Glinton, Cambridgeshire

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Glinton is a village to the North of the City of Peterborough, England, United Kingdom.

It has a population of 1660 (1991 Census) and consists of about 600 dwellings.

It is separated from the urban sprawl of Peterborough and the new township of Werrington by the A15, the Peterborough bypass.

The origin of the place name Glinton is uncertain. It may mean “village on the Glym brook” (ie. the Brook Drain) or could possibly be derived from the old Danish “klint” (hill), or middle low German “glinde” (enclosure or fence) or the Old English “glente”, meaning look-out place.

Glinton was mentioned in the Domesday Book and evidence suggests that it dates from pre-history times. There is evidence of early settlement at Glinton, dating back to the Iron Age. Extensive Roman remains, including a beautifully preserved well, were found during construction of the A15 bypass in 1996, as well as a fine example of a medieval drainage system. Further Roman remains were found in Peakirk Road near the junction with the High Street and it is thought that the area was the site of a Roman farmstead that supplied the larger settlement of Werrington.

The spire of St. Benedicts' church is considered by many experts to be one of the finest needle spires in England, 2nd only to Salisbury Cathedral. It is the subject on one of John Clare's poems "Glinton Spire". John Clare himself, although born in Helpston went to school in the Church, and there is an inscription dated 1808 on the door frame of the church.

Glinton has several small shops including a chemist, butchers and post office/general store. There are also two pubs in the village although in 2006 one of them is currently closed for business.

There are two schools in the village, Peakirk cum Glinton (a Church of England primary school with about 200 pupils) and Arthur Mellows Village College (a large secondary school with about 1700 pupils).

Although covered by Peterborough City Council, Glinton has its own Parish Council consisting of 11 councilors.

[edit] External Links

  • Glinton.Net A community site for the village of Glinton, including the history of the village, school and church and a page for the Parish Council.