Feel at home in Huntingdonshire
From the mysterious atmosphere of a well-loved storybook manor house to the school room of Oliver Cromwell and Samuel Pepys, Kerry Bailey visits the historic district of Huntingdonshire to explore what’s on offer for groups.
Set amidst the slightly wild backdrop of The Fens and on the banks of the River Great Ouse, the district of Huntingdonshire boasts an array of attractions for visitors to explore. Although the four main market towns of Ramsey, St. Ives, Huntingdon and St. Neots each have a host of things to see and do, there are also 80 surrounding countryside villages sprinkled with historic houses, gardens, museums and nature reserves for groups to uncover.
Groups are particularly well catered for in this area and GTOs will find the ‘Huntingdonshire Welcomes Groups Guide’ an invaluable resource when planning a break. As well as maps, opening hours, telephone numbers and specific group information for many attractions in the area, the Guide also features details of accommodation providers, places to eat and drink and themed itinerary suggestions.
Take off to the town
The four main towns in Huntingdonshire are situated in close proximity to one another and retain much of their original market town charm with each town still holding regular Farmers’ Markets.
For a real insight into the towns’ history, guided walks can be arranged or alternatively – for groups who prefer to explore by themselves – town trail leaflets are also available, which highlight all of the historical local points of interest.
A gentler way to explore the towns can be found with a river cruise aboard a Huntingdon Passenger Cruises vessel. Groups should pre-book.
Ramsey is the most northerly of the market towns and groups will find the site of Ramsey Abbey, a Benedictine Abbey that dates back to 969, amongst its main attractions. Although nothing remains of the Abbey itself, groups can still see the ornate 15th century gatehouse, where the porter once lived. The site is owned by The National Trust and groups are admitted free.
Also worth a look is the Ramsey Rural Museum, which is housed within 17th century farm buildings. GTOs will find numerous attractions at the Museum to keep their group entertained including the vast collection of vintage agricultural machinery, the town’s original village shop and rooms that have been designed to resemble a Victorian chemist, blacksmith and cobbler shop amongst others. Groups must pre-book a visit with guided tours also available on request.
Travelling a little further down the district, the picturesque market town of St. Ives is located directly on the north bank of the River Great Ouse and is surrounded by the greenery of The Fens. The market still takes place in Market Square on Mondays and Fridays providing a good time to visit; however, another real highlight of visiting is the opportunity to see the 15th century chapel at the centre of the town’s stone bridge, as it is one of only four surviving bridge chapels in England. Inside the building, groups can investigate the dark cellar, where the one-time resident monk would have lived and see the original stone oven and toilet area. Entry is by guided tour only, which can be pre-booked via The Norris Museum.
To find The Norris Museum, groups should head towards the riverbank at the centre of the town. Here, various artefacts that are connected with Huntingdonshire’s history are on display including the fossil remains of marine reptiles that lived in the area during the age of the dinosaurs. Also on display is the tusk of a mammoth from the Ice Age and the arms and armour used by locals during the Civil War. Entry is free although groups must pre-book.
One of the area’s most famous, if not controversial, connections is to Oliver Cromwell, who was born in the bustling market town of Huntingdon in 1599. Groups can not only visit All Saints Church in the town – where many of Cromwell’s relatives are buried – but also The Cromwell Museum, which is housed within the old Grammar School that both Cromwell and diarist Samuel Pepys attended as boys. Today, the Museum is said to house the largest collection of Cromwell related artefacts in the world with private letters and diaries amongst the items on display. Entry is free; however groups must pre-book.
The last of the main market towns is St. Neots, which is also the largest town in Cambridgeshire. Built around a Saxon monastery and granted a market charter in 1130, today, the town centre includes the bustling Market Square, quaint merchants’ cottages and over 100 other listed buildings.
Here, groups will find the St. Neots Museum, which is located inside the old Magistrates Court. As well as seeing the original Edwardian prison cells and toilets, visitors are treated to a showcase of St. Neots culture, history and people. These include exhibitions on the historic trades of the town including brewing and roof thatching, the story of the St. Neots giant and the recreated nursery of the St. Neots Quads, the world’s first surviving set of naturally-born quad babies. Groups must pre-book.
