HARDWICK
[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2013
"HARDWICK, a parish in the hundred of Longstow, county Cambridge, 6 miles
west of Cambridge railway station, and 4 east of Caxton, its post town. The
parish is small, and wholly agricultural. It now contains only a small
portion of common, the principal part having been enclosed in 1836. The
tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of £248. The living is a
rectory in the diocese of Ely, value £288, in the patronage of the bishop.
The church is dedicated to St. Mary. The register dates from 1654. The
Masters and Fellows of Pembroke College, Cambridge, are lords of the manor.
[Transcribed and edited information from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland - 1868]
- Here are photographs of Churches etc. in the parish:
- The following Churches have their own websites:
- "The church of St. Mary is an ancient edifice of stone in the Decorated style, and
consists of chancel, nave, south porch and an embattled western tower with spire
containing 3 bells: the chance! retains a piscina, and the stairs to the rood loft
also remain: in the chancel is a memorial window to the Rev. James Smith Brown M.A.
22 years rector of the parish, 1870-92: there are 152 sittings, all free. The register
dates from the year 1564."
[Kelly's Directory - Cambridgeshire - 1929]
- A
history of St. Mary is available from the
village website.
- Church of England
- Hardwick, St. Mary:
Records of baptisms 1564-1951, marriages 1574-1649, 1695-1985, burials 1577-1908
and banns 1755-1934 reside in the Cambridgeshire Archives. Indexed transcripts for
baptisms 1564-1885, marriages 1578-1885. burials 1577-1885 and banns 1757-1885 also
reside in the Cambridgeshire Archives. The Bishop's Transcripts for the years 1599-1643,
1664-65, 1679-83, and 1705-1861 can be found in the Cambridge University Library.
The transcripts of the parish registers 1564-1885 are available on microfiche from
the
Cambridgeshire Family History Society Publications list (search)
- "In or about 970, King Edgar, by the advice of Ethelwold, Bishop of Winchester, re-established
a monastery here under the Benedictine rule, and gave back to it all the lands with
which it was originally endowed, appointing Brithnoth, Prior of Winchester, the first
abbot: the manor, given by him in 991 to the Abbot and Convent of Ely, was afterwards
annexed to the see, till alienated by Bishop Heton in 1600: soon after this it was
in the family of Long, whose heiress, Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Long esq. of Shingaye,
brought it in marriage to Sir William Russell, created 21 July, 1603, Baron Russell
of Thornhaugh; he died 9 Aug. 1613, end the title is now held by his descendant the
Duke of Bedford K.G. after some intermediate alienations, it became the property
of Dr. Matthew Wren, Bishop of Hereford (1635-6), then of Norwich (1636-8) and afterwards
of Ely (1638-67), who gave it to the Master and Fellows of Pembroke College for the
support and repairs of their new chapel, built chiefly at his expense, after a design
by his nephew, the famous Sir Christopher Wren. The Master and Fellows of Pembroke
College, Cambridge, are lords of the manor."
[Kelly's Directory - Cambridgeshire - 1929]
- The
Hardwick Roll of Honour in the church has been transcribed and researched.
- Near the church is a granite cross erected in 1921 as a memorial to the men of the
parish who fell in the Great War, 1914-18.
- Land Tax:
records were compiled afresh each year and contain the names of owners and occupiers
in each parish, but usually there is no address or place name. These records reside
in the Cambridgeshire Archives for the years 1798 (on microfilm), 1829-32 and 1946-48.
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