Hildersham is a small village and civil parish in South Cambridgeshire, about eight and a half miles south-east of Cambridge city centre as the crow flies. The village lies along a street between Linton and the Abingtons, and the parish reaches south to the Essex county boundary. It borders the parishes of Linton, Great Abington, Little Abington and Balsham, and, across the county boundary in Essex, Great Chesterford.
The 2021 Census recorded about 200 people living in the parish. The Hildersham Conservation Area was designated in 1972, and the parish church of Holy Trinity is listed Grade I.
The River Granta flows from south-east to north-west across the centre of the parish, dividing it into two unequal parts. The church and one manor house stand north of the river, and the other manor house, later Hildersham Hall, stands to the south.
Before the 1880s the river was crossed by a ford. The first bridge, built of iron, was put up in 1886 at the expense of the rector's sister, Elizabeth Hemington, and the stretch of river through the village was straightened around 1889. The village hall stands beside the river today.
When the Domesday survey was made in 1086, 20 people were enumerated at Hildersham. The survey also recorded woodland for 20 pigs, and Aubrey de Vere owned a mill there. A water mill, standing on the parish boundary with Linton, remained in business until about 1915.
The village has always been small. Its population rose from 170 in 1801 to 248 by 1851, and there were still only 59 houses in 1961. The parish school was rebuilt in 1879 to 1880 for up to 111 children, but by 1928 it had only seven pupils and was closed. The Cambridge to Haverhill railway line opened in 1865 and closed in 1967.
The Hildersham Conservation Area was designated in January 1972. The council publishes a boundary map for it; no conservation area appraisal is listed for Hildersham.
Holy Trinity Church on the High Street is listed Grade I. Its walls are flint rubble with limestone dressings, and its oldest parts, the west tower and the vaulted sacristy, date from around 1200 and the early 13th century. The church was heavily restored in the later 19th century, and around 1890 the chancel was covered with painted decoration of stencilled floral patterns and scenes from the Bible. The chancel also holds brasses, including effigies ascribed to Robert Parys (died about 1377) and his wife Eleanor. Two wooden effigies of a knight and a lady, dating from about 1300, were stolen in 1977.
Hildersham Hall, south of the river, is listed Grade II*. It was built around 1807 to designs by Edward Lapidge and is a stuccoed villa.
Withleigh is a long, two-storeyed, timber-framed house of the 16th century.
Hildersham has no school of its own. Its catchment primary school has been Great Abington Primary School, and its catchment secondary school has been Linton Village College. Catchment areas can change, so families should confirm current catchment with Cambridgeshire County Council admissions.
Check National Rail for current train times before you travel.
Hildersham is a small village, so homes come up for sale only occasionally.
HM Land Registry recorded three standard residential sales in Hildersham from October 2024 onwards, the most recent in February 2026. All three were semi-detached houses, with prices ranging from £400,500 to £805,000. With so few sales, and because the mix of homes sold varies from year to year, these figures give a general picture rather than a precise valuation.
Thinking of moving to or from Hildersham? Book a free valuation or browse property for sale with our team.
Hildersham is about eight and a half miles south-east of Cambridge city centre in a straight line.
No. The nearest station is Whittlesford Parkway, about four miles west, with Greater Anglia trains to Cambridge and London Liverpool Street.
Yes. The Hildersham Conservation Area was designated in January 1972.
There is no school in the village. The catchment schools have been Great Abington Primary School and Linton Village College; please confirm current catchment with Cambridgeshire County Council.