Houses with a history
As a district full of history, Huntingdonshire is littered with historic houses for groups to uncover.
The red brick riverside mansion Island Hall in Godmanchester, below Huntingdon, was built in the late 1740s and has been continuously occupied by the Vane Percy family since the 1800s. On arrival, groups are offered an introductory talk on the history of the house and family by Lady Linda Vane Percy before being invited to take a self-guided tour of the sitting room, drawing room and bedrooms, each lovingly furnished with personal family items and memorabilia. Of particular interest is the 1.5 acre formal garden and the two-acre ornamental island, which can be reached by an ornate Chinese bridge. Group visits must be pre-booked with afternoon tea available at a supplement.
Also worth a look is Pepys House in Brampton, a little further north in the district, which is open to groups by prior arrangement. Samuel Pepys resided here with his uncle from the ages of seven to eleven whilst he attended school in Huntingdon. Following the death of his uncle, Pepys later used the property as a holiday home.
Hinchingbrooke House, meanwhile, situated on the outskirts of nearby Huntingdon, is well-known for its connections to the Cromwell family. Built in the 13th century around an earlier nunnery, it was given to Richard Cromwell – uncle of Oliver Cromwell – in 1538 by King Henry VIII. The House has had many regal guests in its lifetime, receiving the likes of Queen Elizabeth I and King James I for parties and weekend stays and Oliver Cromwell often played there as a child. Pre-booked groups receive a complimentary cup of tea and slice of cake.
For another connection to royalty, head to Kimbolton Castle in the historic town of Kimbolton, which is best known as the home to which Katherine of Aragon – Henry VIII’s first wife – was confined in 1534 when she refused a divorce. She later died there in 1536. Of particular interest is the impressive range of State Rooms, which were extravagantly painted by the Venetian painter Giovanni Pellegrini. Groups can also pre-book a guided walk of the town via the Castle.
For something completely different, groups can step back into their childhood and inside The Manor at Hemingford Grey, not far from St. Ives, which former owner Lucy Boston recreated as Green Knowe in her series of children’s books about the children of Green Knowe. The house contains many features described in the books including Tolly’s attic bedroom complete with rocking horse, birdcage, toy box and his little wooden mouse. Also of interest is the collection of patchwork that Lucy Boston made during the winter months and the gardens, which are surrounded by a moat and contain extensive collections of roses and irises. Entry is by guided tour only and groups must pre-book.
Travelling to the very top of the district, Elton Hall is located within a 3,800 acre estate and has been handed down and added to by generations of the Proby family since 1660. Today, the Hall is still used as a family home and boasts a wealth of fine furniture and paintings including those by the likes of Gainsborough, Constable and Reynolds. Other items of display include King Henry VIII’s prayer book. In the gardens, meanwhile, groups will find a Rose Garden, Sunken Garden and Arboretum. Groups receive discounted admission and can pre-book a tour of the gardens with the Head Gardener in addition to an exclusive evening tour of the Hall.
Although not a historic home, Houghton Mill, the last working watermill on the River Great Ouse, is worth including on your itinerary. The current five storey mill dates back to the 17th century and is now owned by The National Trust. It is fully operational and although groups are only able to see milling taking place on Sundays, the working machinery is on display all week. Groups can pre-book guided tours.
To complete a historic tour of Huntingdonshire, groups can take a trip on the preserved Nene Valley Railway, which operates many steam and diesel locomotives on its seven miles of track running between Wansford and Peterborough. GTOs can pre-book guided tours of Wansford Station’s signal box and storage yard in addition to the on-site museum, which has various artefacts relating to the travelling post offices - trains that would carry mail up and down the lines – that are still in operation today.
A taste of rural life
Countryside lovers will not be disappointed when visiting Huntingdonshire with various nature reserves and animal attractions to discover.
Grafham Water is a reservoir located between the villages of Perry and Grafham, which is set in some 1,500 acres of countryside. The 10 miles of track around the waterline provide an excellent opportunity for walking or cycling whilst for something a little more active, groups can try their hand at pike and trout fishing. The Grafham Water Centre, meanwhile, provides groups with various watersports options from sailing and windsurfing to kayaking, canoeing and powerboating.
