Cambridgeshire

Cambridgeshire is a county in the East of England, also called Cambs. It is next to several other counties, including Lincolnshire, Norfolk, and Bedfordshire. The biggest town is Peterborough, and the famous university city of Cambridge is also here.

The county covers 3,389 square kilometers and has a population of around 906,814 people. Much of Cambridgeshire is open and flat, especially in the north and east, where the land is called the Fens. These Fens are very low and were once marshes but have been cleared for farming. In fact, Holme Fen is the lowest point in the United Kingdom, sitting about 2.75 meters below sea level.

The south and west of Cambridgeshire have gently rolling hills. Important rivers such as the Nene, the Great Ouse, and the Cam flow through the county, helping to shape the landscape and support life there.

History

Main article: History of Cambridgeshire

Cambridgeshire has a very old history. One of the earliest places where people lived long ago is called Flag Fen in Fengate. At a place called Must Farm near Whittlesey, scientists found well-preserved houses from a time long ago, called the Bronze Age.

The area was later settled by people called the Anglo-Saxons. Records from a very old book called the Domesday Book mention Cambridgeshire, calling it "Grantbridgeshire."

Over time, the way the area was governed changed. In 1965, two parts were joined together, and later in 1972, they merged with another area to form what we now know as Cambridgeshire. Since 1998, the city of Peterborough has had its own local government but still works together with Cambridgeshire for some important services.

During the Second World War, many airfields were built in Cambridgeshire because of its flat land and closeness to the continent. The county’s old army unit, known as the Cambridgeshire Regiment or the Fen Tigers, fought in several major wars.

Flag

Main article: Flag of Cambridgeshire

Cambridgeshire's county flag was picked in 2014. It has three golden crowns: two at the top and one at the bottom, with two wavy lines in between. The crowns represent East Anglia, and the lines represent the River Cam and the colors of Cambridge University.

Geography

See also Geology of Cambridgeshire

Cambridgeshire has many low areas. Holme Fen is the lowest point in the United Kingdom, at 2.75 meters (9 feet) below sea level. The highest point in the county is near the village of Great Chishill, reaching 146 meters (480 feet) above sea level. Other notable hills include Little Trees Hill and Wandlebury Hill in the Gog Magog Hills, as well as Rivey Hill above Linton and Rowley’s Hill.

Wicken Fen, west of Wicken, is a large protected area managed by the National Trust. The Cambridge Green Belt around the city of Cambridge helps protect surrounding villages such as Waterbeach, Lode, Duxford, and Little & Great Abington from urban growth. It was set up in the 1950s.

Politics

Cambridgeshire County Council is led by the Liberal Democrats, and Peterborough City Council is run by a minority group from the Conservative Party.

The county has eight areas that elect members to Parliament.

Economy

Cambridgeshire has many different kinds of jobs and industries. Many people work in farming, especially in the countryside.

Near the city of Cambridge, there is a special area called the Silicon Fen. Many smart companies work with electronics, computers, and medicine there.

Some big companies have offices in Cambridgeshire, like AWG plc in Huntingdon. The RAF also has bases in places like Huntingdon and St Ives. The Port of Wisbech on the River Nene is the only port left in the county.

Education

Cambridgeshire has many schools for children to learn. There are over 240 schools where families can send their children. Some special schools are called Village Colleges, and they are only found in this area.

Two very old schools that many people know are King's Ely and Wisbech Grammar School.

The county is also home to places for older students to continue studying. The most famous is the University of Cambridge, one of the oldest and most well-known universities in the world. Other schools for higher learning include Anglia Ruskin University, which has campuses in Cambridge and Peterborough, and the Open University, with a centre in Cambridge. There are also colleges in Peterborough and Milton that work with universities to offer more advanced courses.

For a more comprehensive list, see List of schools in Cambridgeshire.

Settlements

For a more comprehensive list, see Civil parishes in Cambridgeshire and List of Cambridgeshire settlements by population.

