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Coordinates: 52°22′38″N 0°16′13″W / 52.3771°N 0.27025°W / 52.3771; -0.27025
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{{Short description|Village and civil parish in Cambridgeshire, England}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2016}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{infobox UK place
{{infobox UK place
| country = England
| country = England
| static_image =
| static_image =
| static_image_caption =
| static_image_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|52.36|-00.28|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates = {{coord|52.3771|-0.27025|display=inline,title}}
| official_name = Alconbury Weston
| official_name = Alconbury Weston
| population = 800
| population = 800
| population_ref = (2011)
| population_ref = (2011)
| shire_district = [[Huntingdonshire]]
| shire_district = [[Huntingdonshire]]
| shire_county = [[Cambridgeshire]]
| shire_county = [[Cambridgeshire]]
| region = East of England
| region = East of England
| constituency_westminster = [[Huntingdon (UK Parliament constituency)|Huntingdon]]
| constituency_westminster = [[Huntingdon (UK Parliament constituency)|Huntingdon]]
| post_town = Huntingdon
| post_town = Huntingdon
| postcode_district = PE28
| postcode_district = PE28
| postcode_area = PE
| postcode_area = PE
| dial_code =
| dial_code =
| os_grid_reference = TL1776
| os_grid_reference = TL1776
}}
}}
'''Alconbury Weston''' – in [[Huntingdonshire]] (now part of [[Cambridgeshire]]), England – is a village and [[civil parish]], lying just outside of [[the Fens]], having just a few hills, but a significant change to the flat of the Fens. Alconbury Weston is situated {{convert|4.5|mi|km}} north-west of [[Huntingdon]].
'''Alconbury Weston''' – in [[Huntingdonshire]] (now part of [[Cambridgeshire]]), England – is a village and [[civil parish]], lying just outside of [[the Fens]], having just a few hills, but a significant change to the flat of the Fens. Alconbury Weston is situated {{convert|6.5|mi|km}} north-west of [[Huntingdon]].


==History==
==History==
⚫
Alconbury Weston was listed as ''Westune'' in the [[Domesday Book]] in the [[hundred (county division)|Hundred]] of [[Leightonstone (hundred)|Leightonstone]] in Huntingdonshire; the name of the settlement was written in the Domesday Book.<ref name="PenIndex">{{cite book|title=Domesday Book: A Complete Translation |publisher=Penguin Books |date=1992 |location =London|editor=Ann Williams |editor2=G.H. Martin|page=1304|isbn=0-141-00523-8}}</ref> In 1086 there was just one manor at Alconbury Weston; the annual rent paid to the lord of the manor in 1066 had been £1 and the rent was the same in 1086.<ref name="OD86">{{cite web|url=http://opendomesday.org/place/TL1776/alconbury-weston |title= Open Domesday: Place – Alconbury Weston| website=www.opendomesday.org |publisher = Anna Powell-Smith| author= Professor J.J.N. Palmer | access-date=25 February 2016}}</ref> There were four households with an estimated population of 14 to 20.<ref name="OD86" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.localpopulationstudies.org.uk/PDF/Sources_and_methods/Sources-and-methodsLPS78.pdf|first1=Nigel|last1=Goose|first2=Andrew|last2=Hinde|title=Estimating Local Population Sizes|access-date=23 February 2016}}</ref> There was one ploughland at Alconbury Weston in 1086 and that there was the capacity for a further one ploughland,<ref name="OD86" /> and a total tax assessed of one [[Danegeld|geld]].<ref name="OD86" />
In 1085 [[William the Conqueror]] ordered that a survey should be carried out across his kingdom to discover who owned which parts and what it was worth. The survey took place in 1086 and the results were recorded in what, since the 12th century, has become known as the [[Domesday Book]]. Starting with the king himself, for each [[tenant-in-chief|landholder]] within a county there is a list of their estates or [[Manorialism|manor]]s; and, for each manor, there is a summary of the resources of the manor, the amount of annual rent that was collected by the lord of the manor both in 1066 and in 1086, together with the taxable value.<ref name=Pen86>{{cite book|title=Domesday Book: A Complete Translation |publisher=Penguin Books |date=1992 |location =London|editor=Ann Williams |editor2=G.H. Martin|pages=551–561|isbn=0-141-00523-8}}</ref>

