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Peterborough
Peterborough, the second city of Cambridgeshire, dates back to the Bronze Age, as can be seen by a visit to Flag Fen. It's crowning glory, however, is the Romanesque Cathedral, built in the 12th and 13th centuries on a site that had seen Christian Worship since 655AD. Henry VIII made the church a cathedral and his first queen, CAtherine of Aragon, is buried here; as for a while was Mary Queen of Scots after her execution at Fotheringhay.
There are many things to do and see in Peterborough. The Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery covers all apsects of the history of Peterborough from the Jurassic period to Victorian times. For rail enthusiasts there is Railworld and the Nene Valley Railway. For those that like the outdoors that are many parks and facilities, the largest of which is Ferry Meadows, which is a park with playgrounds, fishing lakes, and tracks for walking, jogging and cycling. Many events are held here during the year.
Peterborough has had a number of charters for Fairs granted through the centuries. There was the Patermas Fair, or St Peter's Fair, after the patron saint of the Abbey. Then St Oswald's Fair which was held after the second sunday in Lent. But the fair that really prospered and survived was the Peterborough 'Brigge Fair', or Bridge Fair as it is now known, established in 1439 by a charter granted to the abbey by Henry VI. Prayers for the opening of the fair were said at the morning service in the cathedral , followed by a civic proclamation and a sausage lunch. Roasing-pigs were bred specially for the week and were known as 'Bridge-fairers'.
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