Waterbeach
| Waterbeach | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Population | 4,690 |
| OS grid reference | TL496654 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CAMBRIDGE |
| Postcode district | CB25 |
| Dialling code | 01223 |
| Police | Cambridgeshire |
| Fire | Cambridgeshire |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| UK Parliament | |
Waterbeach is a large fen-edge village located 6 miles north of Cambridge in Cambridgeshire in England, and belongs to the administrative district of South Cambridgeshire. The parish covers an area of 23.26 km².
History
Waterbeach is on the Car Dyke, a Roman canal whose course can be traced as far as Lincoln. Recent archaeological investigations have found extensive evidence on Roman settlement at the south end of the village.
Waterbeach appears in the Domesday Book as Utbech.
In the 12th Century, the Knights Templar had a base at Denny Abbey located in the village.
The Royal Air Force base (now Waterbeach Barracks) in the north of the village was built in 1940. Hawker Hunter fighters arrived for the first time in May 1955 and, two years later, the prototype English Electric P1 (Lightning) visited there.
From 1955 Hawker Hunters were accompanied by Meteors, Venoms and Vampires. Three Squadrons were there from that year; 56, 63 and 253. Pilots training at the Oakwood RAF Base cold be seen on the horizon from the Waterbeach Control Tower in the fifties.The original control tower is still in place.
The base and airfield remain property of the Ministry of Defence, but are no longer used by the Royal Air Force. The barracks, airfield and surrounding quarters are now used by the British Army, housing a regiment of the Royal Engineers and a weekend barracks for Cambridgeshire Army Cadet Force. The airfield is now used as a training area for troops.
The parish contains two Scheduled Ancient Monuments: Denny Abbey (now a museum) and the site of Waterbeach Abbey (near the present church).
Today
Waterbeach has Doctors surgery, Three shops (The village stores, One Stop and the Rosemary dairy shop) and a Post Office, a butchers, a bakers, a hairdressers, a pharmacy, a primary school, a Parish church dedicated to St. John the Evangelist, a Baptist Church famous for its connection with Charles Haddon Spurgeon, a corps of the Salvation Army, a small independent library, three public houses (The Sun, The White Horse and The Brewery Tap),a social club, a Tandoori restaurant (The Slap Up Tandoori), a chinese take away (Greenside Garden), a fish and chip shop, also between Tuesday to Saturday a Kebab van resides on the green.
Waterbeach railway station lies on the London (Kings Cross) to King's Lynn line, allowing some of its residents to commute to London for work. 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.
The Waterbeach Community Primary School swimming pool was built in 1960 by local people, today the school is raising funds to update the pool.Waterbeach School is situated on the High Street.
Waterbeach After School Playscheme (WASPS) is a village charity providing before school and after school care for children from 4 - 11 years of age during term time. Places are also available from 8am to 6pm in the school holidays and on school inset days. All primary age children, including those who do not attend the village school, are welcome to apply for Holiday Club places. WASPS operates from 'The Playhouse' within the grounds of Waterbeach Community Primary School. The Playhouse building is shared with Waterbeach Community Playgroup.
Village Websites
- Waterbeach Parish Council
- Waterbeach.