The history of the Cambridgeshire town of Peterborough stretches all the way back to the beginning of AD! It’s just that old! It sits on the banks of the River Nene, gloriously bathed in the overcast light of historical Northamptonshire. Peterborough marks the place where Birmingham and Leicester meet, where England’s east is exposed, and where remnants of Bronze Age settlements still litter the Fens to this very day.
That all sounds very romantic… but what about the Vikings? What about the plagues and the Civil Wars? You know we couldn’t resist. That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?
Peterborough: When East is East
Peterborough wasn’t made a burgh until late in the tenth century. Up until that point it was named Medeshamstede. A quick run through the Old English to Modern English translator can tell you that it means ‘Peterborough’ which was most unhelpful. However, med, medan, and mede all mean lesser, weaker, or infirm. So we can take it that the name originally meant lesser Hamstede… which maybe makes a bit of sense to those who live in London. Other translations have it as ‘meadow homestead’.
Just after we switched from the BC to the AD years, the Romans visited the British Isles with a whole load of pointy sticks. They set up roads, built buildings, and erected forts from whence they could extend the rule of Rome over the barbarian population. By 80AD the weather had sent them home again (it was the decline of the Empire but we’re sure the rain did it, really). While they were in the UK, they built a 1st-century fort in Water Newton, five miles away.
Even before this, Bronze Age remnants have been found in the area. People recognised this region as fruitful, fertile, and great for growing food. It attracted settlers down through the ages until the Romans came and put forts all over the place. One was at nearby Longthorpe and was big enough to hold a full half of a legion. It was the sight of Roman ceramics production. Some of it made it all the way to far Caledonia!
The town appears in official documents in 665 where it is still listed as an Anglian settlement by the name of Medeshamstede. Peadda of Mercia (or Peter) granted leave for a monastery to be built in the area. Not too long after the Abbey was built the Vikings came through and plundered it. Peterborough would have been prime target territory for the Vikings. The wrecked abbey was built from scratch in 972 AD. By 1000 AD the abbot had deigned a wall be built to protect the abbey from the invaders – and that included the small village that had grown up around it.
Unknowingly, this was the birth of Peterborough. Although it had some way to go yet before it became the place we know of today.
Peterborough in the Middle Ages
Interestingly, the town was later rampaged by rebels fighting back against the Norman Invasion of 1066. This army was largely made of Danes who had settled the lands in the post-Viking years. They were a hearty bunch. It is exceptionally noticeable that Peterborough is not mentioned in either of its named forms, in the Domesday Survey. We assume this to mean that there were no landowners in the area asides from the abbey.
Peterborough next appeared in the history books after the 1070 raids by rebels. The abbot responded by moving the abbey and building what was either a fort or a castle. This area has long been lost to time but used to stand where Tout Hill is nowadays. If you properly excavated the hill, there would be evidence of the fort beneath.
It worked, and not only was Peterborough successful at thwarting further invaders; it also attracted attention a century later. The Peterborough Chronicle was written by the monks here after the abbey was enlarged substantially in the 12th century. This was a history of everything that had happened in England since the Normans invaded. Religious or not, the people of Peterborough were rebellious all the way down through the generations. Henry VIII eventually closed all the religious institutions. The slow growth of Christianity persisted, of course, but the friaries and abbeys didn’t survive.
During Civil War 312 – the one with Charles I against the Long Parliament – the town was split near fifty-fifty. In 1643 Royalists stampeded the place on the way to a fight, lost it, and then stampeded their way back through again. They were eventually captured and sent to Cambridge, but not before they absolutely destroyed the innards of the Cathedral.
The middle ages saw a market town develop around the now-defunct Abbey village. They would have a yearly fair lasting a few days, which was an opportunity for all the neighbouring towns to trade around. By the 15th century, two fairs were occurring, making this a hugely important town in terms of making money.
By the end of the 16th century, Peterborough had a population of 1,500 and was officially a city. It had a population of around 2,000 by the start of the Industrial Revolution. But before we talk massive leaps of growth in the industry; let’s take a break from the history and cut to some of the fun stuff!
Fun Things You Should Know About Peterborough!
Peterborough is more than meets the eye – and definitely more than a religious fort on a hill! Let’s talk fun things, and put the Five Minutes Spare spin on things, while we are there.
Fun facts about Peterborough:
- A slightly morbid but hugely interesting Peterborough fact is that Catherine of Aragon is buried in the grounds of the ruined Cathedral.
- According to some people who live there, nobody knows where it is EXCEPT the people who live there[i].
- Nearby Holme Fen, one of the many fens out in the east, is the very lowest point in all of Britain. Peterborough isn’t just south, it’s south and down.
- The Grafham Water reservoir has a ten-mile coastline!
