Histon parish, which contains 2,300 acres, is bounded on the south by Girton, on the West by Oakington, on the north by Cottenham, and on the east by Impington. The amount of assessed property is £3,091; and its population in 1801 was 523; in 1831, 784; and in 1841, 859 souls. The soil is rich and fertile, and the principal proprietors are Mrs Taylor, Mr Henry Angier, Wm. R. Sumpter, Esq. and Wm. Saunders, Esq. Histon comprises the consolidated parishes of Histon St. Andrew, and Histon St. Etheldreda, which were formerly separate and distinct parishes.
"Manors. - The manor or Histon St. Andrew, anciently called Colvilles, was given by Sir Philip Tilney, about the year 1391, to Denny abbey, and after the dissolution it was granted to Sir Wm. Bowyer. The manor of Histon St. Etheldreda belonged to the convent of Eynsham in Oxfordshire, and was granted after the reformation to Sir Thomas Elliot. Both of these manors comprise a portion of Impington parish. After passing through the families of Hinde and Gardiner, the manors were united in the Archers, and Hoste Arches, Esq., who died in 1740, bequeathed them to Mr Guy Sindry, town clerk of Cambridge, who devised them to Thomas Sumpter, Esq., from whom they descended lineally to W.R. Sumpter, Esq., the present proprietor.
"The Village of Histon, which is much scattered, stands about 4 miles N.W. from Cambridge, and 12 S.E. from St. Ives. Much of the land in the vicinity is used in the production of vegetables for the supply of the Cambridge market. The Cambridge and St. Ives loop line of the railway passes through the parish on the western side, about half a mile from the village, where there is a station.
"The Church, dedicated to St. Andrew, is a large cruciform structure, consisting of a nave, north and south aisles, transepts, south porch, and a large square tower, rising from the intersection of the nave and transepts. At the south end of the south transept, is a double piscins, and niches with plain pointed arches, and the tower contains a peal of five bells. About the year 1600, Sir Francis Hinde, being possessed of the manor, rectory, and advowson of the vicarage of the parish of St. Etheldreda, pulled down that church (which stood about a furlong west from the church of St. Andrew) used some of the materials in building his house at Madingley, and sold the remainder. The living now comprises the consolidated discharged vicarages of St. Andrew and St. Eltheldreda, rated jointly at £14, 3s. 61/2., but now returned at £400 nett, per annum. The patronage is vested in the heirs of T.P. Mitchell, Esq., and the Rev. T.P. Mitchell is the present incumbent. The titles were commuted for land at the enclosure, in 1801.
"The Vicarage house, an old delapidated building, adjoins the church-yard. -There is a small Methodist chapel in the village. The School, which is one of the five endowed in 1722 by Mrs Elizabeth Marsh with the rents of a farm of about 140 acres at Oakington, is a neat brick building.
"Histon Hall (the manor house), the seat of Wm. R. Sumpter, Esq., is pleasantly situated on a slight eminence near the village.
A list of some of the residents then follows, including James Coe, gardener. This would be James Coe, 1800-1859.
The Directory of Cambridgeshire 1879 has the following description of Histon:
"Histon is a village and parish, and station on the Cambridge, St. Ives and Huntingdon line of the Great Eastern railway, 62 1/2 miles from London, and 3 north-west from Cambridge in the hundred and union of Chesteron, country court district of Cambridge, rural deanery of Chesterton and archdeaconry and diocese of Ely. The church of St. Andrew is a very old cruciform structure of rubble and clunch, with a square tower rising from the centre, a clock, 6 bells, and an organ, and has been restored internally, and re-seated and newly roofed. The register dates from the year 1739. The living comprises the consolidated discharged vicarages of St. Andrew and St. Etheldred, yearly value £570, with residence, in the gift of and held by the Rev. Charles White Underwood M.A. of St. John's College, Cambridge, rural dean of Chesterton and honorary canon of Ely Cathedral. Here are chapels for the Baptists and Wesleyans. The parish is also benefited by some considerable charities. W. Peed esq. of Histon Hall, is lord of the manors of Histon St. Andrew and Histon St. Etheldred. The principal land proprietors are The Messes Angier, Mrs Rowley and R. Archer Houblon, esq. The land produces excellent crops of grains and turnips, market garden produce, and great quantities of fruit, from which Cambridge, London and other markets derive large supplies; the area is 2,300 acres; rateable value, £4,916; the population in 1871 was 1,017.
"Parish Clerk, John Crane.
"Post Office. -John Tolliday, receiver. Letters arrive by mail cart from Cambridge at 7a.m.; dispatched at 7p.m. The nearest money order office is at Cottenham. The telegraph office is at Cambridge.
"Free School (boys and girls), endowed with £45 per annum from an estate in the parish of Oakington, in this county; Alfred Read, master.
"Railway Station, Charles Paige, station master."
A list of some of the residents the follows, including Frederick Coe, market gardener. This would be Frederick Coe 1823-1902.