The nearby Paxton Pits Nature Reserve in Little Paxton offers 75 hectares of lakes, meadows, grassland, woodland and restored gravel pits with various observation hides for nature watching. The site is well-known for its nightingales, which begin to arrive in April and its wintering wildfowl. Entry is free and groups can pre-book a guided walk, which includes complimentary tea and coffee in the Visitor Centre.
Open grasslands, meadows, woodlands, lakes and a wealth of wildlife also await groups at the 170 acres of Hinchingbrooke Country Park, which was originally part of the Hinchingbrooke estate. Guided walks can be pre-booked.
For the animal lovers amongst your group, Hamerton Zoo Park is set in 15 acres of parkland on the outskirts of Huntingdon and specialises in exotic animals with over 100 rare species in residence including cheetahs, howler monkeys and white Bengal tigers. Less out of the ordinary animals are also residents here such as horses, meerkats and gibbons. Groups are offered discounted admission when pre-booked.
Several owls that were used in the filming of the Harry Potter motion pictures can be found at The Raptor Foundation near St. Ives, meanwhile, where over 260 birds receive medical care, rehabilitation assistance and sanctuary. Falcons, owls, parrots, hawks and vultures are amongst the centre’s permanent residents and on visiting, groups can enjoy flying demonstrations. Discounted admission and meal packages are offered to pre-booked groups.
Heading to Godmanchester, groups can make a stop at the Wood Green Animal Shelter, the rescue and rehoming centre for animals. Here, amongst the 52 acres, groups will find not only cats and dogs, but also chinchilla, llama, red deer, horses and goats. Groups are offered discounted admission and pre-booked guided tours.
A good sport
The sports enthusiasts amongst your group will also be well catered for on a visit to the area and can enjoy a range of activities.
A visit to the Huntingdon Racecourse provides fun for the whole group. Nineteen National Hunt races take place throughout the year with special themed races including ‘Irish Night’ and a ‘James Bond Evening’. Groups of 15 or more receive discounted admission whilst groups of 20 or more can take advantage of a special package that includes admission, a three-course meal and race card.
Pre-booked groups have the choice of five different circuits at the Rally Karting Centre on the outskirts of Huntingdon and can try their hand at rally karting, quad biking and 4×4 vehicle experiences. All members receive trophies at the end of the day.
Pidley Paintball, meanwhile, is set in seven acres of woodland complete with bunkers, tunnels and fox holes between St. Ives and Ramsey and allows members to compete against one another in a series of half and full day experiences. GTOs are offered a complimentary upgraded paintball gun!
Something extra
Huntingdonshire hosts several events throughout the year and GTOs may like to consider organising their break to coincide with one of them.
Mid-August sees the two-day Ramsey 1940s Weekend take place on the airfield at RAF Upwood. The event showcases various living history displays with uniformed soldiers marching, military and vintage vehicles on show and 1940s music and dancing. The event culminates with a 1940s dance evening in one of the hangers. There is no discount available; however, groups that have pre-booked and arrive in full 1940s costume are admitted free.
At the end of August, the three-day National Inland Waterways Festival takes place in St. Ives on the River Great Ouse. In addition to a funfair, various decorated boat displays and boat handling demonstrations, groups are able to enjoy a host of trade and charity stalls selling everything from boating accessories to jewellery and clothing. Groups can negotiate discounts on booking.
Huntingdonshire will host its first eight-day Food and Drink Festival in September. During the Festival, groups can take advantage of Food Trails in the market towns as well as speculating in the ‘Young Chef of the Year’ competition and participating in the search for the best sandwich recipe by submitting ideas during the event. Additionally, food passports will be made available to visitors entitling them to various discounts and special offers at local eateries.
Our thanks to Huntingdonshire Tourism and the Marriott Hotel Huntingdon for their hospitality to Kerry Bailey during her visit to Huntingdonshire.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Huntingdon Tourist Information, Huntingdonshire District Council
Pathfinder House, St Marys Street
Huntingdon PE29 3TN
Telephone: +44 (0)1480 388588
Fax: +44 (0)1480 388273