| Balsham | |
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Balsham
Balsham shown within Cambridgeshire |
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| Population | 1,641 [1] |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | TL591507 |
| - London | 59 miles (95 km) |
| District | South Cambridgeshire |
| Shire county | Cambridgeshire |
| Region | East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CAMBRIDGE |
| Postcode district | CB21 |
| Dialling code | 01223 |
| Police | Cambridgeshire |
| Fire | Cambridgeshire |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament | Cambridgeshire South East |
| List of places: UK • England • Cambridgeshire | |
Balsham is a rural village and civil parish in the county of Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom which has much expanded since the 1960s and is now one of several dormitory settlements of Cambridge. The village is south east of the centre of Cambridge beyond the A11 road and also within comfortable driving distance of Newmarket and Haverhill where many residents work and shop.
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In 1010, Balsham was totally destroyed by Viking raiders. A sign on the village green commemorates the sole survivor of the attack who escaped by hiding in the parish church.[2]
The current church has a mix of dates, with the bell tower being the oldest part, dating from the 13th century. The chancel dates from the early 14th century, whilst the nave with its clerestory dates from the late 14th - the 26 stalls with their misericords were added during this building phase and probably date from 1400. A rood loft was added in the latter half of the 15th century, and the chancel roof was raised with its clerestory being added at the same time.
At some (unrecorded) time between the dissolution of the monasteries and the end of the Commonwealth, 17 of the misericords were removed, leaving nine. In the 19th century one misericord was added which may be the work of Canon H.J.S. Burrell, a former vicar who was a noted woodcarver.
The 19th century saw some extensive renovation, with the roofs being renewed, and the clerestories being repaired. A vestry was added on the north side in 1867, and further restoration was carried out in 1875.
Further works have been carried out in the 20th century, with the addition of a chapel in the north aisle, containing an Elizabethan altar table. In 1973 the bell tower was strengthened.
There are some pictures and a description of the church at the Cambridgeshire Churches website .[3]
Since 1987, the Member of Parliament for South East Cambridgeshire, covering Balsham and surrounding towns and villages, has been the Conservative James Paice. At the 2005 general election, the Conservatives won a majority of 8,624 and 26,374 votes in the constituency. The Liberal Democrats won 17,750 votes and Labour 11,936.[4]
Balsham is in the South Cambridgeshire local government district. The village is part of a ward that also comprises Carlton, Castle Camps, Horseheath, Shudy Camps, West Wickham, West Wratting and Weston Colville. As at the 2007 local elections, the two seats on the district council were held by the Conservatives.[5]
Balsham is located at in south east Cambridgeshire, near the county boundaries with Essex and Suffolk. The town is 9 miles (14 km) south east of the city of Cambridge. The larger village of Linton is to the west, and smaller villages of West Wickham and West Wratting lie to the south and east.
The village is sited on a ridge which runs from east to west, reaching 380 feet (116 m) at its eastern edge. From the village, the ground falls away to open countryside.[6]
As of the 2001 census, the Balsham parish had a population of 1,641.[1]
Prince's Memorial is a full-sized bandstand opposite the village green.
There is a limited local bus service running through the village operated by Stagecoach. Buses run approximately every two hours between Haverhill and Cambridge.[7][8] The A11 road runs within 2 miles (3 km) of Balsham, providing easy links to Stansted Airport and London . The nearest railway stations to Balsham are Audley End and Whittlesford on the West Anglia Main Line to London Liverpool Street, and Cambridge which connects several lines including the Hitchin-Cambridge Line to London King's Cross.[9]
The Meadow Community Primary School on the High Street provides for primary school children aged from 4 to 11. The school had 288 pupils as of 2007.[10] Children from the surrounding villages West Wratting, West Wickham, and Weston Colville also attend the school, travelling there by bus. Children of secondary school age travel to nearby Linton Village College.[11]
The Church Institute used to host a number of groups and societies. However, in recent years, the Women's Institute and local pantomime groups are more likely to meet at the school. The Holy Trinity Church holds two services every Sunday and communion every Wednesday. The church also plays host to two yearly concerts by the village choir, the Balsham Singers The village has a large recreation ground and bowling green used by football, cricket, and bowls teams.[12]
Balsham is covered by several local newspapers. The Cambridge Evening News is published each afternoon and occasionally contains news about the village, while the Haverhill Echo appears every Thursday and offers more comprehensive coverage. The Saffron Walden Reporter is a free newspaper delivered weekly to every residence in the village, and is the main source of local property listings. Balsham Review is a monthly parish magazine with local news, sporting reports, and advertisements. Local radio stations include BBC Radio Cambridgeshire and Heart Cambridge. There is no cable television in the village, but broadband internet access is available in the form of ADSL.