Traveller's World - Cambridgeshire - Huntingdonshire and the Ouse Valley

Cambridgeshire - Huntingdonshire and the Ouse Valley

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Huntingdonshire is centre around the River Great Ouse and its fascinating market towns. Away from the river stretches the far horizons of the Fens and west of the Great North Road (A1) is an area of undulating country with charming villages nestling along quiet roads. It's an area of leisure and water-based holidays and the land of Oliver Cromwell, Samuel Pepys and Queen Catherine of Aragon.

Towns and Villages

The main centres of population have long and interesting histories, and although much new development has taken place, they retain many interesting buildings in their historic centres. Today they have flourishing shopping centres and plenty of accommodation, making them ideal bases for touring the area.

Godmanchester was, in Roman times, a major settlement at an important crossroads and became one of England's first boroughs with its charter awarded in 1212. Its close neighbour is Huntingdon. The towns are separated by attractive water meadows which are criss-crossed by footpaths and rivulets from the Great Ouse and linked by a beautiful 13th century road bridge. There are several fine Georgian buildings to be seen in Huntingdon.

St Ives and St Neots are pleasant market towns well worth a visit. A 15th century stone bridge spans the river in St Ives which has a chapel at its centre - one of only four surviving medieval bridge chapels in England. Visit the museum in St Ives which houses some fascinating reminders of the days when it was possible to skate on the frozen fens each winter. St Neots' history dates back to the 10th century and you should take a look inside the 15th century church, built in the Perpendicular style of architecture, to admire the wonderful roof carvings of animals, birds and angels.

The town of Ramsey has a character and atmosphere all of its own. Situated on the edge of the Fens, the town grew up around Ramsey Abbey, founded in 969. Ramsey Abbey (now a school), the Abbey Gatehouse and Thomas A Becket Church, which was originally used as a hospital for the Abbey, are all well worth a visit.

There are over 80 villages and hamlets to discover, tucked away down virtually traffic free country lanes. Many have conservation areas with quaint cottages constructed centuries ago of either Barnack stone in the north or local red and yellow brick elsewhere. Here are a few suggestions to whet the appetite but the list is by no means complete:

Glatton and Alwalton, charming stone villages in the Nene Valley

The unspoilt estate-owned villages of Abbots Ripton and Wennington

The riverside villages of the Ouse Valley such as Houghton, Wyton, Hemingford Abbots, Hemingford Grey and Holywell

The villages of Kimbolton, Spaldwick and Alconbury with magnificent church spires in the west

People and Places

Oliver Cromwell, one of country's most powerful men, is associated with this area. He was born and baptised in Huntingdon, educated at its grammar school (no a museum of his life), was a tenant farmer in St Ives and trained troops for the Civil War locally. The Falcon inn in Huntingdon's Market Square was used as one of his headquarters and his statue still stands at St Ives. Today you can retrace Cromwell's steps and visit his old haunts by following the Cromwell Trail available from Ely and Huntingdon TIC. Samuel Pepys lived at Brampton and was also educated at Huntingdon grammar school. Many of his famous diaries were written from his home. Modern Huntingdonshire is home to the Prime Minister, John Major.

Queen Catherine of Aragon was sent to Buckden Palace near Huntingdon by Henry VIII before she was imprisoned at Kimbolton Castle. The castle was remodelled by Vanbrugh in 1707 and forms the centrepiece of the attractive village of Kimbolton. William Cowper, the Northamptonshire poet, lived in Huntingdon 1765-1767 in the fine early 18th century house now occupied by the Hunts Post newspaper group.

Stilton, one of England's favourite and famous cheeses, was named after the village of Stilton, although it was never produced there. The cheese was made in Leicestershire, brought to the 17th century Bell Inn staging post on the Great North Road (once a regular haunt of highwayman Dick Turpin) for delivery by coach to London where it became known as Stilton.

Places to visit:

Cromwell Museum, Huntingdon (01480) 425830

Oliver Cromwell's House, Ely (01353) 662062

Norris Museum, St Ives (01480) 465101

Houghton Mill, Houghton (01480) 301494

More information and places to visit:

The Fens

What to See and Do