abbotsripton

History

Abbots Ripton is a small picturesque village, located approximately 4 miles north of Huntingdon. In 1086 the Domesday survey referred to the village as Riptune, and since then there have been several variations on the name including Magna Riptona and Ripton Abbatis (12th and 13th century) and St. John�s Ripton (16th century).

The Church of St. Andrew is Abbots Ripton�s oldest structure. Although a church on this site was mentioned in the Domesday book, the church which stands today is slightly more recent. It�s oldest parts date back to the 13th century, with further reconstructions taking place between the 15th and 19th centuries. Monumental inscriptions in the church include the surnames Cranwell, Rooper, Bonfoy, Buck, Cowche, Gilliat and Trimnell. Other old buildings in Abbots Ripton include the Manor house which is owned by Lord de Ramsey (a descendant of William Henry Fellowes who acquired the estate in 1794), as well as a 16th century timber-framed house known as Moat Farm.

In 1876, Abbots Ripton was the site of a tragic railway disaster. Weather conditions on the 21st of January were dreadful, and the driving sleet and snow caused the train signals to freeze. At 6:24 pm, the Flying Scotsman left Peterborough and when it passed through Woodwalton the signal was frozen in the �Off� position so it continued on at full speed, believing the track was clear. At Abbots Ripton the passenger train collided with a coal train which was being shunted back into the sidings, and several minutes later a north-bound express train crashed into the wreckage. 13 people were killed and 24 injured. The accident prompted a change in train signals all across the country. Instead of being in the �Off� or �Clear� position, signals were altered so that they were always in the �Danger� position. Therefore if a similar situation occurred again, the trains would stop.

Genealogical Information

Census information for Abbots Ripton (1841-1891) is held at the Huntingdon Records Office.

Parish records are also available for viewing at the record office for the following years:
Baptisms 1558-1885
Marriages 1559-1838
Deaths 1559-1989

Population

Population in 1801 � 327
Population in 1851 � 377
Population in 1901 � 386
Population in 1951 � 357
Population in 1971 � 283
Population in 1991 � 253

For more information:

Contact the Huntingdon Records Office:
Cambridgeshire County Record Office (Huntingdon)
Grammar School Walk
Huntingdon
Cambridgeshire
PE29 3LF