Buckden

 

Buckden is a village located in Cambridgeshire, England, situated about 10 miles south of the historic city of Peterborough. It is part of the Huntingdonshire district and offers a blend of rural charm and convenience, with easy access to nearby towns and major roads. 

Buckden is known for its scenic countryside, including the nearby River Great Ouse, and its notable landmarks, such as Buckden Tower, a former residence of the Bishops of Lincoln. The village also features a range of local amenities, including shops, schools, and a strong community spirit.

Wisbech

Wisbech is a market town in the Fens of Cambridgeshire. It is also an inland port with a tidal river called the River Nene. There is likely to have been a settlement here since the Iron Age and Wisbech is mentioned in the Domesday Book.

In the 17th century the town benefitted from the draining of the Fens which turned Wisbech into a prosperous port town. There used to be a canal which joined the RRiver Nene near the town centre but this was filled in and now serves as a dual carriageway. Wisbech Castle was built by William I in 1072, destroyed by flooding in 1236 and rebuilt and extended at various stages of its life to the mansion house structure that you see today which is used for weddings and events.

Wisbech has a large population of Eastern Europeans who originally came over to work on the farms. Wisbech is known for its fine architecture mainly of Georgian origin.  Wisbech is home to  Peckover House, a National Trust property which is open to visitors.

For more photos of Wisbech click here or watch on You Tube

Godmanchester

Godmanchester is a small town separated from Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire by the River Great Ouse and a medieval bridge. Once a Roman settlement it is close to England's largest meadow at Portholme which serves as an important flood plain.

There are a number of old timber framed Tudor houses in Godmanchester which are of important archaeological interest and which are now conservation areas.

Huntingdon

Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire is famous for being the birthplace of Oliver Cromwell in 1599. Originally an Anglo-Saxon town, its proximity to the River Ouse led it to become a busy coaching centre and market town. The impressive George Hotel was actually used as a coaching inn built right  by the medieval bridge that takes traffic in and out of nearby Godmanchester.

Huntingdon has a number of restaurants, cafes and public houses and was once represented in parliament by Conservative  MP and Prime Minister John Major. 

The Fens

The Fens or Fenlands in Cambridgeshire are a marshy region in low lying agricultural lands. A Fen refers to the marshland which is predominantly found around the Wash but stretches out into Lincolnshire and Norfolk.

Much of the Fenland is just above sea level and although a lot of the land has been drained they can be prone to flooding. In order to protect drained land you will see drainage banks around much of the agricultural land.

Ely

Ely in Cambridgeshire is a cathedral city just 14 miles from Cambridge. Although agriculture  is the main economy in this area the city attracts a lot of tourists due to the fact that the cathedral is one of Britain's oldest and finest. 

There are plenty of independent shops in Ely and some good restaurants and traditional tea rooms. The architecture is of particular interest. 

Visitors can wander around the grounds of the cathedral and spend time soaking up the history in Oliver Cromwells house and taking a look around the glass museum.

For more photographs of Ely click here or watch on You Tube

Peterborough

The Cathedral City of Peterborough in Cambridgeshire is just 75 miles north of London. The River Nene flows through the city which is surrounded by Nene Park and some spectacular tree lined approach roads and parklands.

The lowlands and flat land fen areas in and around Peterborough have seen settlements that date back to the bronze age. Peterborough  today is a mixture of modern and new. The city centre has seen some extensive renovation and regeneration.

In recent years the population of Peterborough has increased significantly, due in part to the immigration of people from the Eastern European countries.

For photos of Peterborough click here or view on You Tube

Cambridge

Situated just 50 miles from London, Cambridge is a university city in East Anglia. Built on low lying fen lands the city has had to be drained over the years to cope with expansion. It is a beautiful and historic city and attracts a large number of national and international students as well as thousands of tourists.

There has been a settlement here since before Roman times. The River Cam would have played an important part in the cities growth over the centuries. Cambridge was once under Viking rule and it did not become a city until 1951. The world famous University of Cambridge has put Cambridge on the international map as well as provide a workforce where over 40% have a higher educational qualification. No surprise then that Cambridge is also known as the Silicon Valley of the Fens.

With its narrow streets and old buildings, bicycles outnumbering cars and plenty of quality restaurants, cafes and bars, Cambridge is definitely worth a visit. 

For more photographs of Cambridge click here or view on You Tube

Soham

For such a small town with a population of just 9,000 Soham is famous for several things not least the Soham murders in 2002. Two 10 year old girls living in the town were murdered by a caretaker and the town received media attention on an international scale.

Settlements in the area date back to the Bronze and Iron Age. A cathedral was built here in 900 AD where the Church of St Andrews now stands. The town is famous for being the home of Britain's first Black writer Olaudah Equiano who married a local girl in the church in 1792. William Case Morris was born here in 1864. He emigrated to Argentina and is known there as a great social reformer who is renowned for his help with children in poverty. There is a statue of him in Beuno Aires and other locations are named after him including a town.

In 1944 the town was nearly blown up when a train of ammunition passing through it caught fire. The heroic action of local railway staff saved the day when they drove the train out of the town before it exploded killing them but sparing the town's occupants. A memorial to the heroes can be found in the grounds of St Andrew's Church.

Today Soham has a busy high street with more than its fair share of cafes and eating places. With good local pubs and excellent shopping facilities for such a small location the local council refreshingly provide totally free car parking.