⚫
Alconbury Weston was listed in the Domesday Book in the [[hundred (county division)|Hundred]] of [[Leightonstone (hundred)|Leightonstone]] in Huntingdonshire; the name of the settlement was written as ''Westune'' in the Domesday Book.<ref name=PenIndex>{{cite book|title=Domesday Book: A Complete Translation |publisher=Penguin Books |date=1992 |location =London|editor=Ann Williams |editor2=G.H. Martin|page=1304|isbn=0-141-00523-8}}</ref> In 1086 there was just one manor at Alconbury Weston; the annual rent paid to the lord of the manor in 1066 had been £1 and the rent was the same in 1086.<ref name=OD86>{{cite web|url=http://opendomesday.org/place/TL1776/alconbury-weston |title= Open Domesday: Place – Alconbury Weston| website=www.opendomesday.org |publisher = Anna Powell-Smith| author= Professor J.J.N. Palmer | access-date=25 February 2016}}</ref>

The Domesday Book does not explicitly detail the population of a place but it records that there was 4 households at Alconbury Weston.<ref name=OD86/> There is no consensus about the average size of a household at that time; estimates range from 3.5 to 5 people per household.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.localpopulationstudies.org.uk/PDF/Sources_and_methods/Sources-and-methodsLPS78.pdf|first1=Nigel|last1=Goose|first2=Andrew|last2=Hinde|title=Estimating Local Population Sizes|access-date=23 February 2016}}</ref> Using these figures then an estimate of the population of Alconbury Weston in 1086 is that it was within the range of 14 and 20 people.

The Domesday Book uses a number of units of measure for areas of land that are now unfamiliar terms, such as [[hide (unit)|hides]] and [[ploughland]]s. In different parts of the country, these were terms for the area of land that a team of eight oxen could plough in a single season and are equivalent to {{convert|120|acre|hectare}}; this was the amount of land that was considered to be sufficient to support a single family. By 1086, the hide had become a unit of tax assessment rather than an actual land area; a hide was the amount of land that could be assessed as £1 for tax purposes. The survey records that there was one ploughland at Alconbury Weston in 1086 and that there was the capacity for a further one ploughland.<ref name=OD86/>

The tax assessment in the Domesday Book was known as [[Danegeld|geld or danegeld]] and was a type of land-tax based on the hide or ploughland. It was originally a way of collecting a tribute to pay off the Danes when they attacked England, and was only levied when necessary. Following the Norman Conquest, the geld was used to raise money for the King and to pay for continental wars; by 1130, the geld was being collected annually. Having determined the value of a manor's land and other assets, a tax of so many [[pounds, shillings and pence|shillings and pence per pound]] of value would be levied on the land holder. While this was typically two shillings in the pound the amount did vary; for example, in 1084 it was as high as six shillings in the pound. For the manor at Alconbury Weston the total tax assessed was one geld.<ref name=OD86/>

In 1086 there was no church at Alconbury Weston.


==Government==
==Government==
Alconbury Weston [[Parish councils in England|parish council]] is the lowest tier of government and consists of seven members.<ref>{{cite web|title=Alconbury Weston Parish Council|url=http://www.alconburywestonparishcouncil.co.uk/index.php|publisher=Alconbury Weston Parish Council|access-date=5 February 2016}}</ref> The second tier of local government is [[Huntingdonshire District Council]] which is a [[non-metropolitan district]] of Cambridgeshire and has its headquarters in Huntingdon. Alconbury Weston is a part of the district ward of ''Alconbury and The Stukeleys'' and is represented on the district council by one councillor.<ref name="OSelec">{{cite web|url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/# |title=Ordnance Survey Election Maps |website=www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=4 February 2016 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220103943/https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |archive-date=20 February 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.huntsdc.gov.uk/council-democracy/meetings-and-decision-making/councillors/ |title=Huntingdonshire District Council: Councillors |website=www.huntsdc.gov.uk |publisher=Huntingdonshire District Council |access-date=4 February 2016}}</ref> The highest tier of local government is [[Cambridgeshire County Council]]. Alconbury Weston is a part of the electoral division of ''Huntingdon'' and is represented on the county council by two councillors.<ref name="OSelec" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/downloads/file/1332/councillors_chart |title=Cambridgeshire County Council: Councillors |website=www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk |publisher=Cambridgeshire County Council |format=pdf |access-date=4 February 2016 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205000715/http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/downloads/file/1332/councillors_chart |archive-date=5 February 2016 }}</ref>
As a civil parish, Alconbury Weston has a [[Parish councils in England|parish council]]. The parish council is elected by the residents of the parish who have registered on the [[electoral roll]]; the parish council is the lowest tier of government in England. A parish council is responsible for providing and maintaining a variety of local services including allotments and a cemetery; grass cutting and tree planting within public open spaces such as a village green or playing fields. The parish council reviews all planning applications that might affect the parish and makes recommendations to Huntingdonshire District Council, which is the [[local planning authority]] for the parish. The parish council also represents the views of the parish on issues such as local transport, policing and the environment. The parish council raises its own tax to pay for these services, known as the parish precept, which is collected as part of the [[Council Tax]]. In 2015, Alconbury Weston parish council had seven members; meetings were held on a Monday every six to eight weeks in the Memorial Hall in Alconbury.<ref>{{cite web|title=Alconbury Weston Parish Council|url=http://www.alconburywestonparishcouncil.co.uk/index.php|publisher=Alconbury Weston Parish Council|access-date=5 February 2016}}</ref>


