Boathouse in Peterborough, Chef & Brewer Read more... While the pub itself was established as recently as 1989, its name goes back much further... to the mid-17th century, and Thorpe Hall, one of England’s finest preserved Cromwellian mansions. The Hall was built for Oliver St. John, Oliver Cromwell’s Lord Chief Justice, by Peter Mills, an architect who would go on to oversee the rebuilding of London after the Great Fire of 1666. It had a boathouse at the tip of its gardens, where they sloped down to meet the river, a stone’s throw from where The Boathouse stands today. Though the house is now a private hospice, Thorpe Hall’s Grade II Listed Victorian garden is open to the public and boasts a number of Grade I listed structures, including its curved walls and entrance gates, stables, and architrave gateway. The Hall stands on the eastern edge of the ancient village of Longthorpe, just a one mile walk from The Boathouse. The village is a treasure trove of historic gems.

Longthorpe Tower is what remains of an old manor house, built around 1300 by the Thorpe family. It houses one of Europe’s finest collections of medieval wall paintings, decorative representations of the local countryside and religious scenes. Behind the tower, meanwhile, stands St. Botolph’s Church, built in 1263, again by the Thorpe family. It’s of plain, coarse rubble construction, yet according to English Heritage boasts “a magnificent bishop's chair and an interesting leper's window.” Finally, to the east, there’s Thorpe Wood, an ancient woodland of oak, ash, field maple and hazel, where the tapping of woodpeckers in summer and the scent of wild garlic delight those who wander its well-trodden trails. The Boathouse is well positioned for both walkers and cyclists alike. After tucking into a something sumptuous off the menu of traditional pub classics, a ride or walk westwards takes you to Ferry Meadows Country Park, with its endless meadows, lakes and woods.

Here you can take one of several nature trails, through fields of wildflowers and forest, spot sand martins on the banks of Lynch Lake, or just keep going until you arrive at the agricultural estate of Castor, Ailsworth and Wansford, where arable fields and pastures lend a lovely rural backdrop to your afternoon’s excursion. From Ferry Meadows you can also board the Nene Valley Railway, a preserved heritage railway that takes you along part of what was once the old Northampton to Peterborough line. Interestingly, since the late 1970’s, the line has been used as a filming location, appearing in TV shows including Casualty, Eastenders and Agatha Christie’s Poirot. The Ferry Meadows stop has even appeared in a two James Bond films, Octopussy in 1982 and Goldeneye in 1995. Hop aboard the regular steam and diesel locomotives and you’ll be whisked away towards to the pretty villages of Yarwell, Orton Mere and Wansford. On the southside of the rowing course, meanwhile, is the Thorpe Meadows Sculpture Park.

Something of a hidden gem, it’s the parkland home of Peterborough Sculpture Trust's collection. You’ll find 18 pieces inspired by England’s countryside, from the likes of Barry Flanagan, Anthony Gormley, Lee Grandjean, Sir Anthony Caro and Miles Davies – well worth the half hour stroll it’ll take to see (and contemplate) each one. With so much to see and do on the doorstep of The Boathouse, it’s easy to forget that this lovely pub is only a twenty-minute stroll from Peterborough town centre. Take the delightful riverside path along the banks of the Nene into the city centre and you’ll be rewarded with one of England’s most historic landmarks. Peterborough Cathedral is a fine Norman cathedral, with its imposing Early English Gothic facade, dominated by three magnificent arches. Established in Saxon times, it was destroyed by the Vikings in 870, before being largely rebuilt as it is now between 1119 and 1239, only to be vandalised by Parliamentary troops during the English Civil War. The Boathouse offers a menu of traditional pub classics, seasonal specials, and wonderful Sunday roasts with lashings of rich gravy.

Whether you dine indoors or al fresco on the waterside patio, watching the narrowboats and rowers gliding by, you’re sure to enjoy a lovely day out when you visit The Boathouse. Amazon.jobs About Peterborough From market town to industrial center The city of Peterborough is home to a perfect blend of historical and contemporary culture. Located on the River Nene in Cambridgeshire, its rich Bronze Age roots can still be explored at Flag Fen: a fascinating archaeological site just five miles from the bustling city centre. In fact, many past inhabitants have contributed to the city's modern identity. At its heart stands St Peter's Cathedral, once an abbey plundered by the Danes, rebuilt by the Normans and closed by Henry VIII. Residents can also relax and roll back the centuries in the beautiful Victorian-era landscape of Central Park. Having been declared a new town in the 1960s, Peterborough's population boomed, and since then a fantastic array of leisure options have kept locals entertained.

Whether it's splashing the cash in one of the three shopping centres, taking a dip in the heated waters of the Lido or hitting the town for a drink and a dance, there are plenty of ways to spend your spare time. Amazon Fulfillment Center Our Peterborough Fulfillment Center is 500,000 square feet in size – that’s equivalent to around seven football pitches. 14 open jobs in Peterborough, England JOIN US ON The Top 10 Restaurants In Peterborough, England The Top 10 Restaurants In Peterborough, England Dan Waterfield Updated: 3 October 2016 The English city of Peterborough, located on the edge of The Fens, boasts an ancient cathedral containing the final resting place of Catharine of Aragon. But in addition to an outstanding cathedral, Peterborough and its surrounding historic villages offer so much more, including great places to eat. We introduce you to the ten best restaurants in the city and surrounding towns. Burghley House in Peterborough © Davecrosby uk/Wikicommons The Beehive The Beehive serves traditional English-style food along with a wide selection of beer and other drinks.

