A hundred was a group of parishes: Huntingdonshire had four such hundreds, namely Hurstingstone, Leightonstone, Norman Cross and Toseland. Cambridgeshire had many more; Armingford, Chesterton, Cheveley, Chilford, Ely, Flendish, Longstowe, North Witchford, Northstow, Papworth, Radfield, South Witchford, Staine, Staploe, Thriplow, Wetherley, Whittlesford and Wisbech
In the late 13th century enquiries were made by central government into local royal rights and privileges, and the documents resulting from these enquiries are known as the Hundred Rolls. These Rolls (now held at The National Archives in Kew) list the villeins, freemen and cottage tenants, with their holdings and obligations, as well as the extents of the lords' own holdings.
The Hundred Rolls were published in full by the Historical Manuscripts Commission during the early 1800s. There are extracts from the enquiry of 1274-5 into encroachments on royal rights and official misconduct by sheriffs and bailiffs for Huntingdonshire and Cambridgeshire and returns to a similar enquiry of 1279 which included questions about landholding and related services. Copies can be consulted at both our offices. Please note that the rolls are written in Latin.