Kensworth (Herts > Beds)

Historically this parish was in Hertfordshire

  

Adjacent Parishes:  Caddington (Beds), Dunstable (Beds), Houghton Regis (Beds), Studham, Tottenhoe (Beds), Whipsnade (Beds)

It was in the Dacorum Hundred and the Luton Union

The Historic Parishes of Caddinton and Kensworth

      

KENSWORTH, a parish in the hundred of Dacorum, county of Hertford, 2½ miles (N.W.) from Market-Street, containing 615 inhabitants. The living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Huntingdon, and diocese of Lincoln, rated in the king's books at £9.13.4., and in the patronage of the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's, London. The church, dedicated to St Mary, has some portions in the early style of English architecture, with some of later date: the capital of the western pillars exhibits the fable of the Wolf and the Crane on one side, and that of the Eagle and the Hare on the other: the doorway within the tower has capitals representing birds and human heads; both doorways are built of Caen stone. A school for teaching sixteen poor children to read was endowed, in 1754, by Mr. and Mrs. Burgis, with a rent-charge: the present income is £12.10. per annum.

From the Topographical Dictionary of England, 1831

In 1897 Kensworth was transferred to Bedfordshire


Church from the South West
Church from the North East

Church from the South East		 St Mary the Virgin

Kensworth

in 2010

Click on church picture for larger view
  

Book: Caddington & Kensworth

John Sweby (jack.sweby @t btinternet.com) of  Kempston Rural, Bedford, writes: Whilst looking at your wonderfully informative site for information on Kensworth, I noted your comment that pre-1845 Kensworth Wills may be still held at HALS. From my researches at the Bedford and Luton Archive and at HALS over the last few years, I can confirm that even later Kensworth Wills are still held at Hertford. I have recently copied one 1849 Will and another 1855 Will there, neither of which is held at Bedford. I have long suspected that, although Kensworth material should all have been transferred to BLARS, not all Kensworth material is held there. The picture is much less clear and more patchy. Given the history of boundary changes in the general area, researchers would be well advised to use both archives in order to ensure that they do not miss records.   Jack.

WILLS: Because of the history of this parish wills before 1845 will be found at HALS. See Wills at Hertford, 1415-1858

See also Boundary Changes

If you know of other books, websites, etc, relating to this place, please tell me.

June 2010   Modern photos and note about  county boundary.