Alconbury Weston was in the historic and [[administrative county]] of [[Huntingdonshire]] until 1965. From 1965, the village was part of the new administrative county of [[Huntingdon and Peterborough]]. Then in 1974, following the [[Local Government Act 1972]], Alconbury Weston became a part of the county of Cambridgeshire.
Alconbury Weston was in the historic and [[administrative county]] of [[Huntingdonshire]] until 1965. From 1965, the village was part of the new administrative county of [[Huntingdon and Peterborough]]. Then in 1974, following the [[Local Government Act 1972]], Alconbury Weston became a part of the county of Cambridgeshire.


⚫
At Westminster, Alconbury Weston is in the parliamentary constituency of [[Huntingdon (UK Parliament constituency)|Huntingdon]]. Since 2001 Alconbury Weston has been represented in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] by [[Jonathan Djanogly]] ([[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]).
The second tier of local government is [[Huntingdonshire District Council]] which is a [[non-metropolitan district]] of Cambridgeshire and has its headquarters in Huntingdon. Huntingdonshire District Council has 52 councillors representing 29 [[Wards of the United Kingdom|district wards]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/council-democracy/meetings-and-decision-making/councillors/|title=Huntingdonshire District Council: Councillors|website=www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk|publisher= Huntingdonshire District Council|access-date=14 February 2016}}</ref> Huntingdonshire District Council collects the [[council tax]], and provides services such as building regulations, local planning, environmental health, leisure and tourism.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk|title=Huntingdonshire District Council|website=www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk|publisher= Huntingdonshire District Council|access-date=14 February 2016}}</ref> Alconbury Weston is a part of the district ward of ''Alconbury and The Stukeleys'' and is represented on the district council by one councillor.<ref name=OSelec>{{cite web|url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/# |title=Ordnance Survey Election Maps |website=www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=4 February 2016 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220103943/https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |archive-date=20 February 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.huntsdc.gov.uk/council-democracy/meetings-and-decision-making/councillors/ |title=Huntingdonshire District Council: Councillors |website=www.huntsdc.gov.uk |publisher=Huntingdonshire District Council |access-date=4 February 2016}}</ref> District councillors serve for four-year terms following [[Huntingdonshire District Council elections|elections to Huntingdonshire District Council]].

The highest tier of local government is [[Cambridgeshire County Council]] which has administration buildings in Cambridge. The county council provides county-wide services such as major road infrastructure, fire and rescue, education, social services, libraries and heritage services.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk|title = Cambridgeshire County Council|website=www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk|publisher=Cambridgeshire County Council|access-date=15 February 2016}}</ref> Cambridgeshire County Council consists of 69 councillors representing 60 [[Electoral divisions (UK)|electoral divisions]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/info/20087/councillors_and_meetings/313/county_councillors|title=Cambridgeshire County Council: Councillors|website=www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk|publisher=Cambridgeshire County Council|access-date=15 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222112615/http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/info/20087/councillors_and_meetings/313/county_councillors|archive-date=22 February 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Alconbury Weston is a part of the electoral division of ''Huntingdon'' and is represented on the county council by two councillors.<ref name=OSelec/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/downloads/file/1332/councillors_chart |title=Cambridgeshire County Council: Councillors |website=www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk |publisher=Cambridgeshire County Council |format=pdf |access-date=4 February 2016 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205000715/http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/downloads/file/1332/councillors_chart |archive-date=5 February 2016 }}</ref> County councillors serve for four-year terms following [[Cambridgeshire County Council elections|elections to Cambridgeshire County Council]].

