rAMIWinOESHIRK. 



(AMimilMJKSHIKi 



two TuiMfca, the upper containing an abundance of the common 

 b)Mk t, and UK- low or gray chalk, which contains little or none. 

 The upper u found in the suuth-eut part of the county : the lower 

 chalk form, the prindi.l bilk, and occupies the north-west part of 

 the chalk range. Th chalk is furrowed transversely by the depression 

 i which the Load 



don and Cambridge Junction Canal passes, and 

 ' separate* the Oofmarog hilU from the Ronton down*. The 

 dMriet north*.* aad ** of Cambridge i* the mo* level chalk 

 district la England; iu flataeei alone five* importance to the other- 

 WJM inoonkUrabl eminence, of the Oogmagog hilU The chalk dis- 

 trict of Cambridgeshire dip* gently to the south-east The chalk 

 reel* upon blue clay, called in the county ' gait,' which in considered 



a* variety of the chalk-marl formation that crop* out from beneath 

 the nortb-wwtern boundary of the chalk. Thin formation occupieH a 

 nn^lhliMl extent of urface, extending to the boundary "f H until,- 

 dooaUra aad Bedfordahire ; iu thickness U variable, averaging per- 

 hap* 200 or 220 feet. U U nearly impervious to water. In a few 

 pair** the iron-eand, which underlie* the gait, rin to the surface. It 

 form* exoellent garden ground. Throughout the whole of thin 

 formation many fragment* of mineralised wood are found ; when dry 

 they crumble into a fine powder, but when moist and fresh from the 

 earth are definite in form, and hare the bark in the utmost state of 

 pfa<i ration. The whole of the northern part of the county i over- 

 spread with the fen* [BEDFORD LEVEL] ; the greater part of which in 

 tail county U comprehended in the Isle of Ely. The marshes south 

 of the Old Ouse, about Soham, Wickcu, and Reche, are not included 

 in the Isle of Ely. 



Surface, Soil, Climate, Ac. The soil of this county is extremely 

 various, consisting of clay, loam, and chalk, both iu the uplands and 

 the fen*. Although there are some poor commons and heaths, the 

 gieeiar part of the land is fertile. In some spots called white land, 

 which hare chalky subsoils, great crops of wheat and bean* are raised. 

 The Harwell wheat is in great request for seed in many part* of 

 England, and the cheese* of Cottenham indicate considerable richness 

 in the pastures. The climate in the uplands is mild and healthy, but 

 in the fens agues and fevers prerail when the water has evaporated 

 and left the land in a half-dry state. In proportion as the fens are 

 drained and the laud is cultivated, the air become* more healthy. 