The new owners, who already own two other restaurants in and around Peterborough, arrived wanting to bring back the vibrancy that made the venue so famous in the city in the early 1990s. It is quite clear that they have succeeded, with an interior that is bright and airy yet traditional, mirroring the traditional architecture of the building itself. The Bell Inn, Stilton © Stuart Logan/Geograph commons The Bell Inn Stilton is perhaps most famous for its annual cheese rolling festival, but even if you don’t come south of Peterborough expressly for this festival, you will find a delightful location that is well worth exploring. At the heart of the village lies The Bell Inn , housed in a delightful 17th century coaching house. It’s not just at the heart of the village however, it was here that the landlord invented the famous Stilton cheese several hundred years ago. In spite of its remote location, The Bell Inn offers modern, cosmopolitan food which would rival that found in a major city. The Bluebell at Glinton © Paul Bryan/Geograph commons The Bluebell The Bluebell is located in the delightful village of Glinton, a little to the north of Peterborough.

Though The Bluebell may be a gastro pub, there is still more than enough substance here to entice those looking for something filling after a long walk through the fenland. The cosy interior is coupled by a charming exterior which melds seamlessly into the village. The Bluebell, 10 High Street, Glinton, Peterborough, UK ,+44 1733 252285 Clarkes The family run, modern restaurant, Clarkes, is located just a short walk from the train station and very close to Queensgate shopping centre. Clarkes is therefore the perfect location to stop in for something special to eat after a full day in Peterborough’s shops. The restaurant itself offers four different dining rooms, from the chic to the family-oriented and the building itself is imposingly and beautifully Georgian-esque. Regarding the menu, it is not only excellent quality but appropriately priced at around £22 for two courses. The Grain Barge, a floating Chinese Restaurant © Derek Harper/Geograph Commons The Grain Barge The Grain Barge floating Peking Restaurant is, as the name and address suggests, something a little bit different from the other locations on this list.

While others feature beautiful buildings in delightful rural villages or the vibrant city centre, The Grain Barge is a renovated grain barge moored on the River Nene. A mere five minutes from the train station and ten minutes from the city centre, The Grain Barge has offered Chinese food to the people of Peterborough for over 20 years. In that time, it has established an enduring reputation for quality. Lit up at night, The Grain Barge also offers buffets and collection-only take-aways, perfect for if you decide to mix dinner and a stroll along the river to the nature reserve downstream. The view from Stamford Bridge looking up the hill towards the George Hotel © SmileyRose/Wikicommons Oak Panelled Restaurant at the George Hotel Stamford is an enchanting, medium-sized town around 15 miles from Peterborough, famous for its 17th and 18th century buildings. The architecture dominates the town, making it, and The George Hotel , a perfect base for exploring the region. Even if you stay in Peterborough itself, the town and The George Hotel with its Oak Panelled Restaurant are well worth a visit for their traditional ambience.

The surroundings of the Oak Panelled Restaurant are warm and inviting, as one might expect. The dress code is smart casual for lunch, and smart for dinner. Pack Horse Pub © Paul Bryan/Georgraph commons The Pack Horse A tiny village of just over 1,300 people, Northborough has been settled for over 1400 years. Surrounded by fields, this remote settlement has just one shop, one post office, and one pub, The Pack Horse . Yet The Packhorse is so much more than an isolated pub and restaurant. The fact that they are new to providing food makes the quality all that much more extraordinary, a fact which has been nationally recognized through the New to Food Award. As for what’s on the menu, it is a mix of locally sourced pub and standard restaurant fare, all prepared to the highest quality. The Pack Horse, Lincoln Road, Northborough, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK , +44 1733 253662 Sophie T’s Vintage T Shop Sophie T’s is a small tea room in the village of Yaxley, which lies just to the south of Peterborough.

Here you will find delicious teas, soups and light meals served in a cozy, friendly village atmosphere. It is these charming mend and make do surroundings which make Sophie T’s stand out. You would hardly be able to believe that you are so close to a large city, yet the range on offer here surpasses the village location, creating a perfect mix between city and country. Sophie T’s Vintage Teashop, 183 Main Street, Yaxley, Peterborough, UK , +44 7768351227 The William Cecil The William Cecil offers a luxurious options in Stamford, whether for the diner or traveler in search of a night or two’s rest. What makes William Cecil stand apart however, is its location – it is to be found within the Burghley Estate and in the shadow of the famous manor house itself. The William Cecil exemplifies the town’s beauty in both architecture and food, drawn from the finest English traditions with a modern, ethically sourced twist.

The William Cecil, St Martins, Stamford, Lincolnshire, UK , +44 1780 750070 Vesuvio Whittlesey can be found a little to the south east of Peterborough, on the edge of the world famous Flag Fen excavations and re-enactments. The village itself looks out over the fens, and has a long history of settlement and culture, whether for its multitude of public houses, or the Whittlesea (sic) straw bear festival . The village is an unlikely location for an Italian restaurant, but Vesuvio is well worth the trip from the city. All the standard Italian dishes are available, from pasta to pizza to lasagna, coupled with an outstanding drinks menu. PETERBOROUGH CATHEDRAL PRECINCTS - 1001638| Historic England PETERBOROUGH CATHEDRAL PRECINCTS List Entry Summary This garden or other land is registered under the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953 within the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens by English Heritage for its special historic interest.

Name: PETERBOROUGH CATHEDRAL PRECINCTS The garden or other land may lie within the boundary of more than one authority. County: National Park: Not applicable to this List entry. Grade: II Date of most recent amendment: Not applicable to this List entry. Legacy System Information The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system. Legacy System: Parks and Gardens UID: 5155 Asset Groupings This list entry does not comprise part of an Asset Grouping. Asset Groupings are not part of the official record but are added later for information. List entry Description Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details. Reasons for Designation Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details. History Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details. Details A series of gardens spaces dating from the C12, now of mainly C19 character, surrounding the Cathedral Minster Precinct buildings.

HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT Roman remains occur on the site of the Minster Precincts at Peterborough and Bede's History of the English Church records Saxulf, made Bishop of Mercia in c 674, as the constructor of the first monastery. It was refounded in the C10 as a defended settlement named Burh which was fortified by the Normans and Tout Hill, a mount which survives in the Deanery Garden, survives from this period (Mackreth 1994). During the C13 the church was doubled in size and became an abbey and by 1539 a Benedictine monastery had developed around it, containing buildings, productive gardens, orchards, vineyards, cemeteries, and a herbarium. This layout is still reflected in the plan of the Precincts today. Extensive grounds were laid out around the Lodgings (later the Bishop's Palace) and the great Norman Gate was created. To the north of the abbey the Prior's Lodgings were developed (later to become The Deanery).

Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the new Diocesan order came into being, the Bishop took over the Lodgings (the grounds of which were substantially reduced) and the Dean was installed in the Prior's Lodgings. The remaining monastic buildings became six Prebendal Houses and the occupation of the buildings and their gardens was ensured. At the beginning of the C19 a further phase of garden development took place as the Lay Folks' Cemetery was restored and given a picturesque quality under the direction of Dean Monk. Also during this period the gardens of the Bishop's Palace, The Deanery, and The Vinery were the subject of major developments, while all the Prebendal Houses were given Victorian gardens. At the beginning of the C20 the architect Edwin Lutyens (1869-1944) was commissioned to extend the Bishop's Palace, which he orientated on the existing refectory garden. During the C20 the layout of some of the garden spaces has been simplified but the general pattern and structure of the landscape retains it medieval origins, overlain by a Victorian character.

The site remains (2002) in divided ownership, partly the responsibility of the Dean and Chapter and partly owned by the Church Commissioners. DESCRIPTION LOCATION, AREA, BOUNDARIES, LANDFORM, SETTING The Minster Precincts lie in the centre of the city of Peterborough. The c 9.5ha site is bounded to the east by Vineyard Road, to the south by Gravel Walk and a car park, to the west by the Market Place and Causeway, and to the north by Wheel Yard and buildings running up to City Road. The generally level site is enclosed by walls and/or buildings which divide it from the city, the main view across its surroundings being afforded from a mount located in The Deanery garden. ENTRANCES AND APPROACHES There are several vehicular and pedestrian entrances into the Minster Precincts. The main pedestrian entrance comes into the site from the Market Place on the western boundary, through an arched gateway known as the Norman Gate into the Minster Court lying below the west front of the cathedral.

Vehicular access is also afforded by the Wheel Yard entrance off Midgate in the north-west corner of the site, with a further pedestrian route entering the site off Bishop's Road in the south-east corner. PRINCIPAL BUILDING Peterborough Cathedral stands at the centre of the site, surrounded by a collection of other historic buildings within the Minster Precinct wall. These include the Bishop's Palace, The Deanery, The Vineyard, Canonary House, Archdeanery, and The Infirmary. These structures and their interconnecting spaces span a period of over 1300 years of ecclesiastical use and together with walls and monuments contain sixty-two listed structures, including nineteen listed as grade I and six listed as grade II*. THE GROUNDS The whole of the Precinct area is enclosed by either the Precinct buildings or a boundary wall. There have been few losses to the medieval wall which remains largely intact. Internally the grounds surrounding the Minster buildings are divided by walls into a series of discrete garden areas relating to each of the various buildings and their uses.

From the main gate off Market Place the path leads into the Minster Court which is enclosed by the Precinct walls and is laid to grass, cut with paths. In 1718 this area was laid to gardens and orchards which by 1800 had become the garden for the Master of King's School. During the C19 the present character of grass areas set with paths was laid out and by 1886 (OS) the present (2002) straight path layout had been determined. Immediately surrounding the cathedral building to north, east, and south are three cemetery areas. These include the Lay Folks' Cemetery (founded in the C7, remodelled by Dean Monk in 1822), the Monks' Cemetery (also remodelled in 1822), and the Canons' Cemetery. A perimeter carriage drive runs alongside boundary borders which are filled with mixed planting and some mature trees. The area within the drive comprises grass lawns set with flower and rose borders in a layout which changed little between 1718 and 1822.

Alterations in the 1920s included the simplification of the planting, the removal of several mature trees, the relocation of headstones, and the redirection of the carriage drive, resulting in the character which survives today (2002). In 1828 Britton noted that: in manner of laying out and embellishing the old Churchyard the Dean and Chapter have initiated one of the best practices of the Parisians. Here, as in Pere La Chaise cemetery in Paris, the graces are planted and embellished with willows, laurels, pines and various trees; shrubs and flowers. To the north of the cathedral and Lay Folks' Cemetery stands The Deanery set in its own walled garden. Mainly laid to lawn with specimen trees, the garden is surrounded by a perimeter path running alongside mixed borders of Victorian character, containing a high proportion of evergreen shrubs on the south side and herbaceous planting on the north side. To the north-west lies the Deans Entrance and vegetable garden. In the north-east corner of the garden stands an C11 mound with a serpentine path running to its summit, and shrubs and evergreens planted on its slopes.

