Here lies Arbury Ward, a suburb in the north of Cambridge. What if these streets could talk? They would tell tales stretching back to Roman times.
Arbury’s history is long. Stone coffins dating back to the 2nd century were unearthed in the 1950s. Imagine a Roman villa standing here, its residents walking this very ground. A mausoleum once stood nearby.
In medieval times, an earthwork known as Harborough or Arbury Camp marked this area. It was a circular structure. Historians believe it was an Iron Age enclosure. People used it to protect animals from predators.
Centuries ago, local peasants grazed their sheep here. The meadows were common land. Later, people dug into the earth to make bricks.
Arbury was once part of Chesterton and Impington parishes. From 1957, Cambridge City Council developed it into a housing estate. It covered around 100 acres.
Electoral ward boundaries shifted over the years. Much of the original Arbury Ward is now in Kings Hedges Ward. The ward system doesn’t always align with history. Areas with no connection to the original estate found themselves within Arbury Ward’s boundaries.
In 1980, local primary schools embarked on a project called “Arbury 1980.” Children researched the area’s history back to the Iron Age. This resulted in the 1981 book “Arbury Is Where We Live!”
The Church of the Good Shepherd serves the community. Stephen Dykes Bower designed this red brick church. The chancel was built in 1958. The nave followed in 1963-4. It became a parish church in 1969.
The Arbury Community Centre opened in 1974. Arbury Community Church also calls it home. For Roman Catholics, St Laurence’s church on Milton Road is the place of worship.
Arbury Court is a local hub. It houses a post office, a library, a supermarket, and other shops. The Carlton Arms pub stands on Carlton Way. This road follows the ancient Roman Akeman Street.
Efforts have been made to build a sense of community in Arbury. Some tried to replace the name with “North Cambridge.” The Manor School became the “North Cambridge Academy”. Much of North Arbury was lumped into the new King’s Hedges electoral ward.
King’s Hedges Road was extended and redirected. It swept across the old Arbury Meadows. It even lopped off the original Histon end of Arbury Road.
Areas like Stretten Avenue and Akeman Street were lumped into Arbury Ward in 1976. This made little sense. Wards change. You might wake up in a different ward the next morning.
The digital age has made wards more prominent on online maps. This has a huge impact. The eagerness to move away from Arbury’s historic name is puzzling.
In 2011, Arbury’s population was 9,070. Approximately 49% were females and 51% males. The average age was 38. 67.4% of people were born in England. Other countries of birth include Bangladesh, Scotland, and China.
Most people speak English. Other languages spoken include Polish, Bengali, and French. The religious makeup is diverse. 45.3% are Christian. 34.8% have no religion. Muslim, Buddhist, and Hindu communities also exist.
Arbury, with its layers of history and community spirit, is more than just a suburb. It’s a place where Roman echoes meet modern life. It’s a place with a story etched into its very soil.