⚫
At Westminster, Alconbury Weston is in the parliamentary constituency of [[Huntingdon (UK Parliament constituency)|Huntingdon]] and elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the [[first past the post]] system of election.<ref name=OSelec/> Alconbury Weston is represented in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] by [[Jonathan Djanogly]] (Conservative). Jonathan Djanogly has represented the constituency since 2001. The previous member of parliament was [[John Major]] (Conservative) who represented the constituency between 1983 and 2001.


==Geography==
==Geography==
The Alconbury brook runs through the village then through Alconbury and on into Hinchingbrooke park. The brook floods occasionally during winter months (see flood '98) and can cause residents to be blocked from travelling by car and have to walk to get out of the village. (Assuming they got their warning in time and moved their vehicles, outside of the flooding area.) Conversely, the brook can become almost dry in the summer in certain areas.
The Alconbury Brook runs through the village then through Alconbury and on into Hinchingbrooke Park. The brook has a history of flooding, with the village being affected numerous times in the 20th and 21st centuries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alconbury Brook Flood Alleviation Scheme - information page - Environment Agency - Citizen Space |url=https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/east-anglia-c-e/alconbury-flood-scheme/ |access-date=2022-06-21 |website=consult.environment-agency.gov.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-01-28 |title=Cambridgeshire flooding: Alconbury hit for third time since Christmas |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-55846007 |access-date=2022-06-21}}</ref>


===Location===
===Location===
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The climate in the United Kingdom is defined as a [[temperate]] [[oceanic climate]], or ''Cfb'' on the [[Köppen climate classification]] system, a classification it shares with most of northwest Europe.<ref>{{cite journal | author=Peel, M. C. |author2=Finlayson, B. L. |author3=McMahon, T. A. | year=2007 | title= Updated world map of the Köppen–Geiger climate classification | journal=Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. | volume=11 |issue=5 | pages=1633–1644 | url=http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/11/1633/2007/hess-11-1633-2007.html | issn = 1027-5606|doi=10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007|bibcode=2007HESS...11.1633P | doi-access=free }} ''(direct: [http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/11/1633/2007/hess-11-1633-2007.pdf Final Revised Paper])''</ref> Eastern areas of the United Kingdom, such as [[East Anglia]], are drier, cooler, less windy and also experience the greatest daily and seasonal temperature variations. Protected from the cool onshore coastal breezes further to the east of the region, Cambridgeshire is warm in summer, and cold and frosty in winter.
The climate in the United Kingdom is defined as a [[temperate]] [[oceanic climate]], or ''Cfb'' on the [[Köppen climate classification]] system, a classification it shares with most of northwest Europe.<ref>{{cite journal | author=Peel, M. C. |author2=Finlayson, B. L. |author3=McMahon, T. A. | year=2007 | title= Updated world map of the Köppen–Geiger climate classification | journal=Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. | volume=11 |issue=5 | pages=1633–1644 | url=http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/11/1633/2007/hess-11-1633-2007.html | issn = 1027-5606|doi=10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007|bibcode=2007HESS...11.1633P | doi-access=free }} ''(direct: [http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/11/1633/2007/hess-11-1633-2007.pdf Final Revised Paper])''</ref> Eastern areas of the United Kingdom, such as [[East Anglia]], are drier, cooler, less windy and also experience the greatest daily and seasonal temperature variations. Protected from the cool onshore coastal breezes further to the east of the region, Cambridgeshire is warm in summer, and cold and frosty in winter.