From here there are views out over city. During the C11, Tout Hill, as the mound was known, was part of the motte and bailey defence of Peterborough Castle and in 1718 the Eayre map records it standing in the deer park attached to The Deanery, the grounds of which contained fishponds and orchards. In 1825 Dean Monk filled in the fishponds and began to develop the gardens, the mount being brought into the grounds at the end of the C19 when the deer park was lost to city developments. At this time Dean Barlow gave the gardens their present character. Beyond the cathedral along the eastern boundary stands The Vineyard and its grounds. A vineyard was planted in 1147 but by 1718 the area had become a lawned garden to accompany the house. The lawns, dotted with trees and enclosed by a perimeter path alongside borders of mixed evergreen shrubs and herbaceous planting, were laid out in the C19 and have changed little since that time, apart from the southern end of the grounds where two small C20 houses have been erected.

On the south-west corner of the cathedral is a small cloister, laid to grass with a cross path set beside a wellhead. This area formed the C12 cloister for the Benedictine monastery. It was destroyed in 1643 and then let to John Glover for use as a nursery garden on condition he supplied laurel leaves to the cathedral. In 1686 the diagonal path was laid in the grass and the area has changed little since that time. Beyond the cloister, in the south-west corner of the Precinct, is the Bishop's Palace, set in its own expansive garden which comprises lawns, a woodland garden, and a large kitchen garden. The kitchen garden is divided by box hedging which was planted after the Second World War when the area ceased to be used for growing vegetables. In 1302 Abbot Godfrey de Crowland's famed gardens stretched as far as the River Nene and were doubly moated (see plan in Harvey 1981).

The Derby Yard, named as a corruption of 'herber', is now a city car park, but other sites identified by Harvey from 1302, persisting through Eayre's map of 1718, remain as garden areas. Bishop Hinchcliffe created a model farm here in 1769 which remained into the C20, but the main character of the gardens was determined in the C19 and much of this survives. In 1900 Edwin Lutyens designed a new service wing for the Palace which was orientated to fit in with the existing layout of the garden. The south-east corner of the site is dominated by a collection of Precinct buildings including the Prebendal Hall, Norman Hall, Almoners Hall, Infirmary, and Canonry House. The medieval spaces surrounding these buildings were given a C19 garden character, which has subsequently been altered by C20 uses. The kitchen garden associated with Canonry House survives in part in the far south-east corner of the Precinct area, divided into two compartments by two rows of mature yews.

The western half is now (2002) a car park, the eastern half partly laid to grass and partly cultivated for vegetables. The perimeter path surrounding the cultivated areas, shown in this position on the 1886 OS map, survives in this section of the garden.

REFERENCES S Gunton, The history of the church of Peterburgh (1686; reprinted 1990, edited by Peter Clay) J Britton, History and Antiquities of the Abbey and Cathedral Church of Peterborough (1828) [copy in Cathedral Library] The Story of Peterborough Cathedral (1932) [copy in Cathedral Library] J Harvey, Medieval Gardens (1981), pp 16, 85 D Mackreth, Peterborough History and Guide (1994), p 3 Historic Landscape Survey and Restoration Plan, (Dejardin Design 1999) Maps T Eayre, Map of Peterborough, c 1718 (BM Add Ms 32467 folio) Map of the precincts of the Cathedral Church of Peterborough, 1822 (Cathedral Library) OS 6" to 1 mile: 1st edition published 1886 Archival items Many of the papers relating to the cathedral and its precincts are held in the Cathedral Library.

Description written: May 2002 Amended: September 2002 Register Inspector: EMP Edited: November 2002 Selected Sources Legacy Record - This information may be included in the List Entry Details National Grid Reference: TL 19416 98630 Map © Crown Copyright and database right 2017. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100024900. © British Crown and SeaZone Solutions Limited 2017. All rights reserved. Licence number 102006.006. Use of this data is subject to Terms and Conditions . The above map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. For a copy of the full scale map, please see the attached PDF - 1001638 .pdf The PDF will be generated from our live systems and may take a few minutes to download depending on how busy our servers are. We apologise for this delay. This copy shows the entry on 02-Jan-2017 at 04:27:01.

End of official listing History Of Peterborough: Past To Present | History | Places of Interest Peterborough: From Past To Present, And Beyond Posted on Mon 22nd July 2013 | Comments The city of Peterborough was substantially shaped by the 19th and 20th centuries, more than any other era. But it’s been inhabited since earliest times. RICHARD GUNN tells how it evolved through time into the place we know today This is the story of Medeshamstede. But if that doesn’t ring a bell, don’t worry. Despite the fact that many of you reading this actually live there, and even those who don’t will probably have visited it in the last month or so, you’d have to go back over a thousand years to find the name in common usage… For Medeshamstede was what Peterborough used to be known as. It changed around the time of the Norman Conquest to become Burgh, or Burgh St Peter which then evolved into Peterborough by the end of the Middle Ages.

But, for any Romans using Ermine Street – still largely in use today as the A1 and A14 – during the second to fourth centuries, Durobrivae would have been the town they looked forward to as a rest-stop when they reached this part of the country. In the many millennia since people first settled on the spot, the location eventually to become known as Peterborough has had several different titles. So how did it metamorphose to become the large, vibrant and diverse city it is today? The site must have made an attractive prospect to any early humans seeking a permanent home. By the side of the Nene, at the point where dry land submitted to the marshy Fens, it was a fertile place blessed with natural abundant food and building resources. The first person to chronicle the history of Peterborough, the Benedictine monk Hugh Candidus, wrote during the 12th century that it was “built in a fair spot, and a goodly, because on the one side it is rich in fenland, and in goodly waters, and on the other it has the abundance of ploughlands and woodlands with many fertile meads and pastures”.

