ST. NEOTS is a market town and parish, in the hundred of Toseland, 56 miles n.n.w. from London, 9 s.from Huntingdon, and 18w. from Cambridge; situate on the east bank of the river Ouse (over which is a stone bridge), and is in a flat part of the country, with but few variations of scenery. The name of the town is derived from ‘ St. Neot,’ a Christian missionary, in honour of whom a monastery was here founded, which afterwards was endowed by Earl Leofrie and made subordinate to Ely, but was subsequently rendered independent and existed till the time of Henry VIII, when it shared the fate of other religious establishments. After the death of Charles I, the Earl of Holland mustered a force here in favour of the royal cause, but being defeated in a battle by the forces of Cromwell, in 1648, and afterwards taken prisoner, without resistance, at St. Ives; he suffered on the scaffold. The town consists of three principal streets, and a very extensive market place; the high roads from Biggleswade to Huntingdon, and to Cambridge, passing through the streets. The greater part of the town being only a few feet above the ordinary level of the river, inundations, till very lately, were consequent, upon sudden thaws, or very heavy rains, to such an extent as to render a navigation of the streets not merely practicable, but necessary; but great improvements having been effected, in the construction of the bridges, together with drains, this evil is, in a great measure, remedied. The only manufacture here is that of paper, for which there is an extensive mill upon the river, with Fourdrinier’s patent machines for making that article. The river Ouse is navigable from the port of Lynn to this place, and thence to Bedford; and a trade of some consequence is carried on upon it, in corn, wine, coals, iron, timber, groceries, &c., for the consumption of the town and neighbourhood. There are also several mailings in the town and its vicinity. The Earl of Sandwich is lord of the manor, and his representative holds a court annually. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is an elegant specimen of that light airy gothic style which attained its greatest excellence in the reign of Henry VII; it has a beautifully proportioned tower, and the interior of the church is embellished with some ancient screen work. The benefice is a discharged vicarage, in the gift of the crown; the Rev. James Appleton is the present incumbent. There are places of worship for baptists and Wesleyan mediodists, and a free school, founded by Loftus Hatley, in 1736; the endowment ot which was augmented by Alderman Newton, and other benefactors: by means of this charity, thirty-five poor boys are clothed and educated. The market, which is held on Thursday, is a considerable one for corn. Fairs, Holy Thursday, another three weeks after, and a third on December l7th. The parish of St-Neots contained, in 1831, 2,617 inhabitants.
