Huntingdon, Huntingdonshire

A topographical and historical description of the county of Huntingdon (1808) by Edward Wedlake Brayley:

This town principally consists of one street extending in a westerly direction from the banks of the Ouse to nearly the distance of a mile and having several lanes branching off at right angles. The more ancient town appears to have spread further to the eastward yet whatever might formerly have been the extent of Huntingdon it is probable that its population is now nearly the same as it was a century ago as Bishop Gibson states the number of families it contained in 1717 at 400 whilst returns made to the House of Commons in 1801 recorded their then amount at 350 This total includes 993 males and 1042 females the number of houses was 356 most of the latter are of brick and many of them large and respectable buildings inhabited by genteel families. The streets have been paved and are lighted in the winter season by a small assessment levied on the householders

Huntingdon being a principal thoroughfare to the north has a good road trade and contains several large inns The brewing is still carried on here though not to so great an extent formerly and near the principal bridge is a small vinegar manufactory The inhabitants are supplied with coals wood &c by barges small vessels which come up the river from Lynn in Norfolk.

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