Welcome to Wistow

View over Alconbury Brook and the two bridges in Wistow, Huntingdonshire

Wystowe (10th and 12th century), Kingestune (id est Wistow 10th century), Kingestune (11th century) and Wistow (Modern).

Wistow lies on a by-road which turns off westwards midway between Bury and Warboys. It is a small village by a little stream which flows down to it from Broughton.

Wistow, formerly Kingston, was given to Ramsey Abbey by Oswold, Archbishop of York. Like other Abbey property it fell to Sir Richard Cromwell, and was held by that family till the heavy fines imposed on Sir Oliver Cromwell by Parliament compelled him to sell it about the middle of 17th century. It was purchased by Sir Nicholas Pedley, and then came by descent to A. Forster.

In the early 20th century the main residences were; The old Manor House bearing the date 1662, let in two tenements. The Lodge the home of Mrs De la Pryme, and belonged to that family. The Chestnuts the property and residence of Thomas Dorrington, the Manor House (probably the house of Claxton’s Manor) the residence of C. H. I. Forster; and "The Laburnums" of T. U. Dorrington.

The church , on the site of its Domesday Book predecessor, dates from 1347-51 with an earlier font (13th century) and a tower built in the mid-sixteenth century. Inside is an old rood screen and some medieval glass of good design.

Wistow is one of the parishes of the District of Huntingdonshire, whose administrative centre is Huntingdon, the other principle towns being St Ives home of the Chapel on the Bridge, St Neots the largest town in the County of Cambridgeshire, the Roman town of Godmanchester and Ramsey site of the former Abbey.