Cambridgeshire Archives have secured grant funding to acquire a ‘terrier’ - which offers a snapshot of 18th century life in Chesterton, Cambridge.
This rare and historically significant document contains a detailed record of land and property ownership in rural Chesterton, long before the area had become part of the expanding city of Cambridge.
Funding of £350 has been provided by Friends of the Nations’ Libraries, a UK charity which helps libraries, archives and museums to acquire books, manuscripts and archives that they could not otherwise afford.
The document, titled ‘Terrier of John Chettoe’s Property in Chesterton’, dates back to 1768 and includes a transcript of an earlier terrier from 1694. It has been acquired by Cambridgeshire from a private owner based in South Africa.
It provides an account of land use, ownership, and the estate’s layout, describing Chettoe’s residence, (likely Chesterton Hall), and approximately 84 acres of surrounding land.
As well as geographic details, the terrier lists field boundaries, tenant names, plot sizes, and estimated land values, offering a glimpse into the social and economic fabric of the time.
This acquisition fills a gap in Cambridgeshire Archives’ collection – no other terriers of Chesterton from this period are known to exist – it also complements other archival materials related to John Chettoe, including his will, title deeds, and correspondence.
The property’s ownership history shows that it was originally purchased from Captain Gamaliel Nightingale in 1772, sold to William Wragg in 1799, and eventually acquired by St John’s College, Cambridge.
The land was sold for housing developments in the 1930s, when Chesterton Hall was converted into flats.
Councillor Alison Whelan, Chair of the Committee for Communities, Social Mobility and Inclusion, said: “I’m very grateful to Friends of the Nations’ Libraries for funding Cambridgeshire Archives’ purchase of this document. Preserving our local heritage enriches our understanding of community identity and development.
“Documents like the Chesterton Terrier connect us to the lives and landscapes of the past, helping us appreciate the journey our county has taken.”
Esther Bellamy, Archivist for Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “This document preserves a vital piece of Cambridgeshire’s history, capturing the landscape of Chesterton and marking its transformation from rural estate to urban community. It’s a valuable resource for historians, or anyone interested in the way land use and social history have evolved in our county.”
Cambridgeshire Archives, a service provided by Cambridgeshire County Council, holds a wealth of unique historic records and other resources relating to Cambridgeshire, the former counties of Huntingdonshire and the Isle of Ely and their communities.
Cambridgeshire Archives’ online catalogue contains descriptions of over half a million documents in their care, with more being added all the time. To view a particular document, such as the Chesterton Terrier, it is recommended to make an appointment
You can visit Cambridgeshire Archives’ homepage here: Archives | Cambridgeshire County Council
Find out more about records of the estate of John Chettoe at Chesterton on our archives website.