The nearest [[Met Office]] climate station to Alconbury Weston is at Monks Wood, which is {{convert|2.2|mi|km}} to the north-east. The average annual rainfall for the United Kingdom between 1981 and 2010 was {{convert|1154|mm|inch}} but Cambridgeshire is one of the driest counties with around half of the national level. Regional [[weather forecasting]] and historical summaries are available from the UK [[Met Office]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Forecast:East of England |work=UK Weather Forecasts |publisher= UK Met Office |url= http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/ee/ee_forecast_weather.html |access-date=3 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Monks Wood Climate: Averages Table|work=UK Climate Summaries |publisher= UK Met Office |url= http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/gcrf4enk4 |access-date=3 January 2016}}</ref> Additional local weather stations report periodic figures to the internet such as [[Weather Underground (weather service)|Weather Underground]], Inc.<ref>{{cite web |authorlink= Weather_Underground_(weather_service) |title=Alconbury Weston, United Kingdom |publisher=Weather Underground, Inc |year=2016 |url= http://www.wunderground.com/q/locid:UKEN5105;loctype:1|access-date=3 January 2016}}</ref>
The nearest [[Met Office]] climate station to Alconbury Weston is at Monks Wood, which is {{convert|2.2|mi|km}} to the north-east. The average annual rainfall for the United Kingdom between 1981 and 2010 was {{convert|1154|mm|inch}} but Cambridgeshire is one of the driest counties with around half of the national level. Regional [[weather forecasting]] and historical summaries are available from the UK [[Met Office]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Forecast:East of England |work=UK Weather Forecasts |publisher= UK Met Office |url= http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/ee/ee_forecast_weather.html |access-date=3 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Monks Wood Climate: Averages Table|work=UK Climate Summaries |publisher= UK Met Office |url= http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate/gcrf4enk4 |access-date=3 January 2016}}</ref> Additional local weather stations report periodic figures to the internet such as [[Weather Underground (weather service)|Weather Underground]], Inc.<ref>{{cite web |authorlink= Weather Underground (weather service) |title=Alconbury Weston, United Kingdom |publisher=Weather Underground, Inc |year=2016 |url= http://www.wunderground.com/q/locid:UKEN5105;loctype:1|access-date=3 January 2016}}</ref>


{{Weather box
{{Weather box
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From 1901, a census was taken every ten years with the exception of 1941 (due to the [[Second World War]]).
From 1901, a census was taken every ten years with the exception of 1941 (due to the [[Second World War]]).


{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;font-size: 9pt"
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
|-
!width="150"|Parish<br>
!width="150"|Parish<br>
Line 161: Line 148:
|}
|}


<small>
All population census figures from report ''Historic Census figures Cambridgeshire to 2011'' by ''Cambridgeshire Insight''.<ref name=Camin/>
All population census figures from report ''Historic Census figures Cambridgeshire to 2011'' by ''Cambridgeshire Insight''.<ref name=Camin/>
</small>


In 2011, the parish covered an area of {{convert|1732|acre|hectare|0}}<ref name=Camin/> and so the population density for Alconbury Weston in 2011 was 295.6 persons per square mile (114.1 per square kilometre).
In 2011, the parish covered an area of {{convert|1732|acre|hectare|0}}<ref name=Camin/> and so the population density for Alconbury Weston in 2011 was 295.6 persons per square mile (114.1 per square kilometre).


==Culture and community==
==Culture and community==
The brook is home to a number of water birds such as Mallard, Swan and Wren and the stream is also well stocked with small fish such as Roach and also larger predatory fish such as Pike. A local tale states that the biggest fish caught by a local man was a pike and weighed 11 lb. All that is known is that the local man was known as 'Dore'.{{citation needed|date=April 2013}}
The brook is home to a number of water birds such as [[Mallard]], [[Swan]] and [[Wren]] and the stream is also home to small fish such as [[Common roach|Roach]] and also larger predatory fish such as [[Esox|Pike]].{{citation needed|date=April 2013}}

The village used to contain a Butchers, Farm Shop, Freezer Shop, post office and Master Saddlers which have all shut down in recent years. In 2016, the Village pub closed down suddenly leaving the village folk to trek to Alconbury to search for a pint. In 2020, The White Hart pub has been taken on by a local resident and undergone repair and rejuvenation by local tradesmen, with plans to be open before the year ends.

The village has a number of footpaths used by walkers, Ramblers and Horses.

