. Ives, and
is still rural. At the northern end of the village,
near the extreme north-western angle of the parish,
where backwaters separate Houghton meadows from
the main stream of the Ouse, stands its manor-house,
the earliest secular building in the county, its mid
12th-century stone-built hall an important example
of a scarce class of domestic architecture. The house
is still surrounded by its moat on the three sides away
from the river, near the right bank of which it stands.
The main central block was probably built by Payn
de Hemingford who died shortly after 1166. Here
apparently he made his home, and it seems to have been
the residence of his son William, of William Ruffus
and of the Turbervilles who gave their name for a
time to the manor. Reginald de Grey transacted
business here, and in 1321 John son of Reginald de
Grey had his chapel and chaplain in his house at
Hemingford Grey, (fn. 1) but the subsequent owners and
lessees were absentees until the 17th century when
the Newmans and later the Mitchells from time to
time lived here. The most famous inhabitants,
however, were the Gunnings. John Gunning probably had a lease of the house from the Mitchells, and
in it were born during the thirties of the 18th century
his three beautiful daughters. Mary the eldest
married the sixth Earl of Coventry, and Elizabeth
became the wife of the sixth Duke of Hamilton and
secondly of the fifth Duke of Argyll and the mother
of four dukes and one courtesy earl. (fn. 2) There is an
original window of two round-headed lights on the
west side of the south front, and a doorway to this floor
formerly approached by an external staircase is marked
by a modern window. There are remains of original
windows in the east and west walls. Another original
window has recently been opened out in the west wall.
Considerable alterations were made by the lessees of
the manor in the 16th century when the central
chimney stack and parts of the eastern additions were
made. The north front and western additions were
made apparently by the Mitchells in the 18th century.
The old rectory north east of the church, where the
vicars apparently formerly lived, was built in or about
1697, when John Allen, the vicar, petitioned 'the well
disposed gentlemen of the University of Cambridge
and elsewhere' for assistance to rebuild the vicarage
house, which had fallen into a state of ruin during 'the
late rebellious times.' (fn. 3) It is a large brick house with
tiled roof which has been enlarged at various dates.
It contains some good original fittings. The house
was sold in 1859 to John Lawrence (d. 1864), who
undertook to repair the chancel of the church, (fn. 4)
and is now the residence of Lieut.-Col. A. F.
Watt, D.S.O.
A little to the east of the church is Madely Court,
skirted on the east by Mill Lane, which leads to
Hemingford Mills on the Ouse, and from which
Meadow Lane branches north. Two mills at Hemingford and a fish pool were mentioned in Domesday
Survey, and the mills at Hemingford have always been
valuable and important. The village forms a triangle
enclosed by Mill Lane on the east, the river on the
west, and Hemingford Road on the south. At the
juncture of Mill Lane and Hemingford Road is the
smithy, which with the school to the west of it lies
north of the Hemingford Road. Opposite them, and
on the south side of the road, is the vicarage, built in
1854. Near by is the pound, from the west of which
Pound Lane runs south and, as Long Lane, joins the
Cambridge road. From a short distance south of
the pound, Marsh Lane runs east to the Potton Road
(the eastern boundary of the parish), which it joins
about half a mile below the point where the latter
meets the Hemingford road. Midway between is
the St. Ives Union Workhouse, about half a mile
from the Ouse and from St. Ives, where the road
leads past Filbert's Walk to the Toll House on the
river. There is a windmill on Hemingford Road
about a quarter of a mile east of the village.
South of the Cambridge road is the Grove, with
Brittens Farm farther south still, near the western
boundary; and south of the junction of the Cambridge and Potton roads is Woolpack Inn, with
Woolpack Farm to the south-west. The southernmost outlying farm is Linton's Farm, which has
Topsfield Farm north-west of it.
Part of the causeway over the low-lying land leading to St. Ives Bridge was in the manor of Hemingford
Grey, and reference to it is found at an early date.
