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.

Wicken Parish.

The Parish of Wicken, or as it was anciently called Wykes, contains 3,351 acres, its Population in 1801 was 614, in 1831 892, and in 1841 945 Souls. The amount of assessed property is £3,357. The Soil is principally a strong loam, and a great part of the Parish is Fenland. The Principal Landowners are William Aspland Esq., and Miss Mary Hatch.
Spinney Abbey, or Priory, in this Parish was founded in the reign of King Henry III. for three Austin Canons by Sir Hugh De Malebisse, who had married Beatrice, Lady of the Manor of Wykes. Lady Bassingbourne, about the year 1302, augmented it with four more Canons. About the middle of the following Century, this Priory having fallen to decay both in its buildings and revenues, was united to the Abbey of Ely by Walter Bishop of Norwich. In 1321, Mary, Lady Bassingbourne, founded an Hospital here for seven poor old Men, it was attached to the Priory, and the Monks, as her Trustees, were bound to provide each of the Pensioners with a farthing loaf of bread, one herring, and one pennyworth of ale daily, besides fuel and clothing.
Manors.-- The Manors of Wykes was anciently in the Thorntons, from whom it passed by female heirs to the families of Bassingbourne, Colville, Gernon, and Peyton. Wicken was for many years the seat of the Peytons of Isleham. This Manor was sold about the year 1800 by the Earl of Bestborough to Mr. John Rayner, and it is now the property of William Aspland, Esq. After the Reformation a Manor in Wicken, and the site of the Priory which had belonged to the Canons, were granted to trust to Sir. Edward North. About the middle of the 16th century the Priory estate became the property of Henry, fourth Son of Oliver Cromwell, who, after the Restoration of King Charles II., retired here, where he died, and was buried in the Chancel of the Parish Church in March 1673. Henry Cromwells Son mortgaged the estate in 1687 to Philip Welbore, it was afterwards purchased by the Earl of Orford, and passed through the Somerset Family to the Earl of Aylesford. Miss Hatch is the present proprietor.
King Charles II. visited Henry Cromwell in his retirement, when the sports of the field led him in September 1671 from Newmarket to the neighbourhood of Spinney, and various traditionary anecdotes are current as to the circumstances of the visit, one is, that the King having expressed a wish for refreshment, was informed by a courtier that a very honest gentleman resided in the neighbourhood, who would think it an honour to entertain his Majesty, desired to be conducted to his Mansion. On entering the farm yard, which led to the house, one of the Kings attendants took up his pitchfork, and throwing it across his shoulder, walked in a stately manner before Mr. Cromwell, who was then in the yard, wondering at the number of his visitors, and still more so at this Ceremony, which even surprised the laughter loving Charles, who inquiring its meaning, '' Sire '' said the pitchfork bearer, with more however of insolence than generosity, '' the gentleman before whom I carry this implement of husbandry is Mr. Henry Cromwell, to whom I had the honour of being mace-bearer when in Ireland.'' The Monarch smiled, but Mr. Cromwell was greatly confused. This, however, was soon removed by the ease and gaiety of his Royal guest.
The Village of Wicken, which consists of one long street, stands about 3 miles S. W. from Soham and 6  S. E. from Ely.
The Church.-- dedicated to St. Lawrence, consists of a Nave, Chancel, Porch and Tower. There are several memorials in it of the Cromwell and Peyton families. The living is a Perpetual Curacy in the Deanery of Fordham, formerly in the Diocese of Norwich, but now in that of Ely, rated in the K. B. at £18., and returned at £56. nett per annum. Miss Hatch is Patron, and the Rev. W. Fleetwood, incumbent. The Rectory, which was given to the Priory of Spinney by Sir. Hugh Malebisse, has since passed with the Priory estate.
There are two Dissenting Chapels here, one belonging to the Wesleyan Methodists, which is a neat modern building capable of seating about 300 persons, and the other to the Primitive Methodists, which is much smaller. The National School, at which about 80 children are educated, is endowed by Mrs Rayner.

Gentry &c.
William Aspland, Esq.
Mrs M. Casburn
Rev. William Fleetwood
Mrs Sarah Layton

Farmers
Thomas Coxall
John Cropley
James Dennis
James Dennis jnr
John Dennis,  Spinney Abbey
John Docken
James Halls
John Johnson,  Appleyard
John Layton
Robert Mortlock
John Slack
Joseph Slack
Layton Slack
William Slack
Keziah Staples,  High Fen
John Tebbitt
Joseph Tebbitt
Thomas Sutton

Traders
Isaac Aspland,  Grocer & Draper
James Barton,  Shopkeeper
George Houghton,  Shoemaker
John How,  Miller &c
James Kettle,  Wheelwright, & Publican, Maids Head
Edward Lavender,  Shopkeeper
Isaac Peachey,  Builder
Henry Treen,  Blacksmith

Letters are received through the Soham Post Office.