Northill (St. Mary)
NORTHILL (St. Mary), a parish, in the union of Biggleswade, hundred of Wixamtree, county of Bedford, 4 miles (W. N. W.) from Biggleswade; containing, with the hamlets of Caldicott, Ickwell, Thorncote with Brookend and Hatch, and part of Beeston, 1280 inhabitants. It is situated on the road from Biggleswade to Bedford, and comprises by measurement 3939 acres of land, chiefly arable, with a little pasture; the soil is partly gravel. Straw-platting and lace-making are carried on. The living is a perpetual curacy, endowed with a portion of the tithes; net income, £395; patrons, the Master and Wardens of the Grocers' Company, London; impropriator of the remainder of the tithes, J. Harvey, Esq. The tithes were commuted for land, money payments, and corn-rents, under acts of inclosure in 1780 and 1796. The church is a handsome structure in the ancient English style, the east window exhibiting some beautiful stained glass. It was endowed and made collegiate by Sir John Traylly, Knt., in the reign of Henry IV., for a master, warden, and six fellows, whose revenue was estimated at £61. 5. 5.: the establishment was dissolved in the reign of Edward VI. The stalls belonging to the monks are still in the church.
Transcribed from A Topographical Dictionary of England, by Samuel Lewis, seventh edition, published 1858.