There are so many beautiful villages in Cambridgeshire – literally hundreds. Living or working in this county is a massive privilege and one of the blessings we should be counting every day. As we have mentioned previously (and like to harp on about), Cambridge is one of the most desirable places to live in the UK and has even won awards…have we mentioned that? But this desirability does not just stop at Cambridge; it expands into the gorgeous towns and villages around it. We have The Shelfords and Grantchester, not to mention Histon. All are entirely different, but all have their own history, beauty and quirks. There are some genuinely stunning villages in Cambridgeshire. It is no wonder the region’s reputation has continued to grow over the years!
But in this blog, we are talking about Fulbourn, with its long and rich history, which spans many centuries. Where do we even start, though? Let’s start with a fact. The name Fulbourn derives (or so it is thought – don’t quote us) from the Anglo-Saxon ‘Fugleburn’ or ‘Fugolburna’, meaning ‘stream frequented by waterfowl’, in namesake to the actual waterfowl-frequented stream which lies in the east of the village. The modern-day name of Fulbourn was likely to have been established much later, around 1200.
It’s time for a bit of history…
The village has a very rich history indeed. Archaeological evidence of habitation in the area dates back to the Neolithic period. There have also been numerous finds from the Roman and Anglo-Saxon periods. Yep, it’s pretty old. The original site of the village is believed to have been where three manor houses once stood and now mostly belongs to the Townley Manor Estate. Since the 1960s, most of the village has developed towards Cambridge and the open spaces filled with new estates.
Many years back (and we are talking 18th century here, guys), there were two parishes with both churches in the same churchyard; All Saints, believed to be the earlier, followed by St. Vigor’s. These were likely established by two different and possibly rival lords, leading to speculation as to whether there once were two villages. However, this is purely hearsay, so don’t go spreading that rumour. In 1766 All Saints church became a ruin when its tower and bells collapsed, and consequently, it was later demolished. Much of the materials were reused elsewhere, and the bells were hung in St. Vigor’s tower a decade later.
Fulbourn Manor also brings some impressive history. It is a grade two listed building in the county of Cambridgeshire and the sole surviving manor of the ‘five manors of Fulbourn’. Wikipedia states that ‘in Norman times, Fulbourn was recognised as having five manors: Zouches Manor, Manners Manor, Colvilles Manor Shardelowes Manor and Fulbourn Manor. Of these five, sadly, only the last one remains today’. Fulbourn Manor House has been in the Townley family since 1788 and has remained occupied by them almost continuously since that date.
But if pubs are more your area of interest – and for the record, we wouldn’t judge – then you won’t be disappointed as there is plenty of history there too. At one point, there were between 12-20 different pubs in Fulbourn (depending on your source), roughly one for every 120 inhabitants! However, this reduced gradually over the years and sadly, only three remain open for business: The Six Bells, The White Hart and The Hat and Rabbit (formally known as The Bakers Arms). One of them, The Six Bells, was noted as being present right back in 1700, so it’s pretty impressive that its doors are still open today in all of its thatched timber-framed glory.
Let’s bring it back to the present day…
We have looked at the history of Fulbourn, but what makes it so desirable in the present day? What is it offering families and couples starting their journey together that perhaps other areas aren’t?
Being a village, Fulbourn is not a thriving area for job opportunities, but what village is? The appeal of rural life is the lack of the hustle and bustle that large towns with more job opportunities offer. Many people would rather leave their work behind and relax at home surrounded by beautiful countryside. It’s a life choice that never appealed as much as it has since the pandemic. Suddenly people’s homes are more than just a base for sleeping and eating; they have now become their castle in a massive way. Over the past couple of years, many people discovered a new way of life…and they kinda liked it. But that’s not to say that living in Fulbourn means a tiring commute to work every day, far from it. Fulbourn, one of the largest villages in South Cambridgeshire, sits right on the doorstep of Cambridge, which serves as a significant retail and entertainment location for the village, not to mention job opportunities.
But Fulbourn itself isn’t one of these villages that sits dormant. It doesn’t lack a place to buy bread and milk or a school for the kids. It still has everything; it just doesn’t have the feel of city life. The win, right? The main High Street is home to several stores, including a Co-op, butchers, greengrocers, chemist, various takeaways and even a car dealership, not to mention a large Tesco superstore just two miles down the road. Fulbourn offers a vibrant, friendly, and well-balanced community life, which has proven popular with families and couples alike. The village has a primary school, which feeds into Bottisham Village Collage, a reputable secondary school for the local area. This beautiful village is also home to a beautiful nature reserve and a recreation ground offering many facilities, including a children’s play area and a busy sports pavilion. It’s missing nothing.
There is no denying that Fulbourn is not the cheapest place to live…why would it be? But there are a million reasons why and not at any time has this put buyers off moving to the area. It’s a great place to live; what more can we say?