GenUKI Contents

Cambridgeshire

DUXFORD

"DUXFORD, comprises the two ancient parishes of St. Peter and St. John, in the hundred of Whittlesford, in the county of Cambridge, 7 miles west of Linton, 9 south of Cambridge, its post town, and 11 mile from the Whittlesford station on the Cambridge line. It is situated on the river Cam, which occasionally overflows its banks and inundates the surrounding meadows. The impropriate tithes of St. John's parish have been commuted for a rent-charge of £354, and the vicarial for £146; the impropriate glebe contains 91 acres, and the vicarial 39 acres. The living of the former is a rectory in the diocese of Ely, value £429, in the patronage of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge; that of St. John is a discharged vicarage,* value £169, in the patronage of the Fellows of Clare Hall, Cambridge, who are impropriators. The church of St. Peter, supposed to have been built about the end of the 13th century, is principally Norman. St. John's is in a similar style, with Norman tower. The parochial charities produce about £30 per annum, of which £25 belongs to King's school. The register commences in 1684. There is a National school for both sexes. A priory once stood in this parish, a part of which is now the "Red Lion" inn. It is an object of great attraction, possessing some remains of antique carving. A barn is pointed out as standing on the site of the old chapel."

[The above was transcribed (and edited) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2023

Cemeteries

• "A cemetery of one acre, presented by the Rev. H. S. Carter M.A. rector 1865-1904, was enclosed by the parishioners and landowners at a cost of £224, and is under the control of the Parish Council."
  [Kelly's Directory - 1929]

Census

• The Census Records from 1841-1891 can be found in the Cambridgeshire Archives. In addition the 1851 Census for Duxford is available in full transcript form, on microfiche, from the Cambridgeshire Family History Society Publications list (search)

Church History

• "The Congregational chapel, founded in 1794, was thoroughly repaired and a school room and vestry added in 1859 at a cost of £350; it will seat 400 persons."
• "The Red Lion hotel, at Whittlesford Bridge, is said to have formerly been part of a small monastic establishment anciently existing here: the rafters of the ceiling and the mantel-piece are very fancifully carved. The chapel belonging to this religious house, though but little known, is an exquisite structure of rubble of the Decorated period, and its design is of extraordinary merit: the tracery of the once fine east window has disappeared, but the piscina and sedile recess remain, and there are side lancet windows with beautifully moulded hood arches: the building may fairly be regarded as a perfect model for a small but plain chapel."
  [Kelly's Directory - 1929]

Church Records

• Independent Church
  • Independent Church: Indexed transcripts exist for births 1788-1837 at the Cambridgeshire Archives.
• Methodist Church
  • Primitive Methodist Church: Records exist for the Cambridge Primitive Circuit of which Duxford is part.

Description and Travel

• "James Bedwell, in 1573, left certain estates in the parish, the rents to be distributed in herrings during Lent and Passion week ; this has now been commuted into a money payment of £3, which is distributed annually: there is also a charity called "dole money," left by a lady, and amounting to £1 10s. annually: King's charity, derived from land, is about £16 a year, £2 for two poor widows and the remainder for educational purposes.
• There is a Royal Air Force station in this parish." [Kelly's Directory - 1929]
• Duxford Chapel
  • Duxford Chapel was originally built as a small hospital for the poor and travellers in the 13th century, chantry masses were sung here until 1547.

Gazetteers

• A transcript of the Duxford parish entries from Samuel Lewis's 1835 Topographical Dictionary of England,
• A transcript of the Duxford parish entries from 1929 Kellys Directory of Cambridgeshire

Manors

• "The great tithes of Duxford St. John are owned by Clare College. In this parish are four manors: Mrs. Fisher owns one, William Evelyn Long esq. J.P. two, and Cain College, Cambridge, the fourth. The lords of the manors and James Binney esq. D.L., J.P. and Viscount Hampden K.C.B., C.M.O. are the principal landowners."
  [Kelly's Directory - 1929]

Military History

• "In the centre of the village is a cross of Portland stone, erected in 1920 at a cost of £240, as a memorial to the men of this parish who fell in the Great War, 1914-15."
  [Kelly's Directory - 1929]
• The Duxford War Memorial has been transcribed and researched.

Towns and Parishes

• St John
• St Peter