- It is the heart of the shires – surrounded by Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Rutland.
- Mary Queen of Scots was buried in Peterborough after her horrendous execution. Even after her cousin’s death, Queen Elizabeth maintained that she did not mean to kill her. IT is theorised that, for political motivations of his own, her secretary slipped the execution order into her paperwork one day. As much as this is a nice story – the evidence suggests otherwise. If she hadn’t meant to kill her, she could just have reversed the order… she was a queen for goodness sake.
- If it wasn’t for the persistence of the Abbots, Peterborough wouldn’t be a place anymore. The Vikings trashed it so badly it might never have been rebuilt.
Now that we have had a short break let’s dive into the Industrial Revolution. Like anywhere else in Britain, Peterborough was boosted tremendously by the advancement of industry. Here’s how…
Peterborough in the Industrial Revolution
During the Industrial Revolution, Peterborough thrived. Like many English towns, advancements in technology saw people flocking to populated places. Populations skyrocketed as people headed to the cities for work. The Revolution effectively started for them in 1790. When sanitation was improved throughout town. Sewers and piped water were brought in, and a gaol (modern-day = ‘jail’) was built to house prisoners. Borough officers were elected only to be replaced a hundred years later by a more traditional mayor system. Still, they did a great job of overseeing advancements throughout the town.
Let’s pause a minute, given current Covid-19 worries, and look at Peterborough during plague times. They suffered epidemics in 1574, then again in 1607, and again in 1625, then in 1665, and 1667. Our point is that the population always recovered… so let’s stay calm and hope for a new sewer system to come and save us from the bacterial spread, just like they did back then.
The Great Northern Railway connected to Peterborough when the line to York from London was built. This would have been around 1850. Brick making became the business of the town. Huge chimneys would have dominated the Peterborough city skyline as the brickworks went up. The railway allowed them to transport their wares out to the rest of England. At the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, Peterborough was best known for making the bricks that built England.
Brick building wasn’t really a thing outside of London until a Scottish architect developed a hard clay mix which set faster and stronger than previous clays. He discovered them in nearby Fletton. These bricks soon went on to build almost all brick buildings outside of London. An awe-inspiring contribution to the industrial world. Most mills literally wouldn’t have been built without this invention.
Although brick making was the big thing that brought Peterborough through the 18th century, automobiles were employing a tenth of the population by the 1930s. So much happened before this, though. Peterborough did a booming trade in the Napoleonic wars. While the rest of Europe was going bust over it, Peterborough was churning out rifle parts and selling cloth to the soldiers. 10,000 prisoners were taken during the 18th-century wars, held at nearby Norman Cross.
A customs house and theatre were added. Just before the 19th century hit they were given oil lamps to like the town, which later became gas lamps. In the 1820’s they got a hospital, in the 1850’s a college. Peterborough was outright prosperous. Clay pipes were made here before metal ones were used. Brickmaking sprang up and an iron foundry was added. A library in 1892 meant kids was free to get ‘reading fever’.
And on the delightful thought that you might catch a fever and do something awful – like read a book – let’s talk famous people out of Peterborough.
Famous People from Peterborough
There have been a few famous people to have come from Peterborough. So whether it is your hometown or whether you are just passing through – let’s talk about famous faces. Here are some of the Five Minutes Spare favourites:
- David Bentley – the former England and Tottenham Hotspurs player was actually Peterborough born.
- George Alcock is from Peterborough. Granted that you probably haven’t heard of him before; he is the reason we know what comets are…
- Infamous rather than famous; Joanna Dennehy is Peterborough’s very own serial killer. She murdered three men… Scary stuff.
- Henry Royce – the Rolls Royce Henry Royce – is from this city.
- Rugby Player for Leicester Harry Wells is Peterborough born.
They have a fair selection for one of the smaller English cities. You can see the full list over on Wikipedia.
Modern Day Peterborough
By the time 1901 rolled round, Peterborough had a population of around 30k. The first council houses were introduced in the 20’s but fewer were built here than in other places since there were less slums to disperse. A museum and town hall were built. In ’34 a bridge over the Nene was added. Corsets and tools were made here.
Peterborough remained reasonably small in size until 1967. After two world wars and numerous Peterborough young men sent away (the city was not bombed much, it wasn’t considered to be important enough production-wise) – the government turned it into a ‘new town’[ii].
The New Towns were usually just that; except in two or three circumstances. Wolverhampton, for example, was a new town that grew up around an existing town… as was Peterborough. In the 70’s and 80’s more and more council housing was added as the London overspill was sent here. The areas of Bretton and Orton were erected, and the town was suddenly flooded with people.
