Burwell, Cambridgeshire
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For other places named Burwell, see Burwell.
| Burwell | ||
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| Statistics | ||
| Population: | 5,833 (2001) | |
| Ordnance Survey | ||
| OS grid reference: | TL589665 | |
| Administration | ||
| District: | East Cambridgeshire | |
| Shire county: | Cambridgeshire | |
| Region: | East of England | |
| Constituent country: | England | |
| Sovereign state: | United Kingdom | |
| Other | ||
| Ceremonial county: | Cambridgeshire | |
| Historic county: | Cambridgeshire | |
| Services | ||
| Police force: | Cambridgeshire Constabulary | |
| Fire and rescue: | Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service | |
| Ambulance: | East of England | |
| Post office and telephone | ||
| Post town: | CAMBRIDGE | |
| Postal district: | CB25 | |
| Dialling code: | 01638 | |
| Politics | ||
| UK Parliament: | South East Cambs | |
| European Parliament: | East of England | |
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Burwell is a large village in Cambridgeshire with a population of 5,833 (2001 Census). Burwell Lode runs along the western edge of the Village, with all land north and west of that being part of the area known as The Fens. The village name means "Spring by the Fort", referring to Burwell Castle, located close to a spring in the south of the village. The term for a resident of the village is "Burwellian".
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[edit] Location and early history
The village is located 4 miles NW of Newmarket, 10 miles ENE of Cambridge and 9 miles SSE of Ely. Burwell measures 1/2 mile east to west and 1.5 miles north-south. The Devil's Dyke Ancient Monument passes approximately 1 mile south west of the village. Burwell was recorded as Burewelle in the Domesday Book, when it was held by The Abbot of Ramsey. The history of the village and surrounding area is displayed at the Burwell Museum of Fen Edge Village Life.
[edit] Places of interest
[edit] Burwell Castle
The village is the site of an unfinished castle, situated in Spring Close. The final wall collapsed in the 1930s, but the moat is still clearly visible.
The castle was built during "The Anarchy", the internal British conflicts of the mid 12th century in the reign of King Stephen. Although a settlement had been reached such that the throne would pass to Henry II on Stephen's death, the Barons of the time took the opportunity to fight their own battles.
Among these Geoffrey de Mandeville was particularly troublesome and, after turning against Stephen, had set up an impregnable base around Ely. From his base he would attack local towns, such as Cambridge, and so the king ordered castles be built to surround Geoffrey. The few sites at which it is known such castles were to be constructed include Rampton (Giant's Hill), Ramsey (Booth's Hill) and Burwell.
At Burwell, a moat had been constructed and the stone keep partially built when Geoffrey attacked and was mortally wounded. His revolt thus collapsed and the castle was left unfinished.
The narrow lane running along the side of the church next to Spring Close, where the Castle is located, is named "Mandeville".
[edit] The Barn Fire on Cuckolds Row
On the 8th of September 1727, a puppet show visited Burwell and put on a show. The show was held in a barn on what is now Cuckolds Row, near the centre of the village. After the barn had filled with an audience from Burwell and surrounding villages, the doors were nailed shut to prevent further people getting in, a simple act which was key to the tragedy which resulted.
One person who could not get into the barn sat with a candle lantern and peered in to watch the show. However, the person accidentally knocked the lantern into the barn, setting fire to the hay within. With no way to escape, 78 people (51 of them, children) perished in the ensuing blaze.
The deceased are buried in the churchyard of St. Marys Church, at the opposite end of the High Street, with a gravestone engraved with a blazing heart with angels' wings. On 8th September 2005, a plaque was unveiled at the site of the barn in memorial of the fire[1].
[edit] Twinning
The village is twinned with two villages; Lizy-sur-ourcq and Mary-sur-Marne and one small town; Ocquerre. These are all situated in France, but only Lizy is mentioned on the signs as you enter the village. A plate commemorating the twinning is located on a wall on the outside of the Year 3 classroom at the village primary school; Burwell Village College (Primary) which educates local 4-11 year olds. The Village falls into the catchment areas of both Bottisham and Soham Village Colleges, which provide education at Secondary level (11-16).
[edit] Recent accolades
The village was awarded the Best Kept Village award for East Cambridgeshire in 1998, 1999 and 2004, and won the same award for the whole county in 2000.