 The upland district is sufficiently varied to afford good situations for 

 residences ; but until the beginning of this century a very small pro- 

 portion of the land wan inclosed. During the last thirty years many 

 common-field*, heaths, and fens have been inclosed. Many of these 

 inclonura* hare taken place under special Acts of Parliament The 

 Tillage* were mostly situated in hollows, between gentle elevations, 

 where the toil was naturally moat fertile ; and being scattered through 

 an open country, with their small incloBure* and orchards, presented 

 insulated green spot*, which formed a strong contrast with the sur- 

 rounding open fields entirely destitute of trees. The fen district in a 

 dead flat intersected with ditches, canals, and sluggish streams. The 

 oil consist* of mud mixed with decayed and half-decayed vegetable 

 matter. When the superfluous water ha* been removed, a soft spongy 

 surface is left, which is much improved by burning. The ashes thus 

 produced by being mixed with the soil greatly enrich it, and the most 

 luxuriant crop* are obtained without any other preparation. When 

 a judicious rotation is adopted, and the ground is not too much 

 exhausted to be restored by proper manures, this land, which is 

 reclaimed from a state of comparative unproductiveness, becomes 

 very valuable. The fens, where they have not been brought into 

 cultivation, produce turf for fuel, and reeds and sedge* for thatching 

 and lighting fire*. Osier-beds arc likewise formed in some places, 

 and give a good return. By the introduction of sainfoin on some of 

 the thin chalky lands, a soil naturally unproductive now supports a 

 great quantity of cattle and sheep, and also bears good crops of corn 

 after having been some years in gross. By judicious surface-draining 

 many soils in the county now too wet to bear turnips or to allow 

 heavy cattle to be depastured upon them in spring or autumn, would 

 become dry and sound ; and the water being carried off by the drains, 

 would not stagnate below the surface and keep the ground in a soft 

 iiUte, equally prejudicial to the growth of all plant* not usually found 

 in marshes, and to the cattle and sheep depastured on them. A con- 

 vertible husbandry might then be introduced, the expenses of culti- 

 vation much diminished, and the produce greatly increased. 



ZMvMioM, Ttoiw, *. The division* of Cambridgeshire have under- 

 gone little change since the Domesday Survey. We subjoin a list of 

 the present hundred*, giving also their situation in the county, and 

 their ancient name* : Wubeach, Witchford, Ely, occupy the northern 

 half of the county, and correspond to the two ancient hundred* of 

 Kly. Staple* <E.)-SUplehou. Cheveley (E.) ChavelaL Radfield 

 Kadefelle. Chflford (8.E.)-Cildeford. Whittlerford (3.)- 

 WtwUfcld. Triplow (8.) Trepelau. Armingford (S.W.) Erning- 

 ford. Btow, or Long8tow(8.W.) Stou. Papworth (W.) Papeword. 

 North Stow (central) Norertou. Chesterton (central) Cestretone. 

 Wetneriy (central) Wederlai. Fiendish (central) FUmindic, or 

 FUmidino. Btaine (central) SUnea The county itself is called in 

 Domeeday Survey Orentebrigescire. In that survey the town of 

 Cambridge U taxed a* a hundred. 



RHidH the county town, CAMBRIDGE, this county ha* one city, 

 SH.T ; and seven market-town. WISBEACH, HAIIOB, TBOBXET, 



and BORAH ; N EWMAREET, partly in Suffolk ; and ROTBTOW, partly in 

 Hertfordshire. Several other place* formerly had markets ; that at 

 WIHTTLMKT ha* been disused for about fifty years ; it seem* to have 

 been held by proscription. For notice* of these towns wo i 

 their respective article*. We subjoin a brief notice of the decayed 

 market-towns and some of the more conriderable village*, with the 

 population of their several parishes in 1801. 



Abinylm Piyoltt, or AbinyloM-in-Hif-Cta;/, 12 mile* 8.W. from Cam- 

 bridge, population 238, had formerly a market on Friday*. It U now 

 a place of no importance. There are two other Abingtons in the 

 county. Abiny/on, Ortal, on the river Oranta, 8 miles S.K. from Cam- 

 bridge, population 331, has an ancient church and a Free school for 

 girl* supported by T. Mortluck, Esq. Abinglon, Little. :! 

 parish, population 307, has an ancient church, with some in(<-re*ting 

 features, of early English date. The King's Arms, Bourne Bridge, in 

 this parish, was a celebrated posting bouse on the Newmarket road 

 previous to the opening of the railway*. BaUtam, 10 miles I 

 from Cambridge, population 1352, belongs to the governor* 

 Charterhouse, London. The church is modern ; there is a Di- 

 ohapel ; also an Infant school. Jlarrinylon, on the left bank of the 

 Rhea, 7 miles 8.8. W. from Cambridge, population 590, had am 

 a market on Mondays. The church is partly of early Kngliah date. 

 The Independents have a chapel here. There is a National school. 

 Baningbournt, 13 miles S.W. from Cambridge, population 2148, had 

 formerly a market on Mondays, which was originally granted by 

 Henry III. ; also a fair at the festival of St. Peter and St. Paul which 

 lasted for eight days; but these have been long discontinued. Ti.. 

 church, which is ancient, contains several good monuments. 1; 

 Union workhouse is in this parish, llournt, about 12 miles V 

 Cambridge, population 945, has a large church partly of early I 

 date. The mansion of Earl Delawarr, a handsome modern structure 

 in the Elizabethan style, is in this pariah. Bvmcell, 11 mil. 

 from Cambridge, population 2187, ia a very extensive parish. The 

 village of Burwell with the connected hamlets of Hightown, Newnham, 

 and North Street, extends for about two miles. The church i* a very 

 handsome building of the perpendicular date and style, with windows 

 of large size, and containing very elegant tracery. In the church are 

 some good monuments. There are some remains of an ancient castle. 

