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Chatteris today is a quiet
country town, although its past has not been
without its exciting moments! The town is thought
to be the last refuge of Queen Boudiccia and the
Icenis as they fled from massacre at the hands of
the Romans. History records three great fires, the
first in the early 14th century destroyed the
parish church and most of the Abbey which was
founded in 980 AD.
In the mid 19th century the town
was said to have handsome houses, numerous
hostelries and a daily coach service to London.
This is still a fair description of Chatteris
today!
Chatteris has an average
population of 9,000 and the local history is
reflected in Chatteris museum. Records of the town
go back to before AD 679.
If you wish to see a map
of Chatteris please click here.
The drainage of the Fens has
revealed a land ripe for farming. Fenland has the
agricultural community to produce the crops and the
haulage industry to transport the produce all over
the country and of course into Europe. A major
contributor to the agricultural area of Chatteris
is Albert Bartlett & Sons. Not all is
agricultural by any means! Chatteris is home to a
leading scientific research firm, Aspland and
James, and nearby Cambridge boasts a second
'silicon valley'.
The primary method to get around
is by car due to the rural nature of the area.
However, there are other means. Chatteris lost its
railway link in March 1967. The nearest station is
in March which connects to Peterborough in the West
with trains going to the Midlands, the North,
Scotland and London. Cambridge to the East has
trains running to Norwich, Felixstowe and Stanstead
Airport. March is only eight miles away and with
Huntingdon, which runs the alternate London
connection only eighteen miles away, the railway
connections are well used and established.
The other much needed forms of
transport are buses and coaches. There are regular
bus links to Cambridge via Sutton; Huntingdon via
Somersham; St. Ives via Somersham; Peterborough via
March; and to Kings Lynn. C & G coaches are the
resident coach firm who run a variety of excursions
throughout the UK and Europe.
Chatteris Museum is situated in
Church Lane in the old surgery building. The museum
has a range of exhibitions which include the
history of the area and people of Chatteris and an
exhibition featuring Southern Fenland dating back
to the Stone Age. This is supported by the Bronze
Age site at Flag Fen, near Peterborough. There is
also a temporary exhibit which holds a varying
display of collections.
There is also F.A.C.T., Fenland
Association for Community Transport, which operates
as a non-profit making organisation for people who
have trouble using conventional public transport in
the Fenland area.
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