We find that the abbots of Ramsey paid yearly for its
use a pair of scarlet hose, 2 lb. of pepper, 2 lb. of
ginger, 1,000 eels and allowed common rights in the
abbey wood. In 1238 Alice, widow of Ralph Turberville, agreed to alter this rent to 40 cartloads of underwood from the wood of St. Ives, 1,000 eels and half a
mark and a further payment for her life of 20 cartloads
of wood. (fn. 5) The rent was again changed by John de
Grey and his son Reginald in 1249–50 to 2 marks
and John and Reginald gave an undertaking to maintain the causeway. (fn. 6) A yearly payment of 26s. 8d. by the
lords of Hemingford Grey in 1625 for 'Hemingford
Grey causey,' (fn. 7) no doubt represents a charge in lieu of
maintenance. A new bridge built by the Duke of
Manchester in 1822 replaced the ancient causeway.
MANORS
HEMINGFORD GREY (East
Hemingford) was not included in the
grant of Hemingford by Earl Ailwin to
Ramsey Abbey, but was given to the abbey in 1041–2
by Hardecnut and his mother Aelfgiva as 11 hides in
Hemingford, for the salvation of their souls and the
soul of King Cnut. The grant was confirmed (1052–6)
by Edward the Confessor at the prayer of Abbot
Alfwin. The abbot leased Hemingford with 5 hides
in Yelling to Ulfwin son of Alfwin for life, (fn. 8) and later
these hides were held under the abbey by Aluric
the sheriff who was killed at the Battle of Hastings,
when the abbey resumed them. By 1086, however,
these lands had been seized
by Aubrey de Vere, who held
them immediately of the
Crown. (fn. 9) Ramsey Abbey never
relinquished its claim to the
manor, which continues to be
entered on its feodaries, and
Aubrey de Vere's descendants
Earls of Oxford were time
after time distrained at the
court of the Honour of
Broughton for neglecting to
give military service for their
lands at Hemingford. (fn. 10) The overlordship of the Earls
of Oxford is recorded as late as the end of the 14th
century. (fn. 11)
Vere. Quarterly gules and or with a molet argent in the quarter.
The tenant under Aubrey de Vere in 1086 was Ralf
son of Osmund, who was also tenant in chief of another
hide in Hemingford Abbots (q.v.) which is entered as
waste. (fn. 12) Ralf son of Osmund was succeeded by his
son Payn de Hemingford (fn. 13) who endowed the Priory
of St. Melan at Hatfield Broadoak (co. Essex) with
tithes from Hemingford and Yelling and was owing
the service of a knight in 1166. (fn. 14) He died probably
shortly after this date, when Nichola, daughter of his
son William, was granted in marriage by Henry II
(d. 1189) to William Ruffus, the King's servant. (fn. 15)
William Ruffus and Nichola had three daughters,
namely, Emma, who married Bartholomew de Legh,
Alice who married Ralph de Turberville (fn. 16) (d. before
1238) and Isabel who married Berengar le Moyne.
There were several settlements as to Hemingford and
Yelling among the co-heirs, (fn. 17) but Ralph de Turberville
and Alice, from whom the manor took the name of
Hemingford Turberville, held it for a time. By
1242–3, however, Emma de Legh held in Hemingford
and Yelling three fees which probably represented
the whole property. (fn. 18) Her daughter and heir
Nichola de Legh had married Roger de Cauz, (fn. 19) and
their daughter Emma (fn. 20) married firstly John de
Segrave, who died about 1230, when her marriage was
granted to her father-in-law Stephen de Segrave. (fn. 21)
She married secondly John de Grey, and was probably dead before 1256, when the manor was settled
with other lands on her
second husband and their son
Reginald. (fn. 22) John de Grey
died in 1266 and was succeeded by Reginald his son,
who was summoned to
Parliament as Lord Grey [of
Wilton]. In 1286 he proved
his descent from Ralf son
of Osmund and maintained
his claim to view of frankpledge in the manor. (fn. 23) He
died in 1308 and was succeeded by his son John, (fn. 24) who
in 1311–12 settled the manors
of Hemingford Turberville
and Yelling on himself for
life with remainder to his younger son Roger in tail
with contingent remainder to John son of Ralph
Basset of Drayton and Ralph brother of the said
John. (fn. 25) He died in 1323, his son Henry being his
heir, but Hemingford and other lands passed under
the settlement of 1311–12 to his younger son Roger, (fn. 26)
who in 1351 became Lord Grey of Ruthin. Roger,
died seised of the manor of Hemingford Grey in
1353 and was succeeded by his eldest surviving son
Sir Reginald de Grey (fn. 27) (d. 1388), who settled the
manor on his wife Eleanor (d. 1396). His son Reginald,
as heir general of John de Hastings last Earl of
Pembroke through his grandmother Elizabeth daughter
of Sir John de Hastings, Lord of Abergavenny, (fn. 28)
styled himself Lord Hastings.
