The following  has been taken from the History Gazetteer & Directory of Cambridgeshire including the Isle of Ely, Printed & Published by Robert Gardener in 1851.signed by John Drage Camps, Haddenham, 1864.

Isleham Parish.

This Parish which is bounded on the South by Fordham, on the West and North by Soham, and on the East by the County of Suffolk, contains 4,396 acres, according to Parliamentary returns, and 5,301 according to award, 2,635 of which are Fen. It's Population in 1801 was 1,212, in 1831 1,942, and in 1841 2,127 Souls. A great part of the soil is very good, and there are several hundred acres of turf land in the Parish. The Principal Proprietors are W.D.Gardiner, Esq., Rev. W.W.Cantlow, Mr Edward Hicks, Mr John Fyson, William Harlock Esq., Rev. T.Hall, William Layton Esq., and Mr Richard Bayley. The Parish is famous for the production of lime stone which is considered to make the strongest and finest lime in the County.
Manors―Priory―, There was a Priory here, of which the date of the foundation, the name of the founder or the length of its continuance is unknown. Tanner tells us that it was dedicated to St Margaret, and was a Cell to the Abbey of St Jacutus in Brittany, and that it was granted by Henry VI to Pembroke Hall Cambridge, being then valued at £10. 13s. 4d. It seems probable that about the year 1254, the Monks removed to Linton, which was another Cell to the Abbey of St Jacutus. The conventional Church or Chapel, now used as a barn, remains entire, about 100 yards West of the Parish Church. It is of the most simple style of Saxon architecture, with small round headed windows, the East end is circular and vaulted with stone. The arch between the Nave and Chancel is circular, and several parts of the building are of herring bone masonry, and the whole structure would indicate that foundation was very little, if at all later than the time of the Conquest. The Priory Estate is now held on lease, under Pembroke Hall, by John Moore.
The Manor of Isleham was given at an early period by Roesia De Dunstanville to the Family of Bridport, which was possessed of it in the reign of Edward III. Amongst the several possessor of it in after ages are John De Orreby, a Barron, who's Daughter bought it in Marriage to Henry Lord Percy, who died in 1368, Lord Ross of Hamlake, Sir Henry Percy, Earl of Athol, Henry Earl of Northumberland,, and George Duke of Clarence. Before the year 1643 it was in the Family of Peyton, who was before possessed of the Manors of Bernards, and afterwards acquired that of Beck Hall. It is not known with certainty when this Estate was alienated from the Peyton Family, but in 1683 the three Manors of Great Isleham with Beck or Bernards, Beck Hall, and New Hall and Uphall, belonged to Mrs Catherine Maynard. Sir Rushout Cullen was the next Possessor and from him they passed to the Bullers, one of whom sold them in 1807 to Mr Robert Knight. The Estate is now the property of William Dunn Gardiner Esq. The Manor of Isleham was held in ancient times under the Earl of Arundel by the singular service, that whenever the Earl, in going to the Wars, should pass Haringesmere, in this Parish, the Tenant should meet him, and present him with a gammon of bacon on the point of a lance.
The Village of Isleham or it is called in some documents Isleham, is large and scattered, and contains three streets, and several good houses. It is situate about 8 miles North from Newmarket, and 11 Southeast from Ely. A little South of the Village there is a small Hamlet called the Pits, which consists of a number of Cottages standing considerably below the level of the road, on the site of several lime pits.
The Church dedicated to St Andrew, is a large ancient and beautiful structure, consisting of a lofty Nave, Side Aisles, Transepts, Chancel, Porch, and Western Tower, in which are 5 bells. In the Chancel are several of the ancient stalls or Misereres, and a large brass Eagle. The body contains nearly the whole of the original open benches, in the Chancel are the Sedilia and Piscina, and the Pulpit is richly carved. The Nave exhibits an elegant specimen of the architecture of the fourteenth Century, it owes much of its ornament to the benefaction of Christopher Peyton Esq., who raised the roof in 1495. Over the arches on each side is a range of large and elegant windows, the wooden roof is ornamented with roses, figures of Angels, &c. On each side runs the following inscription '' Pray for the good prosperite of Crystofer Peyton and Elizabeth his Wyfe and for the Sowle of Thomas Peyton Sqwyer, and Margarete his wyfe Fader and Moder of the sayd Crystofer and for the sowles of al the Awncestre of the sayd Crystofer Peyton wych dyd mak thys rose in the yere of owre Lord M ˚CCCC˚LXXXXV˚ beyng the X zere of Kynge Hery the VII .'' In the North Transept is a Monument with the effigies of a cross legged Knight in mail and surcoat carved in clunch, in the South Transept is a gravestone with brasses containing the effigies of Sir John Barnard , who died in 1451, and his Lady and a Gothic Canopies. There is also in the Church a plain Alter tomb with the effigies of a Knight carved in clunch, with a diadem round his head, ornamented with jewels, and a rich necklace. There are several other Monuments to the Bernards and Peytons.
The Living is a discharged Vicarage, and a Peculiar in the Diocese of Rochester, rated at £13. 3s. 1½d. but now returned at £450 nett per annum. The Bishop of Rochester is Patron, and the Rev. G.F. Ottey Vicar. The tithes were commuted in 1847, Rectorial £732. 10s., £620 of which belongs to the Executors of the Hon Thomas Windsor, and £112. 10s. to Pembroke College, and the Vicarial for £496. 8s. The Vicarage house stands near the Church.
There are four Dissenting Chapels here, viz.- Calvinists, Baptists, General Baptists and Primitive Methodists. There is also a General Baptist Chapel in the Fen.
Peytons Hospital or Arms houses , for five poor Widowers and five poor Widows, was founded and endowed by the Lady of Sir Robert Peyton, who died in 1518. A neat National School, with a house for the Teachers was erected in 1848.
At Little Isleham, a depopulated Hamlet in this Parish, was a Free Chapel, dedicated to St Nicholas, of which there are now no remains, in the South Aisle of the Parish Church, is a Memorial for Christopher Green, Warden or Master of this Chapel, the Advowson of which was vested in the Peyton Family. The Manor of Shrewsbury, in Little Isleham, formerly belonging to the Abbot and Convent of Shrewsbury, is now vested in Kings College Cambridge.

