Cambridgeshire

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This area has a population of 650,000 and is 1,313 square miles (3,402 sq km) in area. It is located in East Central England. The county seat is Cambridge.

In Cambridgeshire there are the popular towns of Cambridge, Huntingdon, Melbourn, Peterborough, Ramsey and Soham.

Geography

Most of the area is low lying fenland, with the low, chalky East Anglian Hills in the south of the County and the Gogmagog (an ancient Celtic name) Hills near Cambridge. The main rivers are the Ouse, with its tributaries, and the Nene. The fens were drained after the Dutchman Cornelius Vermuyden completed a vast drainage project in 1653. The major population centres are Cambridge, Huntingdon, Melbourn, Peterborough, Ramsey and Soham.

Industry

Agriculture and light industry are the main economic activities. Wheat, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, and fruits are grown. Food processing is an important industry as well as radio engineering and the manufacture of cement, bricks, and scientific instruments.

History

The town of Ely has been an ecclesiastical centre for centuries. Cambridge University, dates from the early 13th cent. Cambridge was the old Celtic town Cumulodumn and became a Roman administrative centre. King William the Conqueror built a castle and a mint in the town. Central Cambridge still maintains much of its medieval atmosphere and appearance and the university buildings are worth a visit. It has a range of fine restaurants and good shopping facilities. Its oldest churches are St. Benet's which was built in the late Saxon period; St. Edward's (begun 12th cent.), St. Mary the Great (1478), the university church; and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, one of four Norman round churches in England.

Place of Interest

Anglesey Abbey, Brampton Wood, Buckden Towers, Castor Hanglands Nature Reserve, Denny Abbey, Devil's Dyke, Down Field Windmill, Duxford Chapel, Duxford Airfield, Elton Hall, Ely Cathedral, Flag Fen, Fowlmere Nature Reserve, Gog Magog Downs, Grafham Water Nature Reserve, Great Gransden Post Mill, Hereward Way, Hinchingbrooke House, Houghton Mill, Icknield Way, Kimbolton Castle, Lattersey Nature Reserve, Lode Watermill, Nene Valley Railway, Nene Way, New Bedford River, Octavia Hill Birthplace Museum, Old Bedford River, Ouse Valley Way, Ouse Washes, Paxton Pits Nature Reserve, Peckover House & Garden, Peterborough Cathedral, Prickwillow Drainage, Engine Museum, Ramsey Abbey, River Cam, River Great Ouse, RSPB Nene Washes, RSPB Ouse Washes, Three Shires Bridleway, University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Cambridge, Wandlebury Country Park; Wicken Fen, Wimpole Hall, Wisbech and March Bramleyline, WWT Welney.