Heritage along the Guided Bus-way
13th June 2011
It has been announced that the Guided Bus-way will open (if everything goes according to plan) on 7th August, 2011. After a two year delay this is great news. The construction of this bus-way saw the destruction of the former St Ives to Cambridge branch line, and has cost an enormous amount of money to build. Irrespective if whether people were initially supportive of the project this historic Guided Bus-way is now a reality and we have to hope that it will be a sucess. LDHS will encourage people to use the GBW for short hops so they can explore the heritage of the villages that lie along its route. If you have any information, or photographs, on the following villages please contact us. Information needs to be emailed in a word format. The villages that lie along the route and are serviced by a bus-stop are:
Fen Drayton - This village is quite a walk from the Nature Reserve bus-stop, but there is a pub in the village that serves food. The pub can get very busy so making a reservation may be advisable – it is a long way to walk to find that tables are fully booked. Certainly this would make a great Sunday stroll.
Swavesey -The bus-stop is a one end of this very long village but it is adjacent to the Manor site and Swavesey church, which was part of a priory. Remnants of the priory can be seen in the earth works that can be seen in the field between the church and the GBW. There are a number of footpaths near the church so the fen edge can be explored. Just beyond the church are the remains of Swan Pond. Look at the houses on the right and you can see the remains of a causeway that was built. If the fen flooded the causeway would be the only access route. In the 1947 floods I believe that the causeway just remained above the water level. The people who built those houses certianly knew what they were doing.
Both Swavesey and Over have pubs that serve food, I just don’t have any details.
Longstanton- Again on the edge of a long village so a considerable amount of walking is involved. If you would like to visit the churches of All Saints’ and St Michael’s it is quicker to use the footpath that crosses the golf course and comes out on Rampton Road. At this point you will see one of the villages “Oakington” pillboxes. If you turn right you will get to All Saints’ church. If you take the by-way opposite you will eventually arrive at St Michael’s church. Please see the notes on Guided Walk 1 (Conservation Area) under the Longstanton section.
Oakington- Situated between Oakington and Westwick the bus-stop is on the edge of the village near the former railway station. A relatively short walk into the village (and then take the first right, and then next left) brings you to St Andrews church. Continue along the High Street and you will see on your left what was Church Farm, which is the oldest house in the village. On your left you will also see the old paddocks which form part of the Oakington conservation area. Take the right turn (Coles Lane) and you will eventually come across the White Horse pub.
Histon- again a long way from the village centre. The bus-stop is built near the former railway station. Histon has many shops, pubs and a very pretty pond surrounded by thatched cottages.