Imagine a village where the river Cam flows gently. This is Fen Ditton. It is a place steeped in history and charm. We are here to explore its story.
Fen Ditton is more than just a village. It’s a living testament to centuries of English history. Its story began long ago. Around 950 AD, it was known as Dittone. This meant the village by the ditch. The name came from the Fleam Dyke. This prehistoric ditch ran through the village. It stretched from the river to the fens at Stow-cum-Quy.
The River Cam shaped Fen Ditton’s fate. It served as the village’s main link to the outside world. A large wharf once stood at the High Street’s western end. It handled goods for the annual Stourbridge Fair. This fair thrived between the 12th and 14th centuries. Later, trade declined and the wharf closed after the railway arrived. The river is now for leisure.
Did you know that Fen Ditton was an early industrial hub? A paper mill opened here around 1550. It was only the second recorded in England. The mill stood on Coldham’s Brook. This is at the junction of Ditton Walk and Newmarket Road. The paper mill was disused by the early 19th century.
Roads also played a vital role. The first road linked Fen Ditton to Horningsea. It passed between the river and the church. By the 17th century, it moved east of the church. A new road in the 18th century linked Newmarket Road to Fen Ditton and Horningsea.
Fen Ditton Fields became part of Cambridge in 1938. Housing expanded in the early 20th century. Pye Telecommunications opened a site here in 1944.
Let’s talk about the churches. The Church of St Mary The Virgin is a gem. It dates back to the 12th century. The tower is from the 13th century. A weather vane in the shape of a rowing eight tops it. This reflects the village’s love for rowing.
The Roman Catholic church of St Vincent de Paule is unique. It is on Ditton Lane. The building is a timber structure. It was a makeshift hospital before becoming a church.
Fen Ditton is famous for The Bumps. These are annual rowing races on the river. The church’s weather vane reflects this rowing culture. A service for rowers occurs each year.
Two pubs are still open. The Plough sits by the river at Green End. The King’s Head has been serving customers since at least 1760. Other pubs have come and gone. The Ancient Shepherds reopened as a restaurant.
Children attend Fen Ditton Primary school. Then they usually go to Bottisham Village College. The village store and post office closed in 2005.
The war memorial stands at the junction of High Street and Church Street. It honors 22 villagers from World War I and five from World War II.
On Church Street, you can see Willys’ Almshouses. Sir Thomas Willys built them in 1665 for six poor widows. They were rebuilt in 1877 and combined into three cottages in 1968/9.
Elizabeth Cheney was born here. She was the great-grandmother of three wives of King Henry VIII.
Fen Ditton has seen its share of changes. The village evolved along the River Cam. It adapted to new transportation methods.
Fen Ditton retains its village charm. Its story continues to unfold with each passing year. It remains a special place.