He died in 1440 and was
succeeded by his grandson
Edmund, son of John de Grey,
who in 1465 was created Earl
of Kent and died in 1490.
His eldest surviving son
George, second Earl of Kent,
was heavily in debt to the
crown, and Hemingford Grey
was among the manors seized
by Henry VII. The earl's
debts were the subject of
proceedings in Chancery by
his second son Sir Henry
Grey, after the death of his brother Richard in 1523,
against Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk, Charles
Somerset Earl of Worcester and others. (fn. 29) Sir Henry
died in 1562 without ever assuming his peerage dignities owing to poverty and without recovering possession of Hemingford Grey. This manor was granted
to the king's favourite Edmund Dudley who was
seised of it at the time of his execution in 1510. (fn. 30)
In the same year it was granted for life to Elizabeth
Grey Countess of Kent, with the issues of the manor
from 1508. (fn. 31) The manor was restored before 1533 to
Edmund Dudley's son John (afterwards created Duke
of Northumberland), and he and his wife settled it
in 1534. (fn. 32) In the same year it was reported that
John Dudley had sold the manor of Hemingford Grey
to Sir Richard Williams alias Cromwell; the sale,
however, was not effected until 1537. (fn. 33) In 1542
Cromwell exchanged Hemingford and Brampton and
other lands with the crown for Upwood and other
manors. (fn. 34) The site of the manor was then in lease
to William Dale and later to George Harrison for
fifty years. A further lease in reversion of the site of the
manor, then in the occupation of William Rushe, was
made by the crown in 1570 to Sir George Howard for
thirty years. (fn. 35) In 1574 the manor was granted for
life to Helen Marchioness of Northampton, widow
of William Parr Marquess of Northampton. (fn. 36) This
grant included the messuage called the Dolphin with
the close belonging to the same and all fisheries in the
river from the Bridge of St. Ives to Hemingford Grey
Mill and all other fisheries round the said close leased
in 1566 to Thomas Collins, the fishery in the Dane
Ditch or Old Ree, and holts of willows and osiers with
a close called Baylis Acres leased in 1568 to Justinian
Cock. The Marchioness of Northampton married
Sir Thomas Gorges, who obtained a lease of the site
of the manor in reversion after the death of his wife
(which occurred in 1635) for 41 years. (fn. 37) In 1625
Charles I, in completion of the intention of his father,
granted the fee of the manors of Hemingford Abbots
and Hemingford Grey to Edward Ramsey and Robert
Ramsey at the respective fee farm rents of £45 15s. 3½d.
and £37 10s. 5½d. payable after the death of the
Marchioness. The grant was made at the nomination
of John Earl of Holderness, to whom the fee farm rents
were granted. (fn. 38)
Grey of Wilton. Barry argent and azure with three roundels gules in chief and the difference of a label argent.
Grey, Earl of Kent. Barry argent and azure with three roundels gules in chief.
The leases and leases in reversion and mortgages
led to litigation in the Court of Chancery. It
appears that John Martin of Ely in 1584 lent money
on security of a lease of the manor to Robert Sisson,
the assignee of the lease of 1570 to Sir George Howard.
