Helpston

{{Short description|Village in Cambridgeshire, England}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}

{{Use British English|date=March 2018}}

{{Infobox UK place

| official_name = Helpston

| country = England

| region = East of England

| os_grid_reference = TF1205

| coordinates = {{coord|52.635|-0.344|display=inline,title}}

| post_town = Peterborough

| postcode_area = PE

| postcode_district = PE6

| dial_code = 01733

| lieutenancy_england = Cambridgeshire

| unitary_england = Peterborough

| hide_services =

| population = 981

| static_image = St.Botolph's church - geograph.org.uk - 1514740.jpg

| static_image_width = 200px

| static_image_caption = St Botolph's Church

}}

Helpston (also, formerly, "Helpstone") is an English village in Cambridgeshire. Historically; it was formerly in the Soke of Peterborough in Northamptonshire, subsequently (1965–1974) in Huntingdon and Peterborough, then in Cambridgeshire. It is administered by the City of Peterborough unitary authority.

The civil parish of Helpston covers an area of {{convert|1860|acres}} and had an estimated population in 2011 of 981.Source: ONS - 2011 Census (KS101EW)

The parish church is dedicated to St Botolph; the chancel window was created by Francis Skeat and depicts "Christ in Majesty".{{cite web|last=Peel|first=Robin|title=Helpston, St Botolph |url=http://www.robschurches.moonfruit.com/#/helpston/4520266961|work=Parish churches in and Around Peterborough |publisher=robschurches|access-date=3 January 2011}}{{cite web|title=Stained glass window|url=http://www.botolphsbarn.org.uk/photolibrary/buildings/buildings-Pages/Image33.html|publisher=St Botolph's Barn|access-date=3 January 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728145406/http://www.botolphsbarn.org.uk/photolibrary/buildings/buildings-Pages/Image33.html|archive-date=28 July 2011}}

The poet John Clare was born in Helpston in 1793 and is buried in the churchyard of St Botolph's. The thatched cottage where he was born was bought by the John Clare Trust in 2005.[http://www.clarecottage.org/ clarecottage.org] The John Clare Cottage, at 12 Woodgate, has been restored using traditional building methods and is open to the public. In 2013 the John Clare Trust received a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to help preserve the building and provide educational activities for youngsters visiting the cottage.[http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/what-s-on/leisure-lifestyle/peterborough-heritage-sites-gets-big-lottery-boost-1-5185021 "Peterborough heritage sites gets big lottery boost" Peterborough Telegraph 13 June 2013]

John Clare Primary School is named after the poet. {{cite web|url=https://www.johnclareschool.org|website= John Clare School|accessdate= 6 February 2022|title= John Clare Primary School}}

The name Helpston is Anglo-Saxon in origin and means the farmstead (tun) first settled by Help (an Old English personal name).[http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/english/ins/epntest/php/detailpop.php?placeno=11176 A Key to English Place-Names]

Helpston is well known for its athletics club, Helpston Harriers AC, who aspire to improve local running standards.