Welcome to Upwood and the Raveleys

The High Street of the Huntingdonshire village of Upwood, Huntingdonshire

Upwood and the Raveleys, Great Raveley and Little Raveley, extend into the Fen country from the higher land to the north of Huntingdon. Richard Cromwell lived at Upwood House, a picturesque 17th century residence. The Cross Keys Inn and Carlton House also date from the 17th century.

Upwood

The parish of Upwood was once the residence of Duke Ailwyn, who was owner of the manor which he gave to the Abbey of Ramsey on its foundation. It continued the property of the Abbey until its Dissolution, when it passed to Sir Richard Cromwell; it was sold by the Cromwell’s to Judge Peter Pheasant, October 20th 1648, and it came by heir-ship in 1732 to Leman Hutchins, and about 1767 came to Sir Richard Bickerton, Knight and Baronet, passing in 1845 to Richard Hussey Hussey, and in 1899 to Colonel Moubray who resided in the old house where Henry Cromwell resided in 1630, which is believed to have been built on the site of the residence of Duke Ailwyn.

The parish church at Upwood, the Church of St Peter, has a modern tower but retains much Norman work including the font, with a 17th century cover, and the chancel arch which has "settled" rather unsymmetrically. The north aisle screen and splendid chancel screen are of 15th century workmanship.

Great Raveley

At Great Raveley are various earthworks and moated sites. Buildings of 17th century dating include the Manor House and the former Three Horseshoes Inn, now a private dwelling. There is no church in this tiny village.

Little Raveley

The even smaller village of Little Raveley did have a correspondingly small church, the Church of St James, which has an Early English chancel and a 15th century nave. The church has closed and the building is now used as a private residence.

Upwood and the Raveleys 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.