In 1601 Cicely Martin, John's widow, brought an
action against Robert Sisson senior, Robert Sisson
junior, Thomas Sandyll, Thomas Cleybarne and
Arthur Clarke to recover the loan. (fn. 39) It is not clear
what happened at this time, but the Martins appear
to have obtained the interest of the Ramseys, and
before 1635, either by inheritance or purchase, the
Martins had been succeeded by the Newmans.
John Newman and Elizabeth, his wife, and Christopher
Newman, brother of John, were holding the manor at
that date. (fn. 40) In 1650 Joan, widow of Christopher
Newman, brought an action against John Newman
and Christopher his son for dower from lands in
Hemingford Abbots settled on her by deed to which
Edward Martin and Mary his wife and John Martin
and Martha his wife, kinsmen of the said Joan, were
parties. (fn. 41) The manor of Hemingford Grey was
settled by Martin or Mark Newman and Richard
Newman in 1689 (fn. 42) and in 1698 it was conveyed by
Mark Newman, and Elizabeth his wife, Richard Newman, William Pyke, clerk, and Margaret his wife,
Richard Crawley and Thomas Gilbert to Thomas
Newman. (fn. 43) Thomas Newman died in 1715 at the
age of 90, (fn. 44) but before September 1704 the manor
had passed to Cornelius Denne, merchant of London, (fn. 45)
and he and his wife Elizabeth were dealing with it in
1708. (fn. 46) In 1711 the manor, then in the occupation of
John Townesend, and the capital messuage, then in
the occupation of Mary Newman, spinster, were
seized by the sheriff for debts owing by Cornelius
Denne to the crown. In 1721 the manor, with free
fishery, free warren, court leet, court baron, view of
frankpledge, fairs, markets, and tolls, was sold by the
crown, together with half the manor of Hemingford
Abbots, to James Mitchell of Fowlmire (co. Camb.). (fn. 47)
William Mitchell of Hemingford was sheriff of Cambridge and Huntingdon in 1737 and 1755. Knight
George Coote Mitchell settled the manor in 1798 (fn. 48)
and was returned as lord of the manor in 1801. (fn. 49)
The manor remained in the Mitchell family, and in
1877 the joint owners of the manorial rights were
Miss Mitchell and Capt. Douglas in right of his wife,
Miss Mitchell's sister. Capt. Douglas died in 1892 (fn. 50)
and was succeeded by his son Lieut.-Col. Sholto
Douglas, the present lord of the manor.
The 4 hides in Hemingford worth 40s. in 1066 and
20s. in 1086, were entered in the Survey among the
lands of Eustace the sheriff, (fn. 51) and must have been
partly represented by ⅓ of 2 parts of a knight's fee in
Hemingford held in 1242–3 of the barony of Lovetot
by William de Coweye (Cueye). (fn. 52) It was evidently
included in the knight's fee in Thirning, Hemingford,
Offord, and Graffham, conveyed by Nigel de Amundeville in 1257 to Richard de Clare, Earl of Gloucester
and Hertford. (fn. 53) This knight's fee was held by the
Moynes as under-tenants and descended with the
Gloucester fee whose history is given under Offord. (fn. 54)
The 10 virgates in Hemingford of which Thomas le
Moyne in 1219–20 levied a fine with Ralph de Turberville apparently continued to be held by the Moynes
under the Greys with the Coweyes or Coes. Yvo le
Moyne was with William de Coweye and Felicia his
wife in 1235–6 engaged in dealings with Walter de
Denford and Sara his wife in connection with a
carucate and a third of 2 carucates in Graffham and
Hemingford, (fn. 55) and a carucate of land in Hemingford
was then conveyed by William de Coweye and Felicia
to Robert de Beaumes, Walter de Denford and his
wife Sara, and Henry de Codeham. (fn. 56) Felicia de
Coweye in 1280–1 conveyed a 'manor of Hemingford
Tribelville' to Ralf de Coweye (fn. 57) and was included
among the free tenants of Reginald de Grey in 1279
as holding land, including 'I acre in the manor,'
of him, for which fee she paid 5s. yearly to the hundred
of Toseland. (fn. 58) In 1286 it was returned that all the
