OS grid reference TL496654 Region East Sovereign state United Kingdom Population 5,166 (2011) Local time Sunday 10:23 AM | Shire county Cambridgeshire Country England Post town CAMBRIDGE Postcode district CB25 | |
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Weather 17°C, Wind S at 16 km/h, 63% Humidity | ||
Waterbeach is a large fen-edge village located 6 miles (9.7 km) north of Cambridge in Cambridgeshire in England, and forms part of the administrative district of South Cambridgeshire. The parish covers an area of 8.98 square miles (23.3 km2).
Contents
- Map of Waterbeach Cambridge UK
- Village
- Former RAF Waterbeach and Army Barracks
- Today
- Transport
- People
- References
Map of Waterbeach, Cambridge, UK
Village
Waterbeach is on the Car Dyke, a Roman waterway whose course can be traced as far as Lincoln. Recent archaeological investigations have found extensive evidence of Roman settlement at the southern end of the village.
Waterbeach appears in the Domesday Book as Utbech. In the 12th Century, the Knights Templar were located at Denny Abbey located to the north of the village. The parish contains two Scheduled Ancient Monuments: Denny Abbey (which houses the Farmland Museum) and the site of Waterbeach Abbey (near the present church).
Former RAF Waterbeach and Army Barracks
A Royal Air Force station, RAF Waterbeach, was built on the northern edge of the village in 1940, operating under RAF Bomber Command. After the Second World War, the station was operated by RAF Transport Command and then RAF Fighter Command until 1966, when the site transferred to the Royal Engineers and became Waterbeach Barracks. The small Museum has now closed, though it has been saved and the collection put into storage, for a few years.
The barracks closed on 28 March 2013 following the move of all remaining Army units to RAF Kinloss in Scotland and to RAF Wittering during 2012-13. This will be developed into housing for between 6000 and 10000 new homes.
Today
Waterbeach expanded considerably in recent years due to the economic growth in the region and has become increasingly a dormitory for Cambridge and, to some extent, London. The village has several shops and businesses. There is a small industrial estate at the edge of the village and a number of small companies have premises in the village itself. Waterbeach Community Primary School is a school for approximately 300 pupils and is linked with the adjacent Waterbeach Independent Lending Library.
A Parish church dedicated to St John the Evangelist, and a Baptist church famous for its connection with Charles Haddon Spurgeon, and corps of the Salvation Army are present, as is a primary school. Active community groups include the Scouts and Girl Guides, Army Cadet Force, several playgroups and a play scheme, as well as a Community Association. The Denny End industrial estate is home to several businesses, such as the Milton Brewery and A&R Cambridge Ltd.
Transport
Waterbeach railway station lies on the Fen Line. The village lies close to the busy A10 road that also links London to King's Lynn. A regular bus service also operates through the village that links Cambridge to the towns of March, Wisbech and Littleport and the small city of Ely. There has been talk of the railway station moving closer to the development at the Barracks when it is developed.