Hildersham is a small village 8 miles to the south-east of

Cambridge Cambridge ( ) is a List of cities in the United Kingdom, city and non-metropolitan district in the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It is the county town of Cambridgeshire and is located on the River Cam, north of London. As of the 2021 Unit ...

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. It is situated just off the A1307 between Linton and

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on a tributary of the

River Cam The River Cam () is the main river flowing through Cambridge in eastern England. After leaving Cambridge, it flows north and east before joining the River Great Ouse to the south of Ely, Cambridgeshire, Ely, at Pope's Corner. The total distanc ...

known locally as the

River Granta The River Granta is the name of two of the four tributaries of the River Cam, although both names are often used synonymously. The Granta starts near the village of Widdington in Essex, flowing north past Audley End House to merge with the ot ...

. The parish boundary extends from the Roman Road, known in medieval times as Wool Street, north of the village, to the border with

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to the south. The village sign was designed by Mrs D.E. Arkright, who along with her husband, Mr R.B. Arkright MBE, lived in the village for over 40 years.

Population

In the 2001 census, the parish had a population of 202, in 81 households, increasing to a population of 211 in 90 households at the 2011 Census.

History

The place-name 'Hildersham' is first attested 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 ...

of 1086, where it appears as ''Hildricesham''. The name means 'Hildric's village or settlement'. At the time of Domesday there were 20 residents in the parish. One of England's greatest chroniclers,

Matthew Paris Matthew Paris, also known as Matthew of Paris (; 1200 – 1259), was an English people, English Benedictine monk, English historians in the Middle Ages, chronicler, artist in illuminated manuscripts, and cartographer who was based at St A ...

, is believed to have been born in Hildersham, where the Paris family were at one time lords of the manor. The

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Conyers Middleton Conyers Middleton (27 December 1683 – 28 July 1750) was an English clergyman. Though mired in controversy and disputes, he was also considered one of the best stylists in English of his time. Early life Middleton was born at Richmond, North Y ...

died in the village in 1750.

Church

The parish is served by Holy Trinity Church in Hildersham. The church was first built in the 12th century, and the present tower and sacristy survive from that date. The tall nave was rebuilt in the late 13th century and the chancel arch around 1400. The original 12th-century octagonal font is still present.

Village life

Until August 2013, the village was home to The Pear Tree public house.

References

External links