The Francis Frith Collection.
You are here: Home > Explore your past > England > Cambridgeshire > Wicken

Wicken

Wicken photos (6 available)

Old photo of Wicken

Wicken maps (2 available)

Old map of Wicken

Wicken books (9 available)

Wicken memories

Be the first to add a memory of Wicken.

You can also read memories of nearby places in Cambridgeshire below.

Cambridgeshire memories

GEORGE AND TAVERN..HIGH STREET

I AM TRACING RELATIVES ON MY FATHERS SIDE...RELATIVES I NEVER GOT TO KNOW. IN DOING MY RESEARCH, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT MY FATHERS PARENTS (MY GRANDPARENTS) WERE PUBLICANS OF THE GEORGE AND TAVERN WHICH AT THAT TIME 1900 WAS IN SOHAM HIGH STREET. I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO GET HOLD OF ANY REFERNCE TO GEORGE AND TAVERN AROUND 1900...AND IF POSSIBLE GET HOLD OF ANY PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE GEORGE AND TAVERN..IF ANY EXHIST. MY GRANDPARENTS WHO WERE PUBLICANS AT THE GEORGE AND TAVERN WERE ..FREDERICK TURNER LAVENDER AND HIS WIFE SARAH. I HOPE TO VISIT SOHAM VERY SHORTLY..AS WELL AS THE VILLAGES OF WELNEY..UPWELL ...read more here
A memory of Soham contributed by EDWIN LAVENDER

A stream clean enough to eat from

My grandfather's family, the Barbers, who were farmers, lived in Alton House at one end of the village until my grandmother died. My mother remembered the tension on butter-churning days when the milk wouldn't 'turn.' I believe my maternal grandmother, Ethel Kitchener, was born in Soham but I am not sure where. Her sister, when married, lived at the other end from Alton House in a small semi-detached cottage close to the stream, from which I well remember getting watercress to eat in sandwiches for tea. When I visited a couple of years ago the houses were both looking well-kept and prosperous and ponies were grazing on what must be common land near my great-aunts' house.
A memory of Soham contributed by carol argyris

My first experience of England

When my family arrived in England from the US we went straight to our home which was located in Burwell. While my parents went to buy groceries for the kids we were able to start meeting our new playmates in the area. This was my first expereince with the difference in our english language. To this day I still get a laugh remembering when a young girl was leaving she said "Cheerio" and I thought to my self why is she talking about a cereal.
A memory of Burwell contributed by Sandy barnett

Playing in the corn fields

I lived in the cottage next to the Chapel, and played with Wendy, we used to cycle to Upware and Wicken fen. At one point we would sit on the haystacks after the farmers had finished them. I would go horse riding in the corn cut fields, wonderful thing to do.

One good memory was when it snowed, Mrs Dowdswell used to pour water on the playground so we could all slide on it. Not allowed to do that sort of thing for the children today, Health & safety and all that!  The village used to have a few shops, which sold more or less anything you wanted, and two pubs. We had lots of places to play, cadnam, down ...read more here
A memory of Swaffham Prior contributed by Mary Whiting

Extracts From Wicken & Cambridgeshire books

Wicken, the Pond c1955

Reed-thatched cottages abound in the pretty village of Wicken. Nearby Wicken Fen is virtually the only remaining piece of natural undrained Fenland left. It was the first nature reserve to be set up by the National Trust, in 1899.
An extract from from"Cambridgeshire Photographic Memories".

Wicken, the Pond c1955

We continue on to the village pond, which now has a fringe of sedge and reeds and is home to many coot, duck and moorhen. The old thatched house on the left was replaced in 1959 by a modern house. Nearby is Wicken Fen, a major wetland conservation area covering 330 acres owned by the National Trust.
An extract from from"Cambridgeshire Living Memories".

Wicken, North Street c1955

The sign on the left is a sad reminder of the old village school. Although enlarged in 1974, it was threatened with closure in 1978, and after loosing eight teachers in sixteen years, finally closed in 1992 when there were only 35 pupils on the register. The school was sold for conversion to a private dwelling.
An extract from from"Cambridgeshire Living Memories".

Great Shelford, Woollards Lane c1955

The cyclists here obviously felt sufficiently safe not to worry too much about hugging the kerb and avoiding brushes with the traffic. The practice of parking a bicycle by leaning it on one pedal against the kerb is rarely seen these days.
An extract from from"Cambridge Photographic Memories".

With their knee-length breeches and caps, the word that comes to mind is ‘urchins’. More to the point, one wonders just what it was they were conspiring about when the photographer set up to take this photograph!
An extract from from"Cambridge Photographic Memories".