Hemingford Abbots

Hemingford Abbots is a village in Huntingdonshire (now part of Cambridgeshire), England. The village, almost continuous with neighbouring Hemingford Grey, is situated two miles south west of St Ives.

History
There has been a settlement on the present site since at least Roman times with both flints and a Roman sarcophagus found in the area. In Anglo-Saxon times the neighbouring villages of Hemingford Grey and Hemingford Abbots were a single estate. In the 9th century they split, and in 974 the manor fell under the ownership of Ramsey Abbey, where it remained until the dissolution in 1539.

In 1250 the village was listed as having 96 holdings, but numbers fell following the Black Death. The population grew from 306 in 1801 to 564 in 1841, but dropped as many moved to towns and cities. It grew rapidly after the Second World War, reaching a peak of 628 in 1961. Its 2001 population was 584.

The name Hemingford means "the ford of the people of Hemma", where Hemma is believed to be the name of a Saxon chief. The name "Abbots" was added in reference to its ownership by Ramsey Abbey. Listed as Emingeforde in the Domesday Book, the village was also known as Hemmingeford Magna, Emmingeforde Abbatis in the 13th century.

The village is home to a number of medieval buildings; Abbots End, the Manor House, Whiteways, Medlands, Abbots Barn, the White Cottage and Rideaway Cottage were all built prior to 1600.

St Margaret's Church
A church is listed in the Domesday entry of 1086, although nothing remains of the building. The church was completely rebuilt at the end of the 13th century, the tower was added in the late 14th century and the spire in the 15th century. The present church is largely a result of the reconstruction in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The church was originally named "St Margaret Church of the Virgin" and is now dedicated to Saint Margaret of Antioch.

Village life
The village has one public house, The Axe and Compass, situated in a thatched 15th-century house. There is also a primary school and a village store.