Huntingdon

Once the County town of Huntingdonshire, Huntingdon has always had its routes in travel.   Standing along the Great River Ouse at the junciton of the A1 and A14 it was once a centre for stage-coach journeys.

A number of the coaching houses remain and provide the town with its character and history.   Many famous people are associated with the town including Dick Turpin who is reputed to have stayed at the George Hotel, the poet William Cowper lived here between 1757 and 1767 and Lancelot 'Capability' Brown lived at Fenstanton (some 7 miles from Huntingdon) and he and his family is buried in the medieval church there.

The most famous resident of Huntingdon, however, was Oliver Cromwell.   He was born here in 1599 and became the town's MP in 1629 and was a Justice of the Peace inb 1630 before moving to St Ives.  As an extremely able military Commander in the Civil War, Cromwell raised troops from the local area and used the Falcon Inn as his headquarters.  The school he attended is now the Cromwell Musuem and reflects both his, and local history.  

King Henry VIII gave the Cromwell family Hinchingbrooke House where they lived and, formerly a nunnery, it is rumoured to be haunted by ghostly nuns!  The Country Park covers 180 acres of grassy meadows, woodlands, water features and is well worth a visit.  The Cromwell family burial vault lies within All Saints Church.

Spring common offers the chance to enjoy some Cambridgehsire country side, covering 13 acres, its name comes from the natural spring that runs constantly . 

Nearby are the villages of Brampton and Godmanchester as well local attractions such as Hamerton Zoo, Houghton Mill, Huntingdon Race Course and Kimbolton Castle, to name a few.