Heritage Site | Flag Fen Neolithic man found this out between 4,000 and 3,000 BC when the area was first settled and farmed. Pottery dating from that era has been uncovered across the region, so distinctive in style that it has become known as Peterborough ware. By the time of the Roman invasion, it’s believed that quite a major Iron Age settlement was occupying the future Peterborough. The Romans landed in 43, by 47 they had taken over control of the area, with the building of a large fort at what is now Thorpe Wood Golf Course. Ferry Meadows also shows traces of Roman habitation, still visible today – at first, purely military, with the construction of two small camps and defensive ditches. But, once the troops departed, the spot became a farm instead, complete with its own temple. Roman soldier It was from the fortress at Longthorpe that the legendary Legio IX Hispana (Ninth Legion of Spaniards) set out to battle Queen Boudica when her Iceni tribe rose in revolt against the Romans in 61.

And it was back to Longthorpe that the legion fled after being ambushed by Boudica, with 80 per cent of its soldiers dead. Its general Quintus Petillius Cerialis realised he would be unable to hold the fort with such diminished manpower, so a smaller stronghold was built inside the original, less than half its size. Although the fort at Longthorpe was abandoned as the army moved on, a civilian settlement was establised: Durobrivae, the first proper town in the district. It stood on Ermine Street near the current Water Newton and was a thriving place of 44 acres with its suburbs stretching out much further, including to Castor where the remains of a large villa still exist. Pottery was its main commerce, right up until it dropped out of history at the end of the fourth century, when the empire’s hold on Britain started to disintegrate. While scarce traces of it can be found at ground level now, the internet has granted all of us a precious opportunity to be amateur archaeologists.

Look on Google Earth and just to the west of Water Newton, beside the A1, you can make out the remains of Durobrivae and its network of streets within the old wall outline, punctuated by Ermine Street running through the centre and off to the north west towards Lincoln. The Anglo-Saxons arrive Sutton Hoo Saxon helmet The Romans were replaced by the Anglo-Saxons, who spread from Germany during the fifth century, and it is to them that Peterborough owes its direct origins. The area was ruled over by the Pagan king Penda from 626 to 655, but his son Peada introduced Christianity to the Middle Angles, the region in which future Peterborough lay. Admittedly, his faith was perhaps less about true belief and more a desire to marry into the affluent Northumbrian Royal house but nevertheless, he founded a monastery in 655. Named Medeshamstede, it was built on the site of the current cathedral and from there, the town and later city grew up around it. The name means ‘homestead in the meadows’, although 12th century scholars have also attributed it to a nearby spring called Medes Well.

Medeshamstede soon grew in importance, becoming the mother house of other religious establishments as Christianity spread. Its existence was quite peaceful up until 870 when invading Vikings reputedly burnt it to the ground and massacred the monks. It wasn’t refounded again until 970, when Bishop Aethelwold of Winchester claimed to have been visited by God, who told him to travel to the ancient monastery of St Peter and restore it. This he did, after a small hiccup when he stumbled on Oundle by accident and started to build there instead. A presumably slightly frustrated God then appeared a second time to point out his mistake and direct him down-river a few miles until he found the real Medeshamstede, its ruins being used to house cattle and sheep and ‘the whole place filled with foulness and all uncleanness’, according to Hugh Candidus. Perhaps mindful of the tales of its previous treatment by the Vikings, the rebuilt structure was soon surrounded by an earth bank and wooden palisade, thus becoming known as Burgh, meaning a fortified place. Adding the name of the saint to whom it was dedicated later created Peterburgh. Hereward the Wake A century later though, the monastery was in trouble once more.

Following the Norman invasion of England, local rebel leader Hereward the Wake stormed Burgh, his somewhat fragile excuse being that he wanted to stop its treasures falling into the hands of William the Conqueror. The defences had little effect – he simply set fire to buildings adjacent to the main gate and got in that way. The entire fledgling community of Burgh was destroyed, save for one solitary house, and the monastery was once again set on fire. Small wonder that the abbot, Thorold, promptly had a motte-and-bailey castle constructed next door, albeit out of wood. The mound on which it stood can still be seen from the cathedral grounds, off to the north. Peterborough and fire were obviously unhappy bedfellows, for in August 1116 there was yet another blaze that destroyed both the town and the church, its tower remaining alight for nine days. The cause was attributed to drunkenness among the monks. All the monastery’s documents went up in flames, too, forcing the monks to borrow other religious institution’s records and copy them. This included the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, an Anno Domini history of Britain.

Under Norman rule though, these accounts by great churches gradually died out, except in Peterborough, where the monks continued to note down events. Because of this, even after French had been adopted as the official language by order of the Norman regime, Peterborough continued as the last bastion of Old and Middle English, with the writers often showing considerable sympathy for ordinary people amid difficult circumstances. This makes the Peterborough Chronicle both unique for the time, and incredibly significant. The manuscripts came to an end in 1154 and are now preserved in the Bodleian Library in Oxford. The birth of the cathedral Cross keys stained glass window Building work got underway in 1118 on a new abbey that is now the cathedral. The town was also re-established outside its gates, this time to the west rather than the east, as it had been previously. Its street layout largely corresponds to that still in place today. The ‘gates’ at the end of road names such as Cowgate and Westgate – both of which came into being at this time – are derived from ‘gaeta’, the Danish word for ‘street’. The abbots of Peterborough had total power over the inhabitants, with much the same status as barons.

They were responsible for law and order, plus the growth of the town and construction projects, with the first Town Bridge built in 1308. Made of wood, it survived right through until 1872, when it was replaced by an iron one. This had a much shorter life, lasting only until 1934 before the current concrete one took its place. The parish church of St John the Baptist in Cathedral Square was finished in 1407. Urban myth has it that the church stands lower than surrounding buildings because it occupied the old meat market, and the blood-soaked ground had to be dug out before the foundations could be sunk. It’s not true – the medieval street level was simply lower than it is today. Fairs were also organised, one of which – the Bridge Fair – still takes place today. It can trace its origins right the way back to 1439, when it was granted to the abbey by King Henry VI. The relationship between abbey and town wasn’t always harmonious.