 CAXTOS and CHESTERTON being seats of Poor-Law Unions will i. 

 noticed in separate articles. Uhalltrii, 24 miles N.N.W. from Cam- 

 bridge, population 6138, is a very large and populous village, but ban 

 no feature of general interest. Besides the church there are Dissent- 

 ing chapels ; also a National and a British school. Cottenham, 1 miles 

 N. from Cambridge, population 2314, has a fine church of ancient date, 

 with a lofty tower surmounted with pinnacle*. The Wesleyan Method- 

 ists, Independent*, and Baptist* have place* of worship. There is 

 nn Kndowed Free Grammar school. There are several parochial 

 charities. Doddinyton, 30 miles N. by W. from Cambridge, may be 

 noticed as the largest parish in the county, and the richest benefice 

 in the kingdom. The parish contains 86,985 acres of rich and fertile 

 land ; the living, a rectory in the gift of the Peyton family, ia returned 

 at 7806/. a year : the population of the iMititv parish, which include* 

 the chapelries of Beuwick and March and the hamlet of Witnblington, 

 was 9708 in 1851 ; that of Doddington itself was 1454. Here was 

 formerly one of the palaces of the bishops of Ely. An Endowed Free 

 school for 28 boys, founded in 1696, had an income from endov 

 in 1837 of 175/. ; but no return has been obtained in reference to the 

 present state of the school. Downkam, or Little DomUtam, Isle of 

 Ely, 17 miles N. from Cambridge and 3 mile* from Ely, popui 

 2299, ha* an ancient church ; Wesleyan Methodist and Baptist 

 chapel* ; and a Free school. The inhabitant* are chiefly agricultural. 

 In Downham Pork are some remain* of the palace of Bishop Cox ; 

 they are now used a* barn*. Dnxford, 9 miles S. by E. from Cam- 

 bridge, on the west side of the Eastern Counties railway, population 

 844, contains two churches, and has several parochial charities. In 

 Duxford are the remains of a monastery, part of which is now used as 

 an inn, part as a barn. Fen IHtton, on tne Cam, 24 mil. 

 Cambridge, population 555, has an endowed Free school and a National 

 school. The chancel of the church is an interesting example of the 

 decorated style. Fordkam, 16 miles N.E. from Cambridge, populat ion 

 1584, is a large but quiet and uninteresting vi!l;a->- , miles 



8. by W. from Cambridge, population 459, hod formerly n market and 

 two fairs ; one fair ia now held at Easter. The church is of pcrpi -n 

 dicular date and style. PtMionrne, 6 mile* K < 'ambridge, 



]n.piil:it;. ii 1452, include* the two parishes of All Saint* an 

 Vigors. The churches of both parishes stood in the same churchyard 

 till 1776, when that of St. Vigors having become much'dilapidm 

 wa* taken down under the authority of a special Act of Parliament. 

 .St. Vigors' church is of the early Kngliah and perpendicular style*. 

 It contains some interesting ancient monuments and braises, and a 

 wooden pulpit, believed to be of the 14th century, and one of the 

 oldest in the kingdom. There is a Free school in the village. Gam- 

 tinyny, on the border of Bedfordshire, about 14 mil \V.s.\V. from 

 Cambridge, population 1886, was formerly a market-town, but is now 

 an unimportant village. The parish is very large. The church is a 

 handsome structure, (jrantcheitrr, 2 miles 3.S.W. from Cambridge, 

 population 686, is by some antiquaries supposed to be the Cambo- 

 ritum of Antoninus ; other* suppose that the Roman town stretched 