These are some of the larger places in Cambridgeshire, including towns and cities with special status or populations bigger than 5,000. For a full list, visit the list of places in Cambridgeshire.

• Burwell
• Cambourne
• Cambridge
• Chatteris
• Cottenham
• Ely
• Godmanchester
• Huntingdon
• Littleport
• March
• Peterborough
• Ramsey
• Sawston
• Sawtry
• Soham
• St Ives
• St Neots
• Wisbech
• Whittlesey
• Yaxley

See the List of Cambridgeshire settlements by population page for more detail.

The town of Newmarket is mostly surrounded by Cambridgeshire but is connected to Suffolk by a thin strip of land.

Climate

Cambridgeshire has a mild climate, like the rest of the United Kingdom. It is usually drier because it is lower and further east. Winds from the southwest lose their moisture on higher ground before they reach it. Winters here are a bit colder because the area is farther inland and closer to Europe. Snow falls a little more often than in western areas, due to winds from the east that sometimes bring snow from the North Sea. In summer, temperatures are about average or a bit warmer, with less cloud cover. The temperature reaches 25 °C (77 °F) on about ten days each year, similar to places in Kent and East Anglia.

Culture

Sports

Cambridgeshire has a long history with football, going back to medieval times. In 1579, a football match between townspeople and students from the University of Cambridge became noisy, so the university banned the game outside college grounds. During the 1800s, students made early football rules called the Cambridge rules, which helped create the modern game's laws.

The county is also where the sport of bandy began. Records from 1813 show the Bury Fen Bandy Club was undefeated for 100 years. In 1882, a club member wrote down the first official rules, helping spread the sport around the world. The Great Britain Bandy Association is based in Cambridgeshire.

Fen skating, a traditional form of ice skating, is popular in the area. The National Ice Skating Association started in Cambridge in 1879 and sent top skaters to world championships. In June 2015, Cambridgeshire hosted its first Tour of Cambridgeshire cycle race, an official event that drew many riders.

The River Cam flows through Cambridge and is used for famous rowing events like the Lent Bumps and May Bumps. The county has just one racecourse, located in Huntingdon.

Contemporary art

Cambridge is home to art spaces like the Kettle's Yard gallery and the Aid and Abet project space. Near the village of Bourn is the Wysing Arts Centre, and Wisbech has the Wisbech Gallery on South Brink. Cambridge Open Studios connects over 500 artists, who open their studios to visitors each July.

Literature

Since 2012, the Fenland Poet Laureate awards have celebrated poets from the northern part of the county at Wisbech & Fenland Museum.

Theatre

In the past, travelling comedy groups visited Cambridgeshire. The Angles Theatre in Wisbech dates back to Georgian times. In Cambridge, the ADC Theatre hosts performances by the famous Footlights group.

Media

Cambridgeshire gets its television from BBC East and ITV Anglia. Local radio stations include BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, Greatest Hits Radio East, Heart East, Smooth East Midlands (covering only Peterborough), and Star Radio. Community radio stations are Black Cat Radio in St Neots; Cam FM and Cambridge 105 in Cambridge; Huntingdon Community Radio; and Peterborough Community Radio and Salaam Radio in Peterborough.

Places of interest

Cambridgeshire has many special places to visit. Some of these include Angles Theatre, Anglesey Abbey, and Brampton Wood. You can also see historical sites like Ely Cathedral, Peterborough Cathedral, and King's College, Cambridge. Nature lovers might enjoy visiting Grafham Water Nature Reserve or Wicken Fen. There are also interesting museums such as the Imperial War Museum Duxford and the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.

Other notable spots include Duxford Airfield, Flag Fen, and the River Cam. Whether you like history, nature, or museums, Cambridgeshire offers many fascinating places to explore.

Notable people from Cambridgeshire

Main category: People from Cambridgeshire

Cambridgeshire has been home to many famous people. One is Emma Bridgewater, who started her own company called Emma Bridgewater. Another is Oliver Cromwell, who lived from 1599 to 1658. He was a leader during the English Civil War and later became an important leader of England, Scotland, and Ireland.