vill of Hemingford was of the fee of Reginald de Grey
except 3 hides which Ralph de Coweye held. (fn. 59)
In 1203, 1204, and 1205 Robert de Saham and his
wife Nichola, Robert de Bloy and others, were dealing
with lands belonging to Robert de Saham's free
tenement in Hemingford, (fn. 60) and in 1205 two hides of
land and a third of 3 mills in Hemingford appear to
have been acquired from Robert de Saham by Robert
de Bloy, (fn. 61) who in 1218–19 made a conveyance of 6
virgates to Reginald Morel. (fn. 62) In 1225–6 Wiscard
le Bloy (presumably the heir of Robert), whom Reginald Morel vouched to warranty, conveyed to Lucy,
widow of Robert le Bloy as dower, a third of a messuage
and 6 virgates of land, etc., in Hemingford. (fn. 63) For
a disseisin of John de Swyneford of 9 messuages,
240 acres of land, 20 acres of meadow and 60s. rent in
Hemingford Turbervile in 1315 (fn. 64) John de Sudbury
was imprisoned first in Canterbury and then in
Huntingdon but released on payment of a fine of 50s.
in 1316. (fn. 65) John de Swyneford and his wife Agnes
were dealing with a messuage and carucate of land in
Hemingford Turbervile in 1316. (fn. 66)
Two mills rendering £6 and a fishpool rendering 6s.
were held by Aubrey de Vere with the 11 hides entered
among his lands in the Domesday Survey. (fn. 67) The
Hemingford mills appear to have been a frequent
cause of dispute. It was complained in 1279 that
Reginald de Grey, by making a pool between Hemingford and Huntingdon to divert the waters of the river
to his mills at Hemingford, had made it impossible
for ships and boats to proceed as far as Huntingdon
Bridge. (fn. 68) Sir Robert Cotton is quoted as ascribing
the decay of Huntingdon to this action. (fn. 69) The injury
done to Hemingford, Huntingdon, and other towns
by obstructions caused between the towns of St.
Ives and Huntingdon by 3 mills was the cause of a
petition to Parliament in 1376. (fn. 70)
In 1534 Sir Richard Williams alias Cromwell leased
to John Keche of Huntingdon, yeoman, for term of his
life, and to his executors for 7 years after, 4 watermills
in Hemingford Grey with all dams, etc., called 'Dame
Rewes,' the Green before the door of the mills, and
fishing in the dams, etc., and made a fresh lease in
1540 in reversion to Peter Smyth of London, gent.,
servant of Sir Richard, in consideration of his faithful
service. Sub-leases to George Coleshill, citizen and
merchant of London, and later by his widow Susan
Coleshill to Thomas Wolley of Kempston (co. Bedford),
to Roger Tetlow and to Richard Isacke followed and
were in 1573 the subject of Chancery proceedings
instituted by Robert Aprice, executor of Roger
Tetlowe, against William Ibbott of Hemingford Grey,
Richard Keye, and Nicholas Isacke of Downham,
co. Norfolk, yeoman. (fn. 71) The four watermills, the
'Dame Rowe,' the Green, and the fishery were, as
parcel of the manor (exchanged with the king by
Sir Richard Williams) in the occupation of Peter
Smyth at a rent of £22, granted in 1610 to Edward
Ferrers of London, merchant, and Francis Phelips of
London, gent., (fn. 72) and excepted out of the grant to the
Ramseys of the manor (q.v.). The mills next appear
as the property of Sir Robert Gorges, kt., who in 1615
seems to have sold them to Robert Hudson, and they
were again in 1619 the subject of Chancery proceedings
instituted by Edmund Gostelowe against Robert
Hudson, Robert Cordell, and Thomas Heaton of
Hemingford Grey. (fn. 73) Five watermills in Hemingford
Grey were in 1631 conveyed by Robert Hudson and
his wife Jane and others to Henry, Earl of Manchester. (fn. 74)
A windmill, lands, tenement, and free fishery in
Hemingford Grey were in 1698 conveyed by Thomas
Carmon and his wife Susan and others to John Nutting, clerk, William Pope, John Cranwell, Thomas
West, and John Atlee. (fn. 75) In 1707 lands, tenements
and a free fishery in the Ouse in both Hemingfords
