Great Paxton now is Cambridgeshire but formerly in Huntingdonshire, is an attractive, pre- Domesday village, with about 1000 inhabitants, which nestles in the shallow hills of the east bank of the River Great Ouse, about 3 miles north of St. Neots on the road to the (Roman) town of Godmanchester and Huntingdon. To the west of the village lies the main-line North - South railway, and further westwards over the river the old Great North Road (now the A1) between London and the North. Some local 'villages' remain now quietly as reminders of the staging posts along this road. Evidence (scant) remains to the east of the village of a Roman road, and also without obvious evidence, an important airfield of WWII (Gravely)
The origin of the name 'Great Paxton' is inconclusive. Within Domesday it is spelt both as Parachestune and Pachestone; some believe it is derived from a local dignitary, others from the nature of the land and its use. The name developed significantly over the years from Domesday, before stabilising in its current form. By the 12th century distinction was being made between Great and 'Little' Paxton located over the River Great Ouse, and at one time serviced by the Wray Ferry between the West and East banks of the river now long ceasing to operate.
The manor of Great Paxton, its sponsors, and particularly the importance of the church, give credibility to the original importance of the village and its church.
The manor was owned before the conquest by King Edward, and subsequently by Countess Judith; thereafter it passed to the Scottish throne and latterly, in religious terms, to Hugh of Lincoln. Charters prove it to be a Minster, providing priests to the outlying areas of Huntingdonshire, and with particular reference to its berewicks of Toseland, Little Paxton and Buckworth, (prehaps NOT Abbotsley, notwithstanding the legend of how bodies were carried from Abbotsley to Great Paxton for burial) and not neglecting Agden in Great Staughton, mentioned in Scottish Charter as belonging to Great Paxton, although not included in Domesday.
The Minster Church of the Holy Trinity is undoubtedly the cause celebre of the village, both historically and currently, nationally and prehaps internationally.
It is a remarkable building; from the outside yet another English parish church. From the inside, recognition as one of the most important Saxon churches within England.
Originally cruciform, (the two transepts no longer exist but the remains and a true crossing are evident). Inside there are aisles broad enough for religious processions, and the tangible evidence of a Romanesque mid eleventh century pre-conquest minster, of Saxon long and short work, with its origins in the architecture, architects, masons, of Lotheringia.
There is of course the (alleged) 'witch' of the village, Ann Izzard, for whom the Rev Isaac Nicholson, curate, preached a sermon in 1808 against witchcraft, (to no avail) but for whom Ann then gained justice, and recently recompense in that a new road was named in her memory.
Currently the active village has a very wide 'travel to work' facility with access to rail, road and air facilities. Within the village is a unique church, public house, post office and store, car sales, car repair, agricultural/horticultural mechanical equipment, sales and repair, numerous 'sole trader' facilities and a new Church of England primary school. The regular village magazine, 'The Great Paxton Parish Newsletter' perfectly illustrates the range of activities within the village.