1885 - Introduction
Yelden is a parish, situated in a valley, on the borders of Northamptonshire, 14 miles north from Bedford, 6½ west from Kimbolton and 4½ east-south-east from Higham Ferrers, in the hundred of Stodden, union and county court district of Bedford, rural deanery of Risely, archdeaconry of Bedford, and diocese of Ely. The church of St. Mary is an almost perfect example of a Decorated church, and has undergone but little alteration: it consists of chancel, clerestoried nave of four bays, south aisle with porch and a western tower with enriched cornice and low octagonal spire, containing 4 bells and a clock: the chancel retains piscina and sedilia, and on the north side is a late Perpendicular vestry, between which and the chancel is a curious small recess in the wall; in the aisle is a large canopied recess with crocketed pinnacles and rich finials, and near it is a piscina and a statue bracket; and on the north side of the church is a flat arched recess, with hood moulding and finial, enclosing an altar tomb with a recumbent figure in good preservation, supposed to be that of the founder: the front of the tomb displays live quatrefoils enclosing shields; there are also three brasses, one of which has the effigy of a man in trunk hose, cloak and ruff, and is inscribed to Christopher Stickland gent. 1628, a benefactor to the parish; another is that of a priest richly vested, with an inscription in Latin to John Heyne, rector, 1433: the third is a kneeling effigy, with ruff, representing Thomas Barker, rector, 1617, on the south side of the chancel is a stained window to John Fernie M.A. rector, ob. 1870. The register dates from the year 1653. The living is a rectory, tithe rent-charge £356, gross yearly value £440, including 60 acres of glebe, with residence, in the gift of the Rev. Charles Howes Smith B.A. of Clare College, Cambridge, and held since 1871 by the Rev. Richard Young M.A. formerly follow of New College, Oxford, who resides at 23 St. Peter's green, Bedford. The patron is also curate in charge. There is a Wesleyan chapel, rebuilt in 1884 on the site of the former chapel. There is a charity of about £11 10s. a year, the produce of a piece of land called "Constable's Land," devised 9th Feb. 1628, which is distributed to the poor in coals. The chief landowners are, John Sambrooke Crawley esq. J.P. of Stockwood, Luton, who is lord of the manor, and Henry Seymour Hoare esq. The soil is strong clay; subsoil, clay. The chief crops are wheat, barley, beans and peas. The area is 1,912 acres; rateable value, £2,20; the population in 1881 was 243.
Parish Clerk, Charles Wyldes.
Letters received through Higham Ferrers at 8.30 a.m.
Wall Box cleared at 4.40 p.m. on week days only.
Higham Ferrers is the nearest money order & telegraph office.
National Endowed School (mixed), built in 1845, for 45 children; average attendance, 35: the endowment amounting to £15 a year, was given by the Rev. E. S. Bunting, late rector, who died in 1849; Miss Emma Maria Southan, mistress.
Carrier to Wellingborough—Josiah Twelvetree, Wednesday.
| Smith |
Rev. Charles Howes B.A. [curate in charge], Rectory |
| Carter |
Robert, blacksmith |
| Claridge |
William, farmer |
| Eades |
Thomas, farmer, Manor farm |
| Loveday |
John William, brick & drain pipe maker; residence, Swineshead, Hunts |
| Parker |
John William, wheelwright |
| Twelvetree |
Josiah, carrier |
| Wagstaff |
Thomas, Chequers P.H |
| Wyldes |
Jabez, shopkeeper |
1898 Introduction
Yelden is a parish, in a valley, on the borders of Northamptonshire, 5½ miles east-south-east from Higham Ferrers station on the Northampton and Peterborough section of the London and North Western railway and about the same distance north from Sharnbrook station on the main line of the Midland railway, 14 north from Bedford and 6½ west from Kimbolton, in the Northern division of the county, hundred of Stodden, Sharnbrook petty sessional division, union and county court district of Bedford, rural deanery of Riseley, archdeaconry of Bedford and diocese of Ely. The church of St. Mary, an almost perfect example of a Decorated church, is a building of stone, consisting of chancel, clerestoried nave of four bays, south