were conveyed by John Atlee and his wife Martha, and
William Household and his wife Mary to Elizabeth
Cockayne, spinster, and John Harkness. (fn. 76) A windmill and land in Hemingford Grey were in 1702 conveyed by Robert Martin and his wife Anne and Thomas
Harris and his wife Anne to Roger Pecke and John
Blinkhorne. (fn. 77)
Besides the fisheries held with the manor and mills
it was presented in 1279 that Reginald de Grey, John
Clarel, and the men of Huntingdon and Godmanchester
fished from the high bank of the river from 'Grimmesdich to Hemigfordheved.' (fn. 78)
CHURCH
The Church of ST. JAMES consists
of a chancel (27½ ft. by 16¼ ft.), modern
north vestry (14 ft. by 7 ft.), nave
(42¾ ft. by 15 ft.), modern north aisle (14 ft. wide),
south aisle (13¼ ft. wide), west tower (12½ ft. by
12½ ft.), and modern south porch. The walls are of
rubble with stone dressings and the roofs are covered
with slates and lead.
The church is not mentioned in the Domesday
Survey (1086), but in the 12th century there was a
church with a north aisle and perhaps a central tower,
and of this the two western bays of the nave arcade
still remain. Early in the 13th century a south aisle
was added and the chancel rebuilt, and rather later
in the century a complete reconstruction took place
involving the pulling down of the central tower and
formation of two arches in its place, and a lengthening
of the aisles. The aisles appear to have been widened
in the 14th century, and towards the end of the same
century the west tower was added and the western
arch of the nave arcade rebuilt, and finally, c. 1500,
the clearstory was added. The spire was blown down
in 1741, when the stump was levelled off and finished in
its present form. The church was restored in 1859,
involving the rebuilding of the north aisle and porch
and the addition of the vestry, and the tower was
restored in 1914. (fn. 79)
The early 13th-century chancel has a modern threelight east window; in the north wall are two original
single-light windows, a 14th-century doorway, two
original lockers, and a small recess; in the south wall
are an early 14th-century two-light with a segmental
head, a modern two-light, and an early 14th-century
double piscina having trefoiled heads with intersecting
mouldings carried on jamb-shafts and a central shaft.
The chancel arch is modern.
The nave has a north arcade of three bays, of which the
12th-century middle arch is semi-circular and the two
others (the eastern 13th and the western 14th century)
are two-centred and of two chamfered orders; they
stand on two circular columns, the western with scalloped cap and the eastern is a composite column 12th-century on the west and 13th century on the east, and
the eastern respond is also 13th century. Of the 13th-century south arcade, the two western arches are semicircular, and the eastern two-centred similar to that
on the north. The columns are circular and the eastern respond is similar. Eastward of both arcades is a
short length of wall having a tall recess with a four-centred arch, and pierced with a small modern opening.
The clearstory has four early 16th-century two-light
windows on each side, and the contemporary roof is of
low pitch and of simple form.
The modern north aisle has three two-light windows
in the north wall and a single light at the west. The
east wall has a door leading into the modern vestry,
which has a two-light window and a door in its east
wall.
The early 13th-century south aisle has a three-light
window, practically all modern, and a 13th-century
bracket in its east wall; two two-light windows, a single light window, a doorway mostly modern but incorporating part of a 14th-century arch, and a 14th-century
piscina in the south wall; and two carved head-stops,
of c. 1500, have been built into this wall. The west
wall has a modern single-light window. The roof contains some fragments of early 16th-century work.
