1851 Gardner's

This extract comes from Gardner's Cambridgeshire, 1851.

"Little Gransden parish so called to distinguish it from the adjoining parish of Great Gransden in the hundred of Toseland, Huntingdonshire, contains 1896 acres. Its population in 1801 was 232; in 1831, 251; and in 1841, 273 souls. The amount of assessed property is £1,361, and the largest landowners are Thos. St Quintin Esq. and the Rector.

Manors - This manor was one of the ancient estates of the church of Ely, and was alienated by bishop Heton to the crown in 1600. After passing successively through the families of Skipworth, Dryden, Cotton and Pindar and several others, it was purchased off George Shergold, Esq., in 1786, by Thomas St Quintin, Esq., with whose descendant it still continues.

The village of Little Gransden, which is small, is about 12 miles south from Cambridge.

The Church, dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul, consists of a nave, chancel, side aisles, and tower, in which are three bells. The cost of repairs to the edifice for the last ten years amounts to about £600. The living is a rectory exempt from visitation in the deanery of Bourne, patronage of the Bishop of Ely, and incumbency of the Rev. Frederick Norris, M.A. It is rated in the K.B. at £18 15s 2.5d., but now worth £208 nett per annum. The tithes were commuted for land in 1813. The rectory-house is a good building. The school, which is endowed with £25 per annum, was erected in 1845 at a cost of about £500, £200 of which was given by the rector, £90 by the board of education, and the remainder raised by subscription.

Directory - Rev. Fred. Norris, M.A., rector; John Allen, Wm. Bouldrey, Rd. Fuller, and Charles Saffron, farmers; and Nat. Fortescue, beer retailer; Reuben Housden, shopkeeper; John Smith, James Seymour, and Stephen White, beer retailers."