Cambridgeshire History On The Net

Information about Swavesey circa 1900

SWAVESEY is a large parish and village, with a station on the Cambridge and Huntingdon branch of the Great Eastern railway, 69 miles from London, 11 1/2 north-west from Cambridge, 3 south-east from St. Ives and 9 south-east from Huntingdon, in the Western division of the county, hundred of papworth, petty sessional division of Cambridge, union of St. Ives, county court district of Huntingdon, rural deanery of North Stowe and archdeaconry and diocese of Ely. The church of St. Andrew, originally attached to the priory, is a building of stone in the Early English and Perpendicular styles, consisting of chancel with aisles, or cha ntries, clerestoried nave of six bays, aisles, south porch and a western tower containing 6 bells: on the south side of the chancel are fine sedilia and piscina of the Decorated period: the entrance to the south chantry, rebuilt by Thomas Cockayne in 1852, is by two fine Early English arches, and it has Late Perpendicular sedilia; in this chantry is a quasi-classic marble tomb, to Anne (Kempe), wife of Sir John Cutts kt. of Childerley, who died 13th March, 1631; the inscription also mentions John Kempe, Cardinal Archbishop of York, and many other memb ers of that and allied families; over the inscription is a shield with 9 quartering, another with 22, and other impaled coats on separate escutcheons; both chantries are inclosed by modern open screens of o ak, in the Perpendicular style: the chancel is fitted with good modern stalls, restored from an old design and has an altar-piece representing the "Crucifixion" the south aisle retains an Early English piscina: the chancel arch is a fine example of 13th century work, and is fitted with a modern screen with halfgroined rood loft above: the north aisle with carved finals contains good old oak stalls: the font is Perpendicular, and lying near it are four Early English coffin slabs, with crosses: in 1867 the church was beautifully restored, principally at the expense of the Hon. Mrs. Dudley Ryder, daughter of Thomas Cockayne, late of Ickleton House, Hitchin: there are 500 sittings. The baptismal register dates from 1576; that for marriages and burials from 1613. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value about £ 170, including 3 acres of glebe, with residence, in the gift of the Master and Fellows of Jesus College, Cambridge, and held since 1895 by the Rev. Arthur Coleman Vidler M.A. of that college. The St. Peter's Church Mission house, at the south end of the village, erected in 1893 at a cost of £ 265, on land presented by the Master and Fellows of Trinity College Cambridge, is a wooden building and will seat 100 people John Jones Bush esq. of the Grange, Hilperton, Wilts, is the owner of the great or rectorial tithes, valued at about £ 550 a year. Here are two Baptist chapels, one for Primitive Methodists, and a Friends' Meeting House. Bethel Baptist chapel, built by subscription, in 1868, at a cost of about £ 850, is of brick, and will hold about 420 persons. Charities to the amount of £76 are distributed to the poor yearly in fuel. A market and fair were held here formerly, but have long been obsolete. The Benedictine priory once existing here was f ounded by Alan de Zouche in the time of William 1 as a cell to the monastery of St. Sergius, at Angers, and dedicated to St Andrew. The Priory, the residence of George Long esq. J.P. is supposed to stand on or near the site. Mr. John Osborne Daintree is l ord of the manors of Swavesey, with the members, Hobbledodds with Bennets and the Rectory manor. Mr. John Dodson Daintree, Capt Arthur Vipan, of Stibbington Hall, Lincs, Trinity College, Cambridge, Mr. William Carter Cole, George Long esq. Christopher P arsons and W. W. Warner are the principal landowners. The soil is mostly clay; subsoil, clay. The chief crops are wheat, barley and beans. The area is 3,968 acres of land and 14 of water; rateable value, £6,163; the population in 1891 was 1,069.

Parish Clerk, John Williams.

National School (mixed & infants), built in 1842, for 250 children; average attendance, 150; Henry Beaumont, schoolmaster; Miss Laura Pook; mistress, William Johnson, Fen Drayton, attendance officer

RAILWAY STATION

William Perry, station master

CARRIERS TO:- Cambridge Wilderspin & Hepher, Wed. & Sat. returning same days
St. Ives - Wilderspin & Hepher, Mon. returning same day

* Kelly's Directory of Cambridgeshire 1900 (London: Kelly's Directories Limited, 1900), pp.195.