The late 14th-century tower has an arch to the nave
of two moulded orders, the inner resting on attached
shafts with moulded caps and bases. The west doorway is of two continuous moulded orders, and above it
is a three-light window. Above this are small lights in
the south and west walls; and the belfry windows are
two lights, that on the south much distorted. The
tower is finished with an embattled parapet behind
which rises the stump of a spire. Both parapet and
spire are now finished with stone balls at the angles,
added after the fall of the spire in 1741.
The font is modern.
There are six bells, inscribed: (fn. 80) (1) Grata sit
arguta resonans campanula uoce. Tho: Eayre de
Kettering Campanarius 1724; (2) I.H.S. Nazaraenus
Rex Judaeorum fili Dei miserere mei 1724 Gloria
Patri filio & Spiritui Sancto; (3) Edward Arnold, St.
Neots, fecit, 1782; (4) I.H.S. Nazrene Rex Judaeorum
fili Dei miserere mei Gloria Patri filo Dei et Spirtui
Sancto 1724; (5) I.H.S. Nazarene Rex Judaeorum
fili Dei miserere mei Gloria Patri filio et Spiritui
Sancto 1724; (6) I.H.S. Nazaraene Rex Judaeorum
miserere mei. John Baxter Benefactor William Gare
C. W. Gloria Deo soli, 1724. Rehung by W. Eaton, of
Tichmarsh, Northants, in 1882.
There are the following monuments: In the
chancel, to Gruffin Lloyde, d. 1682; the Rev. James
Johnson, Vicar, d. 1727; Mary Jane, wife of the Rev.
James William Geldart, d. 1830; the Rev. Peregrine
Edward Curtois, Vicar, d. 1899; floor slabs to John
Lacy, d. 1676; Catherine Johnson and Catherine Parnell, her daughter, d. 1709; the Rev. James Johnson,
d. 1727; Sophia Gunning, d. 1737, and Lizzy Gunning,
d. 1752, daughters of John Gunning; Mrs. Matilda
(Gore) relict of Charles Green, d. 1787, and Charles
William, son of Charles and Ann Green, d. 1788; the
Rev. Charles Green, Vicar, d. 1803, and Ann, his wife,
d. 1793; and window to John Lawrence, d. 1864.
In the nave, to Elizabeth, daughter of John West,
d. 1694, Robert her brother, and Elizabeth West,
her mother, d. 1694; William Margetts, d. 1774, and
Elizabeth his wife, d. 1776, Thomas Margetts his son,
d. 1815, John Margetts, of St. Ives, d. 1795, and Margaret, wife of Thomas, d. 1835; the Rev. Joseph
Staines Banks, Vicar, d. 1848, and Ann, his wife, d.
1839; and War Memorial, 1914–18.
In the north aisle, to B. G. Newell, d. 1812; and
Susan Chittenden, d. 1899; and floor slab to Sarah,
relict of John Rowley, d. 1721.
In the south aisle, to Matthew Elmes, d. 1716, and
Ann (Wilkin on) his wife, d. 1754; the Rev. Holland
Hughes, Vicar, d. 1723; William Margetts, d. 1802,
and Ann his wife, d. 1789; Margaret Rayner Rankin,
wife of Lieut. Col. Sir Thos. Pate Rankin, & dau. of
Wm. Margetts, d. 1826; Thomas Margetts, d. 1843,
and Frances his wife, d. 1846; and Arthur Knights, d.
1901; floor slabs to William Mason, d. 1659; and the
Rev. Holland Hughes, Vicar, d. 1723; and windows
to Mary Rachael wife of the Rev. J. W. Geldart, d.
1890; and Ernest Alfred Ebsworth, d. 1905.
The registers are as follows: (i) Baptisms, marriages and burials, 8 Aug. 1673 to 20 Oct. 1793;
marriages end 12 Dec. 1753; (ii) baptisms and burials,
2 Feb. 1794 to 27 Dec. 1812; some loose paper leaves
containing births and burials, 1773 to 1805, some of
which are omitted in the register; (iii) the official
marriage book, 6 Oct. 1754 to 27 July 1812; the
usual modern books.
