King's Hedges

King's Hedges
King's Hedges

 King's Hedges shown within Cambridgeshire
OS grid reference TL457611
Shire county Cambridgeshire
Region East
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town CAMBRIDGE
Postcode district CB4
Dialling code 01223
Police Cambridgeshire
Fire Cambridgeshire
Ambulance East of England
EU Parliament East of England
UK Parliament Cambridge
List of places: UK • England • Cambridgeshire

King's Hedges is an electoral ward in the north of the city of Cambridge, England.

Contents

History

The open land to the north of Cambridge that now comprises King's Hedges was known as Albrach from as early as the 13th century. In 1558 it was agreed that Richard Brakyn could inclose all 34 acres of Albrach, following which it was renamed Kings Hedges [1] (without an apostrophe, which was introduced into English in the sixteenth century in imitation of French practice.[2]).

The name is believed to derive from the fact that it is on the site of the ancient King's warren, or game preserve, where hedges were grown to direct the animals into areas where the hunters could easily catch or kill them.[3]

Development

Development of the King's Hedges estate to the north west of Campkin Road began in 1967, and by 1986 a total of 1570 households had been built on the 125 acre site, largely in blocks of three and four storeys, and reaching the city limits. These council estates were occupied predominantly by families removed from older parts of the city, and there were initially numerous complaints of vandalism and about the lack of community facilities.[1]

The estate was planned around cycling and walking routes which provide direct paths through the area. This encourages people to travel without cars within the estate. King's Hedges provides the best example of such development in Cambridge. The success of the King's Hedges design has not been replicated in newer developments which revert to car-centric design.

In 2005 the adjacent Orchard Park — previously known as Arbury Park - was begun.[4][5] Cambridgeshire Guided Busway, opened in 2011, now runs along the edge of the King's Hedges ward.

Local life

The ward has primary schools - King's Hedges Primary School (built 1967-9) and The Grove Primary School (1963)[1] and three public houses (The Ship, The Jenny Wren and Golden Hind).

The area has good bus and road connections to the centre of Cambridge as well as ready access to the outskirts and the A14 trunk road. It is home to the Cambridge Regional College further education college, as well as a number of local pubs and shops, and the Cambridge Science Park is adjacent to the ward.

Left frame 
The Jenny Wren pub and bus stop with an approaching Citi 1 bus.
Left frame 
The Golden Hind pub .
Left frame 
The Grove Primary School.

References

  1. ^ a b c A History of the County of Cambridge and the Isle of Ely: Volume 9: Chesterton, Northstowe, and Papworth Hundreds. 1989. pp. 18–26. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=15309. 
  2. ^ Crystal, David (2003). The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language, Second Edition. Cambridge University Press. pp. 203. ISBN 0 521 53033 4. 
  3. ^ T. McK. Hughes (4 February 1897). Cambridge Review. 18. pp. 201–2. 
  4. ^ Orchard Park
  5. ^ Arbury Park

External links