Tydd St Giles is a village and

civil parish In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government. Civil parishes can trace their origin to the ancient system of parishes, w ...

in Fenland,

Cambridgeshire Cambridgeshire (abbreviated Cambs.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East of England and East Anglia. It is bordered by Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the north-east, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfor ...

, England. It is the northernmost village in the

Isle of Ely The Isle of Ely () is a historic region around the city of Ely, Cambridgeshire, Ely in Cambridgeshire, England. Between 1889 and 1965, it formed an Administrative counties of England, administrative county. Etymology Its name has been said to ...

(bordering

Lincolnshire Lincolnshire (), abbreviated ''Lincs'', is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber regions of England. It is bordered by the East Riding of Yorkshire across the Humber estuary to th ...

), on the same latitude as Midlands towns such as

Loughborough Loughborough ( ) is a market town in the Charnwood (borough), Charnwood Borough of Leicestershire, England; it is the administrative centre of Charnwood Borough Council. At the United Kingdom 2021 census, the town's built-up area had a popula ...

and

Shrewsbury Shrewsbury ( , ) is a market town and civil parish in Shropshire (district), Shropshire, England. It is sited on the River Severn, northwest of Wolverhampton, west of Telford, southeast of Wrexham and north of Hereford. At the 2021 United ...

. In 2011 the parish had a population of 1101.

Origin

The derivation of the name 'Tydd' is said to come from the Saxon 'Tid' or 'Tide', as the village was home to an important sluice used for draining the Fens. Although many Fenland names derive from Anglo-Saxon words, a few scattered around

Wisbech Wisbech ( ) is a market town, inland port and civil parish in the Fenland District, Fenland district in Cambridgeshire, England. In 2011 it had a population of 31,573. The town lies in the far north-east of Cambridgeshire, bordering Norfolk and ...

include Anglo-Saxon words referencing the native British population. Although the village is old enough, it does not appear in the ''

Domesday Book Domesday Book ( ; the Middle English spelling of "Doomsday Book") is a manuscript record of the Great Survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086 at the behest of William the Conqueror. The manuscript was originally known by ...

'', because the village was in the liberty of the

Bishop of Ely The Bishop of Ely is the Ordinary (officer), ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Ely in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese roughly covers the county of Cambridgeshire (with the exception of the Soke of Peterborough), together with ...

.A History of the County of Cambridge and the Isle of Ely: Volume 4: City of Ely: Ely N. and S. Witchford and the Wisbech Hundreds, Authors: R B Pugh (Editor), T D Atkinson, Ethel M Hampson, E T Long, C A F Meekings, Edward Miller, H B Wells, G M G Woodgate, Cambridge 2002 pp. 224–232 Tydd St Giles was founded in the late 11th century with the building of the church of

St Giles Saint Giles (, , , , ; 650 - 710), also known as Giles the Hermit, was a hermit or monk active in the lower Rhône most likely in the 7th century. Revered as a saint, his cult became widely diffused but his hagiography is mostly legendary. A ...

in 1084 on a natural rise in the land of the Fens. The church was built of

Barnack stone Barnack is a village and civil parish in the Peterborough unitary authority of the ceremonial county of Cambridgeshire, England and the historic county of Northamptonshire. Barnack is in the north-west of the unitary authority, south-east of ...

, known to be the gift of the

Abbot of Peterborough A list of the abbots of the abbey of Peterborough, known until the late 10th century as " Medeshamstede". Abbots Sources *'Houses of Benedictine monks: The abbey of Peterborough', ''A History of the County of Northampton: Volume 2'' (1906), pp. ...

Geography

The village is completely low-lying, with an average altitude of zero metres. The village is roughly square shaped (formed by the four main roads of Church Lane, Hockland Road, High Broadgate and Newgate Road). The eastern side of the village is dominated by the Norman church. The western side of the village is dominated by the Community Centre, a large blue-roofed barn-like structure. The

of Tydd St Giles also includes the hamlets of Foul Anchor, and part of

Tydd Gote Tydd Gote is an English village, partly, at the north, in the civil parish of Tydd St Mary of the South Holland District of Lincolnshire, and partly, at the south, in the civil parish of Tydd St Giles of the Fenland District of Cambridgeshire. ...

which lies partly in Tydd St Giles and partly in

Tydd St Mary Tydd St Mary is a village and civil parish in the South Holland, Lincolnshire, South Holland district of Lincolnshire, England, about east of the town of Spalding, Lincolnshire, Spalding and about north of Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. The civil pa ...

