Hilton, Cambridgeshire facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hilton
Hilton Turf Maze
Hilton
Population	1,052 (2011)
OS grid reference	TL289661
Shire county	Cambridgeshire
Region	East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	HUNTINGDON
Postcode district	PE28
Police	Cambridgeshire
Fire	Cambridgeshire
Ambulance	East of England
EU Parliament	East of England
UK Parliament	Huntingdon
List of places UK England Cambridgeshire 52°17′N 0°07′W / 52.28°N 0.11°W / 52.28; -0.11

The Church of St Mary Magdalene, Hilton

Hilton is a small village in Cambridgeshire, England. It is a civil parish, which means it has its own local government. Hilton is about 11 kilometres (7 miles) north-west of Cambridge. It is part of Huntingdonshire, an area known for its history.

The village has a beautiful old church called St Mary Magdalene. It is a very important historical building. This church has six bells that can be rung. For over 1,000 years, Hilton was part of Huntingdonshire until 1974.

A piece of an old wall painting from the 1600s is now in a museum in London. It shows two figures that stand for the senses of Taste and Sight. This painting came from Park Farm in Hilton.

On the village green, there is a special turf maze. It was created by a man named William Sparrow in 1660.

People and Population

How Many People Live Here?

The number of people living in Hilton has been counted regularly. This is done through a survey called the UK census. From 1801 to 1901, the population changed from 223 to 387 people.

Since 1901, a census has happened every ten years. The only time it was skipped was in 1941, because of the Second World War.

Here is how the population of Hilton has changed over the years:

In 2011, Hilton had 1,052 people living there. The village covers an area of about 535 hectares (1,322 acres). This means there were about 196 people living in each square kilometre (509 people per square mile).

Important Places to See

Hilton Hall

Hilton Hall is a large country house in the village. It was built in the early 1600s. Over the years, it has been changed and updated many times.

The Famous Turf Maze

Latin inscription on the central pillar of Hilton turf maze

One of the most famous things in Hilton is its turf maze. It is located on the village green. A turf maze is a special design cut into the grass. This maze is about 16.5 metres (55 feet) wide. It is one of only eight turf mazes left in England.

A stone pillar stands in the middle of the maze. It tells us that William Sparrow created the maze in 1660. He was born in 1641 and died in 1729, at 88 years old.

The pillar has words written in Latin and English. The Latin words say:

• "Sic transit gloria mundi" which means "Thus the glory of the world passes away."
• "Gvlielmvs Sparrow, Gen., natvs ano. 1641. Aetatis svi 88 qvamdo obiit, hos gyros fornavit anno 1660" which means "William Sparrow, Gentleman, born in the year 1641. Aged 88 when he died, he formed these circles in the year 1660."

The English words say: "William Sparrow departed this life the 25th August, Anno Domini 1729, aged 88 years."

The design of Hilton's maze is like a very old maze at Chartres Cathedral in France. That maze was made in 1235. Over time, the paths in Hilton's maze might have become unclear. But now, it has been carefully looked after to match its original design.

Some people think William Sparrow might have recut an even older maze. However, there is no proof of this. It is hard to know exactly when turf mazes were first made. There used to be a similar maze called "the Mazles" in a nearby village, but it is no longer there.

Well-Known People from Hilton

• The writer David Garnett lived at Hilton Hall. His wife, Angelica Garnett, and daughter, Amaryllis Garnett, also lived there.

See also

In Spanish: Hilton (Cambridgeshire) para niños