In one of the city’s more notorious incidents, the townspeople rose up against the abbey as part of the Peasant’s Revolt of 1381, after King Richard II imposed a poll tax on a country still ravaged by the 1348 to 1350 Black Death outbreak. The Bishop of Norwich, Henry le Despenser – whose pious nature was somewhat negated by his reputation for wearing a suit of armour under his cassock – arrived with troops and violently put down the riot, massacring hundreds on the main square and in the Chapel of Thomas Becket. Think of that next time you’re having a coffee in Starbucks, for that is what now occupies the spot. Legend has it that God was also somewhat annoyed by one of the more notorious abbots, and cursed Peterborough with Black Shuck, a huge phantom dog with eyes weeping fire, w ho has haunted the area since 1127. Anyone who sees him will be dead by sunrise. Presumably those who provided the description of him passed it on shortly before their own passing.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was told the fable in 1901 while visiting the area; shortly afterwards, he wrote the most famous of the Sherlock Holmes tales, The Hound of the Baskervilles. Featuring, of course, a huge phantom dog… The power of the abbey came to an abrupt end in 1539, after King Henry VIII’s break with the Roman Catholic Church and the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Peterborough was more fortunate than most – instead of being sold and destroyed as many religious institutions were, it became a cathedral instead, with the town becoming a city by default, despite a population of only about 1,500. However, the influence of the religious establishment was still strong, with the Dean and Chapter becoming Lords of the Manor of Peterborough, and the Churchwardens serving in much the same capacity as a modern local authority. Was Old Scarlett the inspiration for Hamlet’s grave digger? Perhaps one reason that the abbey survived to become a cathedral is that Katherine of Aragon, Henry VIII’s first wife, had been buried there in 1536 after her death at nearby Kimbolton Castle.

She was entombed by Peterborough’s legendary gravedigger, Robert Scarlett. Old Scarlett, as he was nicknamed, lived to the ripe old age of 98 and also interred another Queen, Mary of Scotland, in the cathedral after she was executed at Fotheringhay in 1587. Rumoured to be the inspiration behind Shakespeare’s gravedigger in Hamlet, it is said that during his long life he buried at least two people from every Peterborough household. An outbreak of the plague in 1574 makes this less far-fetched than it sounds. His portrait now hangs above the main entrance to the church, along with a poem in his honour. During the English Civil War of 1642 to 1651, Oliver Cromwell’s Parliamentary forces ransacked the cathedral, destroying several parts – including the cloisters – and damaging the interior. Their desecration of some of the carvings can still be seen. After the capture of King Charles I, he was briefly held in the cathedral’s gatehouse. Look for the nameplate of the King’s Lodging (the Monastic royal apartments where he was held) next time you pass under the archway.

Shortly after the monarchy was restored, the impressive Butter Cross – also known as the Guildhall – was constructed in 1671, next to St John’s parish church, as the centrepiece for the marketplace and to commemorate the restoration; the royal arms of Charles II decorate its front. Smallest city in England In 1774, Peterborough was described by the Gentleman’s Magazine as ‘the smallest city in England’ with a population of fewer than 3,000. However, it was also “indifferently built, with a good bridge, but the only building worth visiting is the Minster”. This was the same year that the city finally opened its first purpose-built theatre, for long a staple of other cities throughout Britain. It seems that despite previous prosperity from the wool and cloth trade, Peterborough’s signs of affluence were being constrained by the strong influence of the religious authorities. It still closely resembled the 12th century town, with little spread of the city beyond the plan laid out over 650 years before. Stagnation was setting in, and in 1786, the city even had to petition Parliament for assistance as the wool industry declined.

In 1790, the citizens took matters into their own hands and appointed a group of 33 locals as the Peterborough Pavement and Improvement Commissioners, effectively a local government. Among the improvements instigated were the Customs House by the Town Bridge – for in those days, Peterborough was also a port navigable to by trade ships along the River Nene – and oil lamps for the streets. They introduced some regulations that would be familiar to modern Peterburghians, such as strict parking rules and powers of compulsory purchase for highway improvement. Others were more alien, such as casks only allowed to be rolled a maximum of 40 yards on footpaths and strict rules on where beasts could be slaughtered in the streets. One form of transport which persisted in our narrow streets were Sedan Chairs, Peterborough being the last place in the country where you could be carried by hand to your destination! Norman Cross Prisoner of War Camp Further municipal benefits came from a very unexpected source; the Emperor Napoleon. The wars with France necessitated the building of camps to house prisoners of war and Norman Cross, near Yaxley, was chosen as one site.

It opened in 1797 and, at its peak, had a population – enforced and otherwise – of over 10,000, making it nearly three times the size of Peterborough in an area a fraction of the size. The huge influx of guards and prisoners profited the local economy greatly, especially as the officer classes were allowed out on parole in the city. The first national UK census in 1801 recorded that Peterborough had jumped by 700 to 3,500 residents in 10 years. It may not sound like much now, but it represented a leap of 25 per cent for what was still a very small place. The coming of the railways was the next major boost for Peterborough. The first line reached the city, from Northampton, in 1845. The direct Great Northern Railway (GNR) route to London followed in 1850, as part of what would become the main East Coast Main Line to Scotland. Peterborough suddenly became a major railway town and a home to engineering workshops.