. the village has no direct "A" road access, but is joined to the A1101 by the B1165. Tydd St Giles is in the (old)

postal district, and is the northernmost settlement in Cambridgeshire. It is also the northernmost, and last, parish in the Diocese of Ely. This is enhanced by the fact that the traditional county and diocesan bound is Eau Dyke, to the north of the village. Eau Dyke is the only natural watercourse in the village, as it follows the course of the old Cat River. Across the southern boundary of the village runs a part of the North Level Main Drain. The drain is a vital part to the draining and continuing existence of the Fens. The drain then joins the River Nene at Foul Anchor, after passing through a pumping station, that brings the water up to the level of the river. Although the village is officially recorded at an altitude of zero metres, the age of the settlement, and the vowels "i" and "y" in the village name suggest that it stands on a low mound that would have been above the surface of the fen. It is certain that the village was inhabitable before the 16th- and 17th-century draining of the fen, because of the age of the church. A survey of 1868 described it thus: "TYDD ST. GILES, a parish in the hundred of Wisbech, Isle of Ely, county Cambridge, 5 miles north-west of Wisbech, its post town, and 6 from St. Mary Sutton. The preparation of woad for dyeing is carried on. The construction of the Bedford Level canal, which is 100 feet wide and 30 feet deep, has greatly improved the quality of the land. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Ely, value £653, in the patronage of the bishop. The church is dedicated to St. Giles. The parochial charities produce about £80 per annum. There is an endowed school, and the Independents have a chapel."

Governance

The first level of local government in the village is Tydd St Giles Parish Council, the village (as of 2022) is in Roman Bank Ward of

Fenland District Council Fenland may mean: * Fenland, or the Fens, an area of low-lying land in eastern England ** Fenland District, a local authority district in Isle of Ely, Cambridgeshire, England, forming part of the Fens ** Fenland Airfield, an airfield near Spalding, ...

. The village is in the

North East Cambridgeshire North East Cambridgeshire is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2010 by Steve Barclay, a Conservative. Constituency profile This large and rural seat is in the Cambridgeshire Fens and has a por ...

parliamentary constituency. The local

polling station A polling place is where voters cast their ballots in elections. The phrase polling station is also used in American English, British English and Canadian English although a polling place is the building and polling station is the specific ...

is in the community centre to the west of the village.

Church

The Norman church dedicated to St Giles, dominates the eastern side of the village. The church, although extensively redesigned in the 19th century (see below), still retains its Norman architecture and feel. The west window was designed by

Alan of Walsingham Alan of Walsingham (died c. 1364), also known as Alan de Walsingham, was an English architect, first heard of in 1314 as a junior monk at Ely, Cambridgeshire, Ely, distinguished by his skill in goldsmith's work, and for his acquaintance with the ...

, the designer of the octagon lantern on

Ely Cathedral Ely Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Ely, is an Church of England, Anglican cathedral in the city of Ely, Cambridgeshire, England. The cathedral can trace its origin to the abbey founded in Ely in 67 ...

, this rare clear glass medieval window (which survived the depredations of

Oliver Cromwell Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English statesman, politician and soldier, widely regarded as one of the most important figures in British history. He came to prominence during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, initially ...

) fills the whole of the western end of the building. All of the woodwork and pews in the church are later Victorian additions. In the Lady Chapel there are still some remnants of the church's original medieval stained glass, the rest of the church's stained glass is Victorian. The east window shows the life and passion of

Jesus Christ Jesus (AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, and many Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, other names and titles, was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He is the Jesus in Chris ...

, while the north-western window depicts the church's (and village's) patron saint, St Giles and St Paul. The outer southern wall of the church still has the remains of a medieval sundial, which was in use when the church was a cell of the priory in Wisbech.

Tower

The church is one of several in the area to have a separate tower. The tower fell away from the eastern end of the church in the 18th century (due to poor foundations and strong wind), and was rebuilt by Sir

George Gilbert Scott Sir George Gilbert Scott (13 July 1811 – 27 March 1878), largely known as Sir Gilbert Scott, was a prolific English Gothic Revival architect, chiefly associated with the design, building and renovation of churches and cathedrals, although he ...

when the building was extensively renovated in the 1880s. Local legend has it that the tower was pushed over by the devil, as he could not abide the sound of the church bells. The tower has a ring of six bells with a tenor weight of 8cwt 2qtr 8lbs tuned to A. The bells were recast for the golden jubilee of

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in January 1901. Her reign of 63 year ...