To this day, Peterborough still has a sense of being a little overcrowded. It is not that there shouldn’t be so many people living there; it is more about having a smaller town centre than can be supported. As a result, shopping centres have been sporadically placed and it all feels a bit rushed.
However, none of that means it isn’t a great place to live – or to visit! So if you are passing time in Peterborough, what are the sights you should see? Of course we here at Five Minutes Spare had to find out…
Peterborough Attractions
If you are in the area on holiday, then you need an itinerary that blows everyone’s socks off! We have it for you, don’t panic. Here are our favourite attractions in the Peterborough area.
Landmarks and Historic sights
Peterborough Cathedral still stands and still has a graveyard full of royals. You can visit it to take a tour, wander the graveyard, or even attend a service. Even if you have no interest in history you can’t help but be astonished by it. It is a stunning example of gothic-style architecture.
A second historic sight you really should see – and ride! – is the steam railway. There are so few steam trains left in Britain, but the Nene Valley Railway is one of the better ones. You can take a trip on the train, or you can hang around and spot the steamer coming in and going out. Up to you.
Third for historical treats in the Peterborough area is the Flag Fen Archaeological Park. It is an excavation site that they restored to represent life in the Bronze Age, in the area. It is all based on the artefacts and buildings they have found out there. It’s pretty darned cool, particularly if you are looking for something to do in Peterborough with kids.
Museums and Art Galleries
Peterborough won’t let you down when it comes to learning. Try the Peterborough Museum to learn all about the local area, the culture and the history associated with the city. If you prefer your history to be more specific than a whole city, try the John Clare Cottage, which is a smaller museum that is dedicated to discovering the life of John Clare; the famed English poet from away-back-when.
The cottage is gorgeous and sports the blackened thatch that once would have finished every roof in England, but that is now extremely rare. The museum itself specialises in literary works. It’s considered a place of pilgrimage for many writers.
If you prefer fine art as your cultural medium, try the Dolby Gallery on West Street. They have all sorts of art, handmade jewellery, and other crafts pieces by local skilled workers that you can buy. Art never depreciates… just saying.
Outdoor, Sports and Recreation
There are so many great places to go in the south of England, but if you are confined to Peterborough, try the Ferry Meadows Country Park. It’s a gorgeous place to pass time, have a walk or a picnic, and enjoy the scenery. There is a lovely little café on site and a kiddie’s train that goes around the park.
Railworld Wildlife Park is your next best bet for entertaining the kids in Peterborough. It has entire model railways running in a sort of museum type setting, with some outdoors activities thrown in, to boot.
If sport is your preference then head on over to catch a game by Peterborough United, who are in the FA cup. Pop by the stadium and take the tour or give them a cheer. I’m sure it will be appreciated on match days… maybe not so much during training.
Finally, it might not be quite what you had in mind – but the city of Peterborough is noted for having an awesome Greyhound stadium. We’re not sure why it’s such a big thing but it is one of their top ten attractions. If you find out why report it back to our forum!
Where to Eat, Drink and Party in Peterborough?
If you were to be staying here for a fortnight, where would you eat, drink and party? The best family food in town is to be had at the Golden Pheasant, where you can also get a decent pint for your money. If fine dining to impress a date is what you are after, try Fontanella’s Italian instead. It’s just chicer.
For some all-day drinking or just a traditional starting point for your night out, check out the College Arms, which is the local Weatherspoon bar. The Argo Lounge is a bit better if you want a good cocktail selection. Additionally, if you are looking to dance all night and need a nightclub, Flares is said to be the best in town. Don’t forget you can add your own favourites, over on our forum.
Other Notable Attractions
There are so many attractions in Peterborough that we can’t fit them all in! Some of the Five Minutes Spare favourites include:
- Visit the Key Theatre and catch a matinee or an evening performance.
- Visit Eton Hall and peruse their lovely gardens.
- Go see Sacrewell Farm, which has a petting zoo and makes a great Peterborough day out with kids.
Peterborough really is a city that has something for everyone!
How to Get There?
Now you know everything that we do about Peterborough…. But how do you get there?
By Road
Follow the M1 out of London. When it turns to the A1 head north and east from the road. This should get you to Peterborough.
By Rail
Peterborough train station is known by PBO and you can reach it from London, York and a variety of other places.
By Air
Peterborough is about 40 miles from Nottingham Airport, which is considered to be the closest.
By Sea
Peterborough is approximately 30 miles from the North Sea; however, the River Nene is accessible if you have a boat, dinghy, or some other vessel.
Got Five Minutes?
If you find you really loved this guide but you still have some time to kill (particularly if the coronavirus has you self-isolating) then you should definitely check out some of our other guides. Why not learn a new skill or study some law while you are here? We really do have a little
https://www.buzzfeed.com/benhenry/peterborough-is-not-in-london
[ii] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peterborough
