Bluntisham

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Bluntisham – in Huntingdonshire (now part of Cambridgeshire), England – is a village near Earith east of St Ives.

Also known as Bluntisham-cum-Earith

Bluntersham (x - xiii cent.), Blondesham (xiv cent.), Bluntysham, Bluntsome, Blunsham (xvi cent.). Herhythe, Herhethe (xii cent.), Herethe, Erehethe, Erhuth (xiv cent.), Earette, Earythe (xvi cent.).

The two townships of Bluntisham and Earith, which are one mile apart, have probably always formed one ecclesiastical parish with the parish church in Bluntisham and a chapelry in Earith. The usual ecclesiastical name is Bluntisham-cum-Earith. The soil varies: in the gravel areas, fruit trees, barley and oats do well whilst on the loam and clay lands wheat prevails. The water supply traditionally was derived from gravel springs in places; later wells, fed by surface water (called 'sock' wells) were used. On the west, near the Somersham road, was Chalybeate spring where more than one attempt was made in the 18th century to establish a Spa (known as Somersham Spa).

Evidence of Neolithic and Roman inhabitants have been found. However, the four open fields of the old village can still be traced. Higham Field lay in the north-western part of the parish - about 100 ft. above sea-level. Gill Field in the south-western part, gradually slopes down to the River Ouse, takes its name from the 'Gills' or water channels. From Higham Field eastwards, on the north side was Coleway Field, and between that and Bury Fen (which lies below the church) was Old Mill Field or Inhams, which stretched from Bluntisham to Earith.

The once quite considerable woodland has almost disappeared. In 1843, there still was 68 acres of woodland but this had reduced to only 10 acres by 1925, leaving only their names.

The west end of the parish was part of Somersham Heath, which was enclosed in 1797. There was no road across it before then. This part of the parish is still called Bluntisham Heath. The western end of the village is called Wood End; eastwards was the Colne road where some of the oldest buildings were located. The main part of Bluntisham Village runs straight north and south to the Rectory Corner on the St. Ives road. At this point stood the village pound and a small hamlet known as Little London.

Earith means 'mud' (or more probably gravel) and hithe means a landing place. Earith has always had an important distinction from Bluntisham because of its proximity to the river. The village lies chiefly along the road coming from Earith Bridge towards St. Ives. Many Quakers had their homes in Earith after 1650, and a Meeting House has existed there since.

The Earith bridge has always been important. As early as 1346, the local community complained to Parliament that this bridge, which had been used from ancient times, was entirely gone for default of repair. A bridge and causeway (known as 'Earith Causey') over Haddenham Fen were looked after by Hermits in the 14th and 15th centuries, and indulgences were granted around 1400 for the repairs and maintenance. This bridge was still in existence in 1637. A new bridge over the old Bedford River was erected in 1812, and a further cast-iron one was put over the new Bedford River in 1826.

The civil parish of Bluntisham-cum-Earith was dissolved in 1948 when two separate civil parishes of Bluntisham and Earith were formed.

Bluntisham's most famous denizen is probably Dorothy L. Sayers, the popular crime writer. She lived in the village from 1897 to 1917. Her novel The Nine Tailors was inspired by her father's restoration of the Bluntisham church bells in 1910.

For more on this lively village, see Bluntisham.info and Bluntisham Baptist Church community pages