, from the original ring of five, six bells were cast. The bells hang in a wooden frame, and are rung in the traditional English

full circle ringing Full circle ringing is a technique of ringing a tower bell such that it swings in a complete circle from mouth upwards to mouth upwards and then back again repetitively. English full-circle ringing technique Full-circle tower bell ringing in ...

system.

Scott's restoration

Starting in 1868, the church was restored by the architect Sir George Gilbert Scott. The church was shortened, where the collapse of the tower had destroyed the original sanctuary (The east wall of the building still has the original blank arch). The nave roof was built up to its present level, and a new

clerestorey A clerestory ( ; , also clearstory, clearstorey, or overstorey; from Old French ''cler estor'') is a high section of wall that contains windows above eye-level. Its purpose is to admit light, fresh air, or both. Historically, a ''clerestory' ...

was installed—the original can still be seen on the inside where the builders filled the Norman windows. The side aisles were also extended and the roof was re-leaded. The original plans, drawn by Scott can be seen on display at the back of the church, where they are now displayed after being found in a drawer in the church vestry.

Roof repair

The church's roof was repaired in 2001–2002, as the original Victorian tiling and structure had decayed, letting in rain water along the whole of the nave and the side aisles. At the request of English Nature (now

Natural England Natural England is a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. It is responsible for ensuring that England's natural environment, including its land, flora and fauna, ...

) the woodwork in the new roofs has boreholes to allow the resident colony of

pipistrelle bats ''Pipistrellus'' is a genus of bats in the family Vespertilionidae and subfamily Vespertilioninae. The name of the genus is derived from the Italian word , meaning "bat" (from Latin "bird of evening, bat"). The size of the genus has been consi ...

in and out of the building. The nave roof was blessed by the Right Rev'd Anthony Russell,

and

Lord Spiritual The Lords Spiritual are the bishops of the Church of England who sit in the House of Lords of the United Kingdom. Up to 26 of the 42 diocesan bishops and archbishops of the Church of England serve as Lords Spiritual (not including retired bish ...

, and the parish priest, Rev'd Nigel Whitehouse.

Parish priests

*2005 – present Rev'd Sandra Gardner *1998–2004 Rev'd Nigel Whitehouse (promoted) * –1998 Rev'd Richard (Jack) Tofts (retired) *1320 Nicholas de Houton (first rector)

War memorial

The War Memorial for the parish of Tydd St Giles and Foul Anchor commemorates twelve men who died in the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, three dead from the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

and one killed in Northern Ireland. An inscription reads: "Fallen from this parish in the Great Wars 1914–18 and 1939–1945."

First World War

*Sidney Aubin - Of the

King's Royal Rifles The King's Royal Rifle Corps was an infantry rifle regiment of the British Army that was originally raised in British North America as the Royal American Regiment during the phase of the Seven Years' War in North America known in the United Sta ...

(A/200552 - Rifleman), died of his wounds on 25 March 1918. His remains lie in the Roye New British Cemetery,

Somme __NOTOC__ Somme or The Somme may refer to: Places *Somme (department), a department of France * Somme, Queensland, Australia * Canal de la Somme, a canal in France *Somme (river), a river in France Arts, entertainment, and media * ''Somme'' (book), ...

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

. *Hugh Clark - Of the 1st Battalion,

Bedfordshire Regiment The Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment was the final title of a Line infantry, line infantry regiment of the British Army that was originally formed in 1688. After centuries of service in many conflicts and wars, including both the World War ...

(26310 - Private), killed in action 25 October 1917. His remains were never recovered and he is remembered on the memorial wall in

Tyne Cot Tyne Cot Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery and Memorial to the Missing is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) burial ground for the dead of World War I in the Ypres Salient on the Western Front. It is the largest cemetery for Commonweal ...

. *Richard Herbert Clarke - Of the 6th Battalion,

Royal Berkshire Regiment The Royal Berkshire Regiment (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1959. The regiment was created in 1881, as the Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment), by ...

(Princess Charlotte of Wales) (36544 - Private), died of his wounds on 11 March 1917. His remains lie in the Pozières British Cemetery, Somme, France the site of the

Pozières Memorial The Pozières Memorial is a World War I war memorial, memorial, located near the commune of Pozières, in the Somme (department), Somme department of France, and unveiled in August 1930. It lists the names of 14,657 British and South African sol ...