The village is served by St Peter's & St Paul's Church, a primary school and a GP's surgery, all of which are based in Alconbury.
The Tri-Station Area includes the RAF Stations at [[RAF Alconbury]], [[RAF Molesworth]] and [[RAF Upwood]]; all are in the county of Cambridgeshire which consists of approximately 553,000 inhabitants.


The village used to contain a Butchers, Farm Shop, Freezer Shop, post office and Master Saddlers which have all now shut down. It has one pub, The White Hart
The [[Alconbury Weald]] project is taking place near to Alconbury Weston.


<gallery>
<gallery>

Latest revision as of 12:33, 26 November 2024

Alconbury Weston
Alconbury Weston is located in Cambridgeshire
Alconbury Weston
Alconbury Weston
Location within Cambridgeshire
Population800 (2011)
OS grid referenceTL1776
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townHuntingdon
Postcode districtPE28
PoliceCambridgeshire
FireCambridgeshire
AmbulanceEast of England
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Cambridgeshire
52°22′38″N 0°16′13″W / 52.3771°N 0.27025°W / 52.3771; -0.27025

Alconbury Weston – in Huntingdonshire (now part of Cambridgeshire), England – is a village and civil parish, lying just outside of the Fens, having just a few hills, but a significant change to the flat of the Fens. Alconbury Weston is situated 6.5 miles (10.5 km) north-west of Huntingdon.

History

[edit]

Alconbury Weston was listed as Westune in the Domesday Book in the Hundred of Leightonstone in Huntingdonshire; the name of the settlement was written in the Domesday Book.[1] In 1086 there was just one manor at Alconbury Weston; the annual rent paid to the lord of the manor in 1066 had been £1 and the rent was the same in 1086.[2] There were four households with an estimated population of 14 to 20.[2][3] There was one ploughland at Alconbury Weston in 1086 and that there was the capacity for a further one ploughland,[2] and a total tax assessed of one geld.[2]

Government

[edit]

Alconbury Weston parish council is the lowest tier of government and consists of seven members.[4] The second tier of local government is Huntingdonshire District Council which is a non-metropolitan district of Cambridgeshire and has its headquarters in Huntingdon. Alconbury Weston is a part of the district ward of Alconbury and The Stukeleys and is represented on the district council by one councillor.[5][6] The highest tier of local government is Cambridgeshire County Council. Alconbury Weston is a part of the electoral division of Huntingdon and is represented on the county council by two councillors.[5][7]

Alconbury Weston was in the historic and administrative county of Huntingdonshire until 1965. From 1965, the village was part of the new administrative county of Huntingdon and Peterborough. Then in 1974, following the Local Government Act 1972, Alconbury Weston became a part of the county of Cambridgeshire.

At Westminster, Alconbury Weston is in the parliamentary constituency of Huntingdon. Since 2001 Alconbury Weston has been represented in the House of Commons by Jonathan Djanogly (Conservative).

Geography

[edit]

The Alconbury Brook runs through the village then through Alconbury and on into Hinchingbrooke Park. The brook has a history of flooding, with the village being affected numerous times in the 20th and 21st centuries.[8][9]

Location

[edit]

Climate

[edit]

The climate in the United Kingdom is defined as a temperate oceanic climate, or Cfb on the Köppen climate classification system, a classification it shares with most of northwest Europe.[10] Eastern areas of the United Kingdom, such as East Anglia, are drier, cooler, less windy and also experience the greatest daily and seasonal temperature variations. Protected from the cool onshore coastal breezes further to the east of the region, Cambridgeshire is warm in summer, and cold and frosty in winter.

The nearest Met Office climate station to Alconbury Weston is at Monks Wood, which is 2.2 miles (3.5 km) to the north-east. The average annual rainfall for the United Kingdom between 1981 and 2010 was 1,154 millimetres (45.4 in) but Cambridgeshire is one of the driest counties with around half of the national level. Regional weather forecasting and historical summaries are available from the UK Met Office.[11][12] Additional local weather stations report periodic figures to the internet such as Weather Underground, Inc.[13]