Gentry &c.
Cantlow Rev. William.W, ( Baptist ).
Knight Mr Edward.
Norman Miss Sarah.
Ottey Rev. G.F. Vicar.
Robins Mrs Jemima.
Seaber Mrs Caroline.
Stenson Rev. E ( General Baptist ).

Farmers.
Brown John.
Chapman John.
Frost John.
Human John.
Human William.
Human & Brown.
Lugsden William. L, Lark Hall.
Moore John, Priory Farm.
Sheldrick Thomas.
Woods James.

Traders.
Avey Charles, Grocer & Draper.
Baker William, Publican, Cock.
Brown James, Publican, Ferry House.
Brown Joseph, Grocer & Draper.
Brown Morris, Builder, Farmer & Publican, White Horse.
Collin Robert, Beer Retailer.
Cooper J. Grocer & Draper.
Cornwell Benjamin, Beer Retailer.
Cornwell James, Blacksmith.
Diver John, Gardener.
Diver John, Shoemaker.
Drake Fred, Beer Retailer.
Drake John, Beer Retailer.
Ellis Edward, Beer Retailer.
Flatt John, Beer Retailer, Fen.
Fleett W. Beer Retailer, Fen.
Fletcher William, Beer REtailer.
Fyson John, Grocer & Draper.
Gammon James, Publican, Anchor.
Goldsmith Thomas, Miller.
Golding D. Butcher & Farmer.
Garner William, Beer Retailer.
Human Nathaniel H. Assessor & Collector of Taxes.
Human Nathaniel, Beer Retailer.
Human William, Publican, Griffin.
King William, Druggist.
Norman Jane, Beer Retailer.
Pycroft Elizabeth, Boarding Seminary.
Robins George F. Merchant & Farmer.
Sindall Thomas, Malster, Merchant &c.
Taylor T. Grocer & Draper.
Watson I. Beer Retailer, Fen.
Watson Richard, Publican, Cock Fen.

Letters are received through the Mildenhall Post Office.