. *Harry Cragg - Of the 6th Battalion,

Lincolnshire Regiment The Royal Lincolnshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army raised on 20 June 1685 as the Earl of Bath's Regiment for its first Colonel, John Granville, 1st Earl of Bath. In 1751, it was numbered like most other Army regim ...

(15760 - Private), killed in action on 28 November 1915, at Kirtech Tepe Sirt, in the

Suvla View of Suvla from Battleship Hill Suvla () is a bay on the Aegean coast of the Gallipoli peninsula in European Turkey, south of the Gulf of Saros. On 6 August 1915, it was the site for the Landing at Suvla Bay by the British IX Corps as par ...

sector at the Battle of

Gallipoli The Gallipoli Peninsula (; ; ) is located in the southern part of East Thrace, the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles strait to the east. Gallipoli is the Italian form of the Greek name (), meaning ' ...

. His remains lie in the Azmack Cemetery, Suvla, Gallipoli, Turkey. *John William Fincham - Of the 11th Battalion,

Suffolk Regiment The Suffolk Regiment was an infantry regiment Line infantry, of the line in the British Army with a history dating back to 1685. It saw service for three centuries, participating in many wars and conflicts, including the World War I, First and ...

(20755 - Lance-Corporal), killed in action on 1 July 1916. His remains lie in Ovillers Military Cemetery, France. *Arthur Godfrey - Of the 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment (15325 - Private), killed in action on 1 July 1916. His remains were never recovered and is remembered on the

Thiepval Memorial The Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme is a war memorial to 72,337 missing British and South African servicemen who died in the Battles of the Somme of the First World War between 1915 and 1918, with no known grave. It is near the ...

. *Frederick Godfrey - Of the 8th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment (25064 - Private), killed in action on 12 November 1916. His remains lie in Regina Trench Cemetery, Somme, France. *William Harry Godfrey - Of the 5th Battalion,

Machine Gun Corps The Machine Gun Corps (MGC) was a Regiment, corps of the British Army, formed in October 1915 in response to the need for more effective use of machine guns on the Western Front (World War I), Western Front in the World War I, First World War. Th ...

(148824 - Private), killed in action on 29 May 1918, he was awarded the

Military Medal The Military Medal (MM) was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other arms of the British Armed Forces, armed forces, and to personnel of other Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth countries, below commissioned o ...

. His remains lie in the Tannay British Cemetery,

Thiennes Thiennes () is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. Heraldry See also *Communes of the Nord department The following is a list of the 647 communes of the Nord department of the French Republic. The communes cooperate ...

. *Arthur George Groves - Of the 7th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment (26746 - Private), killed in action on 9 August 1918. His remains were never recovered, he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial. *Amos Hill - Of the 10th Battalion, Canadians (886424 - Private), killed in action on 11 November 1917 at the

Battle of Passchendaele The Third Battle of Ypres (; ; ), also known as the Battle of Passchendaele ( ), was a campaign of the First World War, fought by the Allies of World War I, Allies against the German Empire. The battle took place on the Western Front (World Wa ...

. His remains lie in the Passchendaele New British Cemetery,

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

. *Alfred William Monckton - Of the 1st Battalion,

Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment The Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army based in the county of Kent in existence from 1881 to 1961. The regiment was created on 1 July 1881 as part of the Childers Reforms, originally as the Queen' ...

(L/7158 - Private), he died on 22 March 1915. His remains were never recovered, he is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial,

Ypres Ypres ( ; ; ; ; ) is a Belgian city and municipality in the province of West Flanders. Though the Dutch name is the official one, the city's French name is most commonly used in English. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres/Ieper ...

, Belgium. *Harry Smith - Of the 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment (15272 - Private), killed in action on 1 July 1916. his remains were never recovered and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial. *Arthur Biss - Of the D Company, 9th Battalion,

Norfolk Regiment The Royal Norfolk Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army until 1959. Its predecessor regiment was raised in 1685 as Henry Cornwall's Regiment of Foot. In 1751, it was numbered like most other British Army regiments and named ...

(14568 - Private), killed in action on 26 September 1915. His remains were never recovered and he is remembered on the

Loos Memorial The Loos Memorial is a World War I memorial forming the sides and rear of Dud Corner Cemetery, located near the commune of Loos-en-Gohelle, in the Pas-de-Calais département of France. The memorial lists 20,610 names of British and Commonwealth ...

