What’s in a Name? Wistow, like the majority of place-names in England today, is an Anglo Saxon place-name and means ‘the dwelling place’ in Old English (the language spoken by the Anglo Saxons). It would seem from that simple description that Wistow was not a very important or notable place, but it is the very [...]

WISTOW, a parish in the hundred of HURSTINGSTONE, county of HUNTINGDON, 3¾ miles (S.S.W.) from Ramsey, containing 352 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry of Huntingdon, and diocese of Lincoln, rated in the king’s books at £10, 17.8½ and in the patronage of J. Torkington, Esq. The church is dedicated to St. [...]

In WISTOU the Abbot of Ramsey had 9 hides to the geld. [There is] land for 16 ploughs, and [he had] land for 3 ploughs demesne, apart from these hides. There are now 2 ploughs in demesne: and 32 villans having 11 ploughs. There is a priest and a church, and 1 mill [rendering] 2s, [...]

This is the first official record of Wistow village in a royal charter from King Edgar on 28 December 974 to Ramsey Abbey, confirming and granting privileges and land, of which Wistow was included. King Edgar to Ramsey Abbey; confirmation and grant of privileges and of land at Ramsey, Upwood with Raveley, Hemingford, Sawtry, Stukeley, [...]