The church plate consists of: A silver cup, hallmarked for 1684–5; a silver standing paten, similarly
hall-marked; a silver standing paten, hall-marked for
1891–2; a plated flagon.
ADVOWSON
The church was evidently held
originally with the lands in Hemingford which formed part of the barony of
Lovetot and was bestowed on the priory of Huntingdon
by Eustace de Lovetot when he refounded that house. (fn. 81)
It was confirmed to the priory by Pope Eugenius. (fn. 82)
When the vicarage was ordained, a pension of ½ mark
was reserved to the sacrist of Huntingdon. (fn. 83) In 1291
the church was distinguished from that of Hemingford
Abbots by the title of Hemingford Priors. (fn. 84) At the
Dissolution, the rectory, appropriated to the priory of
Huntingdon, was returned as owing £17 yearly of
spiritualities in Hemingford Grey; the vicarage was
valued at £10 yearly. (fn. 85) A pension of 60s. yearly from
Hemingford Grey and Yelling was paid to the prior of
Hatfield (co. Essex).
The rectory was leased for 41 years by the prior of
Huntingdon from 1540 to Richard Wynde, and by
Queen Elizabeth in 1567 to William Muschamp for 21
years at a rent of £17 upon expiration of that lease, the
advowson of the vicarage being reserved. (fn. 86) A grant
of the rectory was made in 1600 to the Bishop of Ely and
his successors. (fn. 87) In 1650 the trustees for the sale of
Bishops' lands granted to Michael Heneage of Battersea and Edward Green of London, goldsmith, the site
of the rectory and parsonage house, lands, etc., which
had been leased by the late bishop to William Greene
for 21 years from 1636, and were then in the occupation
of Richard Langley. (fn. 88) The Bishop of Ely obtained restitution at the Restoration, and was appropriator at the
passing of the Inclosure Act, (fn. 89) the Rev. Charles Greene
being lessee under the bishop, as well as incumbent.
The advowson, held by the priory of Huntingdon
until the Dissolution, has since that date been held
(possibly in lease) by various persons, (fn. 90) by Trinity
Hall (fn. 91) and Clare Hall, (fn. 92) Cambridge, the Rev.
Peregrine Curtois, A. R. Whiteway, (fn. 93) and Mrs. Watt,
now patron.
In 1321 John son of Reginald de Grey gave lands in
Papworth St. Agnes to find a chaplain to celebrate
daily in his chapel in his manor of Hemingford for the
souls of Maud his mother and all faithful departed. (fn. 94)
CHARITIES
Gravel Pit Fund. The endowment of this charity consists of a
sum of £156 0s. 3d. 2½ per cent. Consols held by the Official Trustees representing the sale
of gravel pits in about the year 1845. The income,
amounting to £3 18s. annually, is expended in the
maintenance and repair of the roads of the parish.
Workhouse Charity. This charity is comprised
in an indenture of lease and release dated 22 and 23
December 1778 and consisted of a building used as a
workhouse. The endowment now consists of 3
cottages, land and £1 per annum, being the ground rent
of the Reading Room. The income, amounting to
£24 5s. in 1926, is expended in repairs, etc., and in
repaying a loan of £150 borrowed in 1911 under the
authority of the Charity Commissioners for the purpose
of building one of the above-mentioned cottages.
Town Land. This consists of about 4 acres of land
in the parish now let to Mr. G. Darlow at a yearly
rent of £10. This sum is received by the churchwardens and applied towards church expenses.
Robert Langley by will dated 14 August 1556
charged his pasture ground lying in the delphs in the
Isle of Ely with a payment of 25s. a year. This rentcharge is regularly paid by Mr. A. E. Wright in respect
of land belonging to him at Haddenham. Of this sum
£1 is distributed to the poor of the parish and 5s. to the
bellringers.