Pas-de-Calais The Pas-de-Calais (, ' strait of Calais'; ; ) is a department in northern France named after the French designation of the Strait of Dover, which it borders. It has the most communes of all the departments of France, with 890, and is the ...

, France. *Herbert F. Brown - Of the 4th Suffolk Regiment (Private), Gassed. *Walter James Green - Of the 1st Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment (9452 - Private), killed in action on 14 September 1914. His remains were never recovered, he is remembered on the

La Ferté-sous-Jouarre memorial The La Ferté-sous-Jouarre memorial is a World War I war memorial, memorial in France, located on the south bank of the river Marne (river), Marne, on the outskirts of the Communes of France, commune of La Ferté-sous-Jouarre, 66 kilometres east of ...

. *Jesse T. Holmes - Of the 11th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment (24068 - Private), died of his wounds on 30 November 1916. His remains lie in the Trois Arbres Cemetery,

Steenwerck Steenwerck (; Dutch: ''Steenwerk'') is a commune, in French Flanders, in the Nord department in northern France. It is located about north of Lille. People from Steenwerck are known as ''Steenwerckois''. It is home to Steenwerck's ''100 ...

, Belgium. *Reuben Charles Kettle - Of the SS (MPS) Westergate,

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...

(LZ5581 - Gunner), ship torpedoed on 21 April 1918. His remains lie in Gefossen Churchyard. *Harry Rowell - Of the 9th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment (15272 - Private), killed in action on 15 September 1916. His remains were never recovered and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial. *Fred Wells - Of the 21st Light Railway Operating Company,

Royal Engineers The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually called the Royal Engineers (RE), and commonly known as the ''Sappers'', is the engineering arm of the British Army. It provides military engineering and other technical support to the British Armed Forces ...

(256806 - Sapper), killed in action on 20 October 1917. His remains lie in the Reninghelst New Military Cemetery, Belgium.

Second World War

*Charles T. Clfton - Details unsure, died 1942. *Bernard Raymond Pentelow - Of the 287 Field Company, Royal Engineers (2090367 - Sapper), died as

Prisoner of War A prisoner of war (POW) is a person held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610. Belligerents hold prisoners of war for a ...

on 9 October 1943. His remains lie in Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery,

Myanmar Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and has ...

(Burma). He is also remembered in the church on a plaque on the eastern wall. An exhibition to commemorate the

Fall of Singapore The fall of Singapore, also known as the Battle of Singapore, took place in the South–East Asian theatre of the Pacific War. The Empire of Japan captured the British stronghold of Singapore, with fighting lasting from 8 to 15 February 1942. S ...

was held in

Wisbech & Fenland Museum The Wisbech & Fenland Museum, located in the town of Wisbech in the Isle of Ely, Cambridgeshire, England, is one of the oldest purpose-built museums in the United Kingdom. The museum logo is W&F. History Initially a member-based organisation, ...

in 2022. This and an accompanying book, by Paul McGregor, featured letters and items that belonged to Pentelow. *R. Henry Wright - Details unsure, died 1943.

Northern Ireland

*Michael John Gay - Of the 18/20 Squadron,

Royal Corps of Transport The Royal Corps of Transport (RCT) was a British Army Corps established to manage all matters in relation to the transport of men and material for the Army and the wider defence forces. It was formed in 1965 and disbanded in 1993; its units and tr ...

(Driver), died as the result of an IRA bomb on 17 March 1973.

Brigstock and Wrens Charity

The village is home to a charity, Brigstock & Wrens (B&W). B&W was recognised as a charity in 1910, to administer funds and manage land for the benefit of the inhabitants of the parish of Tydd St Giles. At the time of the charity's founding it managed of land and three cottages in Tydd St Giles, B&W also controlled of land in Sutton St Edmund. The aid from B&W generally comes in the form of money, although sometimes items will be bought for applicants considered worthy of aid. The committee of B&W consists mostly of local landowners, all elected by the wider membership. The parish priest is an ex officio member of the committee. B&W was originated in the British attack on the Dutch in the

Battle of Solebay The Battle of Solebay took place on 6 June 1672 New Style, during the Third Anglo-Dutch War, near Southwold, Suffolk, in eastern England. A Dutch States Navy, Dutch fleet under Michiel de Ruyter attacked a combined Kingdom of England, Anglo-King ...

in 1672. One of the officers involved was the writer

Matthew Wren Matthew Wren (23 December 1585 – 24 April 1667) was an influential English clergyman, bishop and scholar. Life Wren was the eldest son of Francis Wren, citizen and mercer of London. Matthew Wren's mother was Susan, daughter of John Wigg ...

