CROSSKEYS RIVERSIDE HOUSE
In 1852 Higay Parish had just over 1700 inhabitants in 395 houses. Mr WL Jones and Mrs Peel were owners of the 7,583 acres of land on which Hilgay stood, half of which was fen. The 200 allotments covering 102 acres are supposed to have been awarded in the reign of Charles II for use by the poor.
Many trades were present then including doctor, baker and blacksmith and farrier. Six pubs and four beer houses gave a focus for village life. George Whittome's millwright business was started during the late 1800's; his family also owned one of the two windmills in Hilgay which blew down during a gale in the 1920's.
When King Charles was on the run from the Roundheads in 1646 a change of horse and clothing was provided in Hilgay.
The River Wissey, which runs beside the Hotel, has always helped with the draining of the Fenlands. It was used mainly in the 20th Century to transport sugar beet upstream to a sugar processing factory at Wissington. This trade ceased in 1950. Now used for pleasure boating and canoeing, moorings are available alongside the Hotel.
Around 1911 Bridge Street was nothing but a dirt track and
the hotel, then a farmhouse, is shown below. It became the Cross Keys Hotel
in around 1982.
