Huntingdon’s history stretches far back to Palaeolithic and Neolithic times and is probably due to its strategic position. It stands on the Great River Ouse, once a major route inland for invaders, and at the crossroads for access to East Anglia or the West Midlands with a major route, known today as the A1, from London to the North. London being just under an hour away by train, many of Huntingdon’s residents are employed in the Capital and commute daily, enjoying the relatively quiet market town environment for their home life away from the contrasting pressure of City life. Huntingdon’s proximity to Cambridge makes it an attractive settlement for those drawn to the famous University Town with its biotechnology and other science-related industries.
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About Huntingdon - Cambridgeshire
Huntingdon is a town in the county of Cambridgeshire in East Anglia, England. The town was chartered in 1205, and celebrated its |800th anniversary in 2005. It was formerly the county town of Huntingdonshire, and is currently the seat of the Huntingdonshire district council
Huntingdon was founded by the Anglo-Saxons and Danes. It prospered successively as a bridging point of the River Great Ouse, as a market town, and in the 18th and 19th centuries as a coaching centre. The town has a well-preserved medieval bridge that used to serve as the main route of Ermine Street over the river. The bridge only ceased to be the sole crossing point to Godmanchester in 1975, with the advent of what is now the A14 bypass.
Its valuable trading position was secured by the now-vanished Huntingdon Castle. The site is now a Scheduled Ancient Monument, and is home to a beacon used to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Spanish Armada.
The Huntingdon constituency has been represented by two exceptionally famous members of parliament: Oliver Cromwell in the 17th century and John Major in the 20th. It is currently represented by Conservative MP Jonathan Djanogly.
Original historical documents relating to Huntingdon, including the original borough charter of 1205, are held by Cambridgeshire Archives and Local Studies at the County Record Office Huntingdon.
The town lies on the north bank of the River Great Ouse, opposite Godmanchester and adjacent to the market town of St Ives in the east and the village of Brampton in the west. Huntingdon now incorporates the village of Hartford to the east, and the developing areas of Oxmoor, Stukeley Meadows and Hinchingbrooke to the north and west.
Between Godmanchester, Huntingdon and Brampton lies England's largest meadow, Portholme Meadow. Around 257 acres (1 km²) in size and contains many rare species of grass, flowers and dragonfly. It is the only known habitat of the Marsh Dandelion in Britain. It also acts as a huge natural reservoir for holding excess water in times of flood enabling the river to be run off more slowly, thereby helping to prevent flooding of nearby towns. It has also served as a horse race course and centre for early aviation.
There is a local Horseracing Course, Huntingdon Racecourse.
The Old Bridge across the Great Ouse, to Godmanchester.There are 3 RAF bases within 4 miles of the town: RAF Brampton, once home to Headquarters RAF Support Command and now part of the Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO); RAF Wyton, once a major flying station but now also part of the DLO; and RAF Alconbury currently occupied by the United States Air Force.
There are four Church of England churches in Huntingdon, which together with the churches in the adjacent villages Great and Little Stukeley are members of the Huntingdon Team Ministry in the Diocese of Ely. The four churches are All Saints' (next to the Market Square), St Mary, St Barnabas (on the Oxmoor estate) and All Saints', Hartford.
Local Primary schools include Thongsley Fields, St Johns, Stukeley Meadows Primary School and Hartford Junior School. Special needs scools include Spring Common. Secondary schools include St Peters and Hinchingbrooke School.