Finally, the city began to spread out from its 12th century plan, with new houses snaking out along the side of the GNR for miles. By 1861, the railways were employing 2,000 people in the town and the population had ballooned to 11,732; Peterborough’s transformation from small provincial market centre to bustling industrial complex was well underway. One of those employed as an apprentice in the GNR’s works was the son of a mill owner from nearby Alwalton. The technical experience Henry Royce gained there proved invaluable later in his career when, along with Charles Rolls, he founded Rolls-Royce to build ‘the best cars in the world.’ The railway wasn’t the only boom industry. Brick-making had come to the area in the 18th century but on a small scale. Then, in 1891, a new, much improved and faster technique was perfected, and dubbed the ‘Fletton process’ after the part of Peterborough where it was pioneered. The city and its environs became the centre of British brick manufacturing, dominated by the London Brick Company throughout most of the 20th century.

Brick-making continues in the area today. All this Victorian expansion also brought much improved facilities. An infirmary opened in 1822, although it soon proved too small and moved to a mansion in Priestgate, now the location of the city’s museum. Gas lighting arrived in 1830 followed by a Corn Exchange, for local commerce in 1846 although this unfortunately replaced the 1774 theatre and meant that, for the next 30 years, Peterborough had no permanent entertainment venue. Such was Peterborough’s intensive development that, in 1874, it became a municipal borough, with a proper council to run services. It was this that provided a piped water supply and sewers within a few years, and opened up the first public library in 1892. Modern times Long Causeway 1904 Peterborough started the 20th century with its population at 30,000 – getting on for 10 times what it had been 100 years previously. The supply of electricity was a new innovation, leading to trams being introduced from 1903 to 1930.

A cinema came along in 1911, and, to cope with the burgeoning number of residents, council houses started to appear during the 1920s. The modern city was starting to take shape. But it was inevitable that, as Peterborough rushed to make up for centuries of inactivity, it would lose some of its ancient charm. One victim of the changes was the road from the Town Bridge to the centre. Narrow Street was a row of quaint and ancient buildings but a major obstacle to traffic, as well as the aspirations of the city council, which required a Town Hall somewhat more substantial than the ramshackle building tacked onto the end of the Guildhall. So the shops were demolished, to double the width of the road to make Bridge Street, with the new classical-columned Town Hall, completed in 1934, as its focal point.

Despite the presence of vital industries in the city – such as Perkins Engines, occupying the site now taken up by the Queensgate Centre and bus station – Peterborough escaped World War Two comparatively unscathed, although the Corn Exchange was destroyed by an incendiary in 1942, the cathedral slightly damaged and the Lido – the Art Deco open air swimming pool only opened in 1936 – also hit. (Although presumably not on purpose, unless the Luftwaffe had a particular aversion to East Anglian al fresco bathing.) The war also brought large numbers of overseas soldiers and air personnel to the area, mainly Americans, Polish and other East European nationalities. Among those who spent time in the area was Hollywood heartthrob Clark Gable, who could regularly be found drinking in local pubs in between his duties as an airman. Such multiculturalism has continued ever since, with an influx of Italians to the brick industry in the 1950s, Commonwealth immigrants during the 1960s and lately settlers from Eastern Europe.

But the biggest 20th century change to Peterborough came in 1967 when the government designated it a new town, to double in size within 20 years. With the population at 80,000 at the time, this was quite some undertaking and the Peterborough Development Corporation was formed a year later to manage this. New housing estates were built – Bretton, Orton and the continuing expansion at Hampton – and the middle of the city was transformed in 1982 by the opening of the Queensgate Centre. Nene Park and Ferry Meadows, to the west, opened as a vast recreation area for the benefit of residents and the city was enclosed by the Parkway system to speed up road traffic. But anyone driving on these in recent years will have noticed how Peterborough is now starting to unfurl itself past these boundaries, to the south and the east, with new housing and commercial building. Queensgate Construction 1978 The Peterborough of today is a diverse and ever-growing modern city of around 175,000 inhabitants.

It still retains its medieval core at its centre, with its street plan and magnificent cathedral – which fortunately survived another fire in November 2001 – but beyond that, it’s very much a product of the Victorian era and modern times. Redevelopment is continuing following close on the heels of the Cathedral Square revamp. The challenges of current times are being recognised by Peterborough’s commitment to become the UK’s environment capital, with the Green Wheel cycle network a major facet of this scheme. For so much of its history, Peterborough seemed to be a city that stood still. Now it’s moving faster than ever before. Explore Nene Park in the River Nene Valley | VisitEngland Explore Nene Park in the River Nene Valley Peterborough, Cambridgeshire Read more … Close × Ferry Meadows Country Park and Overton Lake are located at the heart of the wider Nene Park, bordered by the pretty villages of Ailsworth, Castor, Sutton and Water Newton. Explore the Sculpture Park at Thorpe Meadows, take a riverside walk or spend time on the rowing lake at Orton Mere.

There’s also good cycling here with many miles of off-road traffic-free cycling, at the heart of the Peterborough Green Wheel which surrounds and crosses the city, including a stretch of the National Cycle Network Route 63. With opportunities to try your hand at water-sports, play a round of golf, or even try Geo-caching and orienteering, Nene Park is a great place to escape to. Content provided by City of Peterborough Peterborough Tourist Information Guide Home - Regions - East Anglia - Cambridgeshire - Peterborough Peterborough Peterborough's history goes back nearly 6,000 years. The Romans also had a great influence in this area circa AD 50, when they built the nearby town of Durobrivae, plus a 27 acre fortress (now located beneath Thorpe Wood golf course), and developed the local pottery production 'Nene Ware' into a major industry. The glory of present day Peterborough is its cathedral, one of the finest Norman buildings in Britain. The city began as a monastery dedicated to St Peter in 656. The Danes sacked this in 870 and it was rebuilt 100 years later.