aisle, south porch and a western tower with enriched cornice and low octagonal spire, containing a clock and 4 bells, restored in 1886 by Messrs. Taylor, of Loughborough: the chancel retains piscina and sedilia, and on the north side is a late Perpendicular vestry, between which and the chancel is a curious small recess in the wall: in the aisle is a large canopied recess with crocketed pinnacles and rich finials, and war a piscina and a bracket; on the north side of the church is a flat arched recess, with hood moulding and finial, inclosing an altar tomb with a recumbent figure supposed to represent the founder: the front, of the tomb displays live quatrefoils inclosing shields; there are also three brasses, one of which has the effigy of a man in trunk hose, cloak and ruff, and is inscribed to Christppher Stickland, gent. 1628, a benefactor to the parish; another, of a priest richly vested, has an inscription in Latin to John Heyne, rector, 1433; the third is a kneeling effigy, with ruff, representing Thomas Barker, rector, 1617: on the south side of the chancel is a stained window to John Fernie M.A. rector, ob. 1870: there are 220 sittings, 60 of which are free. The register dates from the year 1653. The living is a rectory, net yearly value £257, with 52 acres of glebe, and residence, in the gift of and held since 1888 by the Rev. Charles Howes Smith B.A. of Clare College, Cambridge. The Wesleyan chapel here was rebuilt in 1884 on the site of the former chapel. A charity of about £11 10s. a year, the produce of a piece of land called ''Constable's Land," devised 9th February, 1628, is distributed to the poor in coals. Francis Crawley esq. J.P. of Stockwood park, Luton, who is lord of the manor, and Henry Seymour Hoare esq. are the chief landowners. The soil is strong clay; subsoil, clay. The chief crops are wheat, barley, beans and peas. The area is 1,950 acres; rateable value, £1,424; the population in 1891 was 220.
Sexton, John William Parker
Letters received through Higham Ferrers at 8.30 a.m.; Wall Box cleared at 4.40 p.m. on week days only.
Carrier to Wellingborough—Josiah Twelvetree, Wednesday.
Melchbourne is the nearest telegraph, office, 1½ miles distant & Higham Ferrers the nearest money order office.
National Endowed School (mixed), built in 1845, for 72 children; average attendance, 32; the endowment, amounting to £15 a year, was given by the Rev. E. S. Bunting, late rector, who died in 1849; Mrs. Barhurst, mistress.
| Randall |
William Henry |
| Smith |
Rev. Chas. Howes B.A.(rector), Rectory |
| Eads |
John Geo. farmer, Manor farm |
| Holyoak |
Josiah, shopkeeper |
| Parker |
John William, wheelwright |
| Somes |
James, land agent to Henry Seymour Hoare esq |
| Somes |
Henry, baker |
| Twelvetree |
Josiah, carrier & farmer |
| Wagstaff |
Thomas, Chequers P.H. |
| Wicks |
John Albert, blacksmith |
Craven & Co Commercial Directory 1855
YIELDEN, or YELDEN, is a small parish and village, distant 12 miles north-north-west from Bedford, 4 miles south-east from Higham Ferrers, and 6½ miles west from Kimbolton. The number of inhabitants, by the census of 1851, was 328; of whom 164 were males, and 164 females: this gives an increase of 14 of the latter, and a decrease of 6 of the former, since 1841. It is in the hundred of Stodden, and union of Bedford. The church is an antique edifice, built in the Norman style, with chancel, square tower, and four bells. The living, valued at £300 per annum, is a rectory, the Rev. John Furney, M.A., being the present incumbent. There is a Wesleyan Methodist Chapel here. The parish contains 2000 acres of strong clayey land. Samuel Crawley, Esq., is lord of the manor.
Letters received from Higham Ferrers
Infant School - Murphy Ann, mistress. Average number of scholars, 20.
| Furney |
Rev. John, M.A., rector |
|
Trades
|
| Eads |
Thomas, farmer |
| Claridge |
Richard, farmer |
| Murphy |
Ann, Infant schoolmistress |
| Ratcliff |
John, farmer |
| Richardson |
John, blacksmith |
| Robinson |
Ruth, farmer |
| Rootham |
Joseph, carpenter and beer retailer |
| Smith |
George, corn miller, Yelden mill |
| Wagstaff |
Elizabeth, victualler, "Checquers" |
| Wagstaff |
William, blacksmith |
| Wild |
Jabez, shopkeeper |
|
