One of the things we love about our job is meeting so many amazing people from different walks of life. Another is having the pleasure of visiting beautiful towns and villages full of culture and diversity. Cambridgeshire really is a fantastic place to live and work.
One popular village we have visited many times is Burwell, a beautiful village approximately ten miles northeast of Cambridge. The name ‘Burwell’ is Anglo-Saxon in origin and refers to a fort (burh-) close to a spring (-well). In fact, there is actually a spring in the south of the village, close to the remains of the 12th-century Burwell Castle. You learn something new every day!
Burwell village is twinned with Lizy-sur-Ourcq (mentioned on signs as you enter the village), Mary-sur-Marne and a small town called Ocquerre. All three of which are situated in France. A plate marking the twinning is located on a wall outside the Year 3 classroom at the village primary school.
The village of Burwell is full of history, and we wanted to grab this opportunity to share some of it with you. It is hard to know where to start…
Burwell Castle
As we have mentioned the castle already, let’s start there. Burwell Castle was originally built in 1143 as part of a chain of castles designed to protect the area. Yep, it is pretty old. The castle was constructed by Stephen I of England during the civil war of ‘the Anarchy’, a long-running dispute between the supporters of Stephen, and his Angevin rival, Empress Matilda. In 1144, Stephen’s arch rival, the baron Geoffrey de Mandeville attacked Burwell, and the castle was left unfinished. For several years, a portion of the stone wall survived, but this final wall was later knocked down by the Fire Brigade testing a fire hose in the 1930s. Somebody definitely got their P45 that week. Today only the unfinished earthworks remain of the castle (in Spring Close), and a dry moat is still visible. What a fantastic piece of history.
Barn Fire
The following is an extract from the Parish Registers of Burwell:
‘At about 9 o’clock on the evening of September 8th 1727, fire broke out in a barn, in which a great number of persons were met together to see a puppet show. In the barn were a great many loads of new light straw. The barn was thatched with straw which was very dry, and the inner roof was covered with old dry cobwebs, so that the fire like lightening flew around the barn in an instant. There was but one small door, which was close nailed up, and could not easily be broken down. When it was opened, the passage was so narrow and everybody so impatient to escape that the door was presently blocked up, and most of those that did escape, which was but very few, were forced to crawl over the bodies of those that lay in a heap by the door.’
The story goes that a local gentleman Richard Whittaker knocked over a candle lantern while trying to gate-crash the party…you can guess the rest. The 80 victims were buried in the graveyard at St Mary’s Church in the village. Not the cheeriest of stories, but there is no denying that it is an excellent bit of culture…and also a reminder not to lock anyone in a barn. The site of this barn is now what Burwell residents know as Cuckolds Row; fortunately, the residents there no longer require candle lanterns!
Historical Monuments
Several years ago, the Burwell History Society decided to mark a number of important historical sites around the village. The plaques mark places that were in danger of being forgotten and include the following: the spot of the barn fire in 1727; the old lockup (where offenders were held overnight before being taken to the magistrates); the site of the old village stocks (replica stocks can now be found at Burwell Museum); Pound Hill, in recognition of the annual festival held there; and finally, the site of the old sheep wash pool (where sheep were washed and sheered before going to market).
At the same time as the plans for the plaques were discussed, the society was also updating and repackaging a book of village walks. The Parish Council agreed to fund the books on the understanding that proceeds from sales would finance the plaques and other small conservation projects. The deal was done, and the plaques were given pride of place around Burwell. The village residents are very proud of its history and are thrilled that this funding was agreed. Burwell can now continue to share its culture with new generations.
Burwell today…
Today Burwell is a popular, thriving place to live, and it’s obvious why. Burwell is a fascinating village to walk and cycle around, with many historical attractions in the village and sites of outstanding natural beauty nearby. With easy transport links to the A14 and being close to larger towns such as Cambridge, Newmarket, and Bury St Edmunds, Burwell is a perfect place to live for those who want a slower pace of life but are happy to commute to work if required. Villages, such as Burwell, became even more popular to move to during the pandemic when working from home became the new norm. People no longer had to commute and could suddenly enjoy their home surroundings more. Given its location, Burwell works for commuters and homeworkers alike, which explains the village’s popularity for new and existing homeowners.
The village hosts an annual carnival in June, which raises money for charity. A parade travels from Margaret Field south of the village to the Recreational Ground, where stalls and fairground rides are present. It is these kinds of events that make Burwell a thriving community for young families and the older generations alike. There is always lots to be involved in, but the pace of life is calm. Burwell prides itself on having a great community of people and is the perfect place to raise a family. The village has a nursery, playgroup, preschool, and primary school. Past 11 years old, the local children can then attend secondary school in either Soham or Bottisham – or an alternative secondary school of their choosing.
What more can we say…Burwell is a delightful village with tons of history and a community that looks after each other. Over the years, we have helped sell many properties there, and you can see why the demand to snap up these properties is high. If you are thinking about buying a new property, have you considered Burwell? It’s certainly worth a visit.