It was destroyed by fire in 1117 and the core of the present cathedral was built on the site as an abbey church between 1118 and 1143. Fronting the Cathedral Square is a great Norman Gateway. The chancel of the 14th-century Chapel of St Thomas of Canterbury stands to the left of the gate; its east window has a beautiful tracery. In the town square is the impressive old Butter Cross (known as the Guildhall), which dates from 1671. Next to it is Peterborough's ancient parish church of St John the Baptist. It was built around 1402, using stone from the nave of the Chapel of St Thomas of Canterbury. While exploring historical Peterborough city centre, you can take tea at Harriet's at Cumbergate renowned for its old-fashioned tea rooms. Peterborough has two theatres, Key Theatre and The Cresset, offering drama, ballet and concerts. The city center has a wide selection of restaurants serving cuisine for every palate, with cocktail bars and night clubs open until the early hours.

You can also enjoy a meal on one of the town's floating restaurants, with lovely view of Weeping willows that edge the river Nene walk. The Town Museum provides a range of Guided Walks around Peterborough City Centre, in the daytime and during the evenings. The tours, which range from ghost walks to medieval, Victorian and wartime history, provide a fascinating and informative insight to different aspects of the city's past. Tourist Information Centre: 9 Bridge Street, Peterborough, PE1 1HJ - Tel:+44 (0)1733 452336 Content by Steve B Places of interest to visit in Peterborough Peterborough Cathedral For one of the finest examples of Norman architecture visit Peterborough Cathedral, where you can see the tomb of Catherine of Aragon one of Henry VIII wives. The nave (circa 1194), has 11 bays and massive piers, built from the local cream-coloured Barnack stone. The high wooden roof is decorated with 13th-century paintings.

Within the nave is a painting of Old Scarlett, a 16th-century grave digger, who buried Catherine of Aragon (Henry VIII's first wife) and Mary Queen of Scots, within the cathedral building. Opening times: Mon-Fri 9.00-5.15pm, Sat 9.00-3.00pm, Sun 12-3.15pm - Free but donations welcome Location: 2 Minster Precincts, Peterborough, PE1 1XS, Tel: 01733 343342 - View location map Longthorpe Tower A three-storey building constructed around 1300, which contains the best-surviving examples of English medieval wall-paintings.

Run by the English Heritage Opening times: pre-booked guided tours only, 1st Sunday of the month, Apr to Sep - Admission Charge Location: PE3 1HA, To book call 01536 203230 - View location map River Nene and Customs House Located near the town bridge is a 16th-century Customs House (not open to public), surmounted by a light that once guided vessels to a wharf on the River Nene. The attractive river front is lined with weeping willow trees, a favourite mooring for river cruisers and narrow boats. The Key Theatre and Lido are also located in the River Embankment park. Location: River Embankment - View location map Peterborough Museum Peterborough's Museum at Priestgate, houses the largest Jurassic marine reptile exhibit outside of London. The museum is also noted for a fine collection of carved bonework and straw marquetry made by prisoners during the Napoleonic Wars.

Opening times: Tue to Sat 10am to 5pm, Sun 12noon to 4pm - Admission Free Location: Priestgate, Peterborough, PE1 1LF; Tel: 01733 864663 - View location map Peterborough Lido Opened in 1936, it is one of the few surviving Lidos of its type still in use in the United Kingdom. Facilities include, 3 heated outdoor pools (main, learner and paddling pool) a grass sunbathing area and a refreshment area. Opening times: every day in May to Sept, 9am - 6pm - Admission Charge Location: Bishops Road, Peterborough, PE1 5BW, Tel: 01733 343618 - View location map Railworld Designed around a theme to raise awareness on sustainable transport and the need to cut global emissions in the field of transport. The museum contains a number of indoor and outdoor model railways, plus a variety of full size steam and diesel-electric locomotives, including one of the two Birmingham Maglev's and the first British built hover train. Ideal for children and railway enthusiasts.

Opening times: Tue-Thur, Sat, Sun, 11am - 4pm - Admission Charge Location: Oundle Rd, Peterborough, PE2 9NR, Tel: 01733 344240 - View location map Ferry Meadows Country Park A large open expanse of parkland, waterways, meadows and woodlands, situated in a large meander of the river Nene. Facilities include a shop, restaurant and toilets. Sailing and water sports are available on Gunwade Lake. Opening times: open all year for walking, cycling and informal recreation - Car Parking Charge Location: Ham Lane, Peterborough, PE2 5UU, Tel: 01733 234193 - View location map Places to Visit Near Peterborough Other Towns and Villages in Cambridgeshire Cambridge , Chatteris, Ely, Huntingdon , Linton, March, Peterborough , Ramsey, Stilton , Sawtry , St. Ives, St.

Neots, Wisbech, Whittlesey Car Parking in Peterborough Craig Street; Lincoln Road; Bourges Boulevard; Brook Street; Bishops Road; Oundle Road; London Road; City Road; Cattle Market; Brook Street; Queensgate. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Feb 8, 2016 Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England. Situated 75 miles (121 km) north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea approximately 30 miles (48 km) to the north-east. Human settlement in the area began before the Bronze Age, as can be seen at the Flag Fen archaeological site to the east of the current city centre also with evidence of Roman occupation. The Anglo-Saxon period saw the establishment of a monastery, Medeshamstede, which later became Peterborough Catherdal (Early English Gothic West Front). Filmed 30.01.2016

Question: The English city of Peterborough stands on which river?
Answer: River Nene