Shingay
Encyclopedia
Shingay is a hamlet in the civil parish of Shingay cum Wendy
in South
Cambridgeshire
, England
around 5 miles north west of Royston
.
to form the present civil parish of Shingay cum Wendy
. The historical parish covered an area of 768 acres (310.8 ha). Its northern border with Croydon
(formerly Croydon-cum-Clapton) followed the River Cam
, and its eastern border with Wendy was marked by the North Ditch. Its southern border with Abington Pigotts
also largely followed drainage channels, and its western border with Steeple Morden
followed field boundaries marked by Shingay Gate Farm. The parish was largely wooded until the mid-19th century, but little woodland now remains.
The medieval parish was dominated by the preceptory of the Knights Hospitallers which was situated on the south bank of the river and owned all the land in the parish between the early 12th century and 1540. When the order was suppressed in 1540 it held land in 42 parishes in Cambridgeshire as well as five other counties. Its proximity to the Old North Road resulted in its hosting royalty at various points.
It is believed that the medieval village lay just to the east of the preceptory on the road towards Wendy. The village was depopulated in the 15th century. Population increased to a peak of 142 in 1851 but had dropped to 38 by the time it was merged with Wendy.
The former parish church was dedicated to St Mary and possibly built at the same time as the preceptory. The medieval church was demolished in the late 17th century and in 1697 a new chapel, consisting of just a single room of two bays and west bell turret, was built by the Earl of Orford
who had just obtained the manor. The chapel fell into disuse in the 18th century and the final trace of the building was removed by 1836.
The village's name means "island of Scene's people".
Shingay cum Wendy
Shingay cum Wendy is a civil parish in the English county of Cambridgeshire, around 5 miles north west of Royston.Forming part of the district of South Cambridgeshire's Bassingbourn Ward the parish's main settlements are Shingay and Wendy....
in South
South Cambridgeshire
South Cambridgeshire is a mostly rural local government district of Cambridgeshire, England. It was formed on 1 April 1974 by the merger of Chesterton Rural District and South Cambridgeshire Rural District. It surrounds the city of Cambridge, which is administered separately from the district by...
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
around 5 miles north west of Royston
Royston, Hertfordshire
Royston is a town and civil parish in the District of North Hertfordshire and county of Hertfordshire in England.It is situated on the Greenwich Meridian, which brushes the towns western boundary, and at the northernmost apex of the county on the same latitude of towns such as Milton Keynes and...
.
History
Shingay was a separate parish until 1957 when it was merged with neighbouring WendyWendy, Cambridgeshire
Wendy is a hamlet in the civil parish of Shingay cum Wendy in South Cambridgeshire, England around 5 miles north west of Royston.-History:Wendy was a separate parish until 1957 when it was merged with neighbouring Shingay to form the present civil parish of Shingay cum Wendy. The historical parish...
to form the present civil parish of Shingay cum Wendy
Shingay cum Wendy
Shingay cum Wendy is a civil parish in the English county of Cambridgeshire, around 5 miles north west of Royston.Forming part of the district of South Cambridgeshire's Bassingbourn Ward the parish's main settlements are Shingay and Wendy....
. The historical parish covered an area of 768 acres (310.8 ha). Its northern border with Croydon
Croydon, Cambridgeshire
Croydon is a village and civil parish in South Cambridgeshire, England. It is south-west of Cambridge and immediately west of the A1198 road . The population in 2001 was 221 people...
(formerly Croydon-cum-Clapton) followed the River Cam
River Cam
The River Cam is a tributary of the River Great Ouse in the east of England. The two rivers join to the south of Ely at Pope's Corner. The Great Ouse connects the Cam to England's canal system and to the North Sea at King's Lynn...
, and its eastern border with Wendy was marked by the North Ditch. Its southern border with Abington Pigotts
Abington Pigotts
Abington Pigotts is a small village in Cambridgeshire, England about 4 miles northwest of Royston, Hertfordshire.-History:The parish of Abington Pigotts covers an area of...
also largely followed drainage channels, and its western border with Steeple Morden
Steeple Morden
Steeple Morden is a village and civil parish in Cambridgeshire, England, about south west of Cambridge and west of Royston. It is part of the South Cambridgeshire local government district....
followed field boundaries marked by Shingay Gate Farm. The parish was largely wooded until the mid-19th century, but little woodland now remains.
The medieval parish was dominated by the preceptory of the Knights Hospitallers which was situated on the south bank of the river and owned all the land in the parish between the early 12th century and 1540. When the order was suppressed in 1540 it held land in 42 parishes in Cambridgeshire as well as five other counties. Its proximity to the Old North Road resulted in its hosting royalty at various points.
It is believed that the medieval village lay just to the east of the preceptory on the road towards Wendy. The village was depopulated in the 15th century. Population increased to a peak of 142 in 1851 but had dropped to 38 by the time it was merged with Wendy.
The former parish church was dedicated to St Mary and possibly built at the same time as the preceptory. The medieval church was demolished in the late 17th century and in 1697 a new chapel, consisting of just a single room of two bays and west bell turret, was built by the Earl of Orford
Earl of Orford
Earl of Orford is a title that has been created three times. The first creation came in the Peerage of England in 1697 in favour of the naval commander Edward Russell, who served three times as First Lord of the Admiralty. He was created Baron Shingay and Viscount Barfleur at the same time...
who had just obtained the manor. The chapel fell into disuse in the 18th century and the final trace of the building was removed by 1836.
The village's name means "island of Scene's people".