, son of the

who was Bishop of Ely. In his will (written just before the attack), Wren left of Low Marsh to the poor of the village. By 1837, the Charities Commissioners also acknowledged that John Brigstock had left land to the poor in 1667, although Brigstock never owned the land. He had merely controlled the land for an older charity (whose name is now lost), and his name was on the deeds.

Brewery

The village is home to a microbrewery, Tydd Steam, founded in 2007. The plant can produce 2500 litres per brew. It is in a renovated and converted barn, formerly used as a garage for two of the farm's steam ploughs, now kept in the

Museum of Lincolnshire Life The Museum of Lincolnshire Life is a museum in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, in the UK. The museum collection is a varied social history that reflects and celebrates the culture of the county of Lincolnshire and its people from 1750 to the present da ...

in Lincoln. In 2018 Tydd Steam won a

Campaign for Real Ale The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is an independent voluntary consumer organisation headquartered in St Albans, which promotes real ale, cider and perry and traditional British pubs and clubs. History The organisation was founded on 16 ...

silver award for one of its beers.

Seven listed buildings

The village has seven listed buildings in its "historic centre" (around Church Lane and Kirkgate). Two of these are the Church and Tower. Also included are the "Old School", a Victorian primary school building and school master's house on Church Lane, which has fallen into disrepair. The Old Tithe house (also on Church Lane) is a

Grade I listed building In the United Kingdom, a listed building is a structure of particular architectural or historic interest deserving of special protection. Such buildings are placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Hi ...

, that was part of the parish properties (and used as a parish hall). For centuries it was not used, but was bought by a local member of SPAB, and restored. The other notable building is the Grade I listed Elizabethan manor house (Tydd Manor). On Hockland Road is Paget Hall, a Grade II listed building and former rectory. It was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott for his brother Rev'd Canon John Scott, then Rector of the parish. It was built in 1868, about the time the church was renovated. ''The Wisbech Chronicle'' (8 August 1868) described it: "A new Rectory house now occupies the site of the mean and dilapidated tenement which formerly stood upon it; and when we say that it was designed by Mr Gilbert Scott, it will be inferred that it is an ornament to the place, as well as a convenient and commodious abode for the Incumbent. Standing upon elevated ground, among clumps and avenues of trees in which it is encircled, it presents a picturesque and striking appearance, and gives an air of life and importance to its surroundings".

Education

The village has a school - Kinderley County Primary School. It was opened in 1987 following the merger of Colvile school in Newton-in-the-Isle and Tydd St Giles School, in 1990 it had 84 children on the school roll, with a capacity of 90.

Medieval guilds

The village had three

guild A guild ( ) is an association of artisans and merchants who oversee the practice of their craft/trade in a particular territory. The earliest types of guild formed as organizations of tradespeople belonging to a professional association. They so ...

s: the Guild of our Lady (1350), the Guild of the Holy Cross (1385) and the Guild of St Giles (1386).

Our Lady

The Guild of Our Lady had a membership restricted to twelve brethren. It was founded by William Everswell, chaplain and Nicholas Clerk. The foundation of the guild also established a chaplaincy. By 1535 the value of the guild was valued at £4 13s 1d. The guild provided candles and torches for the icon of Our Lady in the church.

Holy Cross

The Guild of the Holy Cross had a chapel at Sea Gate, near the outfall of the North Level Main Drain (Then the Shire Drain).

St Giles

The Guild of St Giles, provided candles for the mass in the church. The membership was paid in

bushel A bushel (abbreviation: bsh. or bu.) is an Imperial unit, imperial and United States customary units, US customary unit of volume, based upon an earlier measure of dry capacity. The old bushel was used mostly for agriculture, agricultural pr ...

s of barley. The members were also required to attend

Vespers Vespers /ˈvɛspərz/ () is a Christian liturgy, liturgy of evening prayer, one of the canonical hours in Catholic (both Latin liturgical rites, Latin and Eastern Catholic liturgy, Eastern Catholic liturgical rites), Eastern Orthodox, Oriental O ...

on the eve of St Giles and mass on the feast day itself (1 September). The guild was also involved in charitable acts in the parish, being required to donate 1s 8d worth of bread to the poor after St Giles' mass.

References

{{authority control Villages in Cambridgeshire Civil parishes in Cambridgeshire Fenland District