Climate data for Monks Wood, elevation 41m, (1981–2010 averages)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 7.2
(45.0) 		7.7
(45.9) 		10.7
(51.3) 		13.5
(56.3) 		16.8
(62.2) 		19.7
(67.5) 		22.4
(72.3) 		22.3
(72.1) 		19.2
(66.6) 		15.0
(59.0) 		10.3
(50.5) 		7.4
(45.3) 		14.4
(57.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 1.1
(34.0) 		0.8
(33.4) 		2.6
(36.7) 		3.8
(38.8) 		6.6
(43.9) 		9.7
(49.5) 		11.8
(53.2) 		11.7
(53.1) 		9.9
(49.8) 		7.0
(44.6) 		3.9
(39.0) 		1.9
(35.4) 		5.9
(42.6)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 47.0
(1.85) 		35.0
(1.38) 		40.1
(1.58) 		47.0
(1.85) 		47.9
(1.89) 		54.1
(2.13) 		48.3
(1.90) 		51.7
(2.04) 		53.3
(2.10) 		60.2
(2.37) 		54.2
(2.13) 		47.1
(1.85) 		585.8
(23.06)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 58.0 77.4 109.9 152.3 186.2 180.6 193.3 188.1 142.5 114.6 67.0 52.4 1,522.2
Source: Met Office Monks Wood, Cambridgeshire

Demography

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Population

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In the period 1801 to 1901 the population of Alconbury Weston was recorded every ten years by the UK census. During this time the population was in the range of 281 (the lowest in 1801) and 561 (the highest in 1861).[14]

From 1901, a census was taken every ten years with the exception of 1941 (due to the Second World War).

Parish
 1911
 1921
 1931
 1951
 1961
 1971
 1981
 1991
 2001
 2011
Alconbury Weston 319 327 276 254 297 476 645 744 793 800

All population census figures from report Historic Census figures Cambridgeshire to 2011 by Cambridgeshire Insight.[14]

In 2011, the parish covered an area of 1,732 acres (701 hectares)[14] and so the population density for Alconbury Weston in 2011 was 295.6 persons per square mile (114.1 per square kilometre).

Culture and community

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The brook is home to a number of water birds such as Mallard, Swan and Wren and the stream is also home to small fish such as Roach and also larger predatory fish such as Pike.[citation needed]

The village used to contain a Butchers, Farm Shop, Freezer Shop, post office and Master Saddlers which have all now shut down. It has one pub, The White Hart

  • Village Green Alconbury Weston
    Village Green Alconbury Weston
  • Down Stream on the Alconbury Brook
    Down Stream on the Alconbury Brook
  • Flood Water Culvert Alconbury Weston
    Flood Water Culvert Alconbury Weston

References

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  1. ^ Ann Williams; G.H. Martin, eds. (1992). Domesday Book: A Complete Translation. London: Penguin Books. p. 1304. ISBN 0-141-00523-8.
  2. ^ a b c d Professor J.J.N. Palmer. "Open Domesday: Place – Alconbury Weston". www.opendomesday.org. Anna Powell-Smith. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  3. ^ Goose, Nigel; Hinde, Andrew. "Estimating Local Population Sizes" (PDF). Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  4. ^ "Alconbury Weston Parish Council". Alconbury Weston Parish Council. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Ordnance Survey Election Maps". www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk. Ordnance Survey. Archived from the original on 20 February 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  6. ^ "Huntingdonshire District Council: Councillors". www.huntsdc.gov.uk. Huntingdonshire District Council. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  7. ^ "Cambridgeshire County Council: Councillors". www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk. Cambridgeshire County Council. Archived from the original (pdf) on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  8. ^ "Alconbury Brook Flood Alleviation Scheme - information page - Environment Agency - Citizen Space". consult.environment-agency.gov.uk. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  9. ^ "Cambridgeshire flooding: Alconbury hit for third time since Christmas". BBC News. 28 January 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  10. ^ Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen–Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11 (5): 1633–1644. Bibcode:2007HESS...11.1633P. doi:10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007. ISSN 1027-5606. (direct: Final Revised Paper)
  11. ^ "Forecast:East of England". UK Weather Forecasts. UK Met Office. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  12. ^ "Monks Wood Climate: Averages Table". UK Climate Summaries. UK Met Office. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  13. ^ "Alconbury Weston, United Kingdom". Weather Underground, Inc. 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  14. ^ a b c "Historic Census figures Cambridgeshire to 2011". www.cambridgeshireinsight.org.uk. Cambridgeshire Insight. Archived from the original (xlsx – download) on 15 February 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
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