A
tumulus or bowl barrow stands on Gallows Hill, near the Icknield Way on the northern boundary of the parish, indicating prehistoric occupation in the area. The tumulus has not been excavated or dated. Evidence for
Roman occupation has been found in the area. Following the discovery of a Roman copper-alloy jug by a
metal detectorist in 2014, a subsequent archaeological dig found a Roman grave, which contained a number of other
artefacts believed to date to between 205 and 215AD, including a silver
denarius of
Trajan, three 2nd century copper-alloy coins, a quantity of
Roman glass, including bottles, glasses and two polychrome dishes thought to have been made in
Alexandria. In 2017, the treasure registrar for the
Portable Antiquities Scheme judged the dishes to be amongst the five most significant finds of recent years. The artefacts were subsequently bought by the
North Hertfordshire Museum. The
manor of Kelshall was apparently given to the
abbey at
Ely in the year 1000. The abbey subsequently became
Ely Cathedral. The manor remained in the cathedral's ownership until 1600, when Kelshall was transferred to the crown. It was shortly afterwards sold into private ownership. No priest or church was mentioned at Kelshall in the Domesday Book, suggesting it may not have been a parish at that time. Kelshall's parish church of St Faith's was built in the early 15th century. The church was thoroughly restored in 1868–1870, with subsequent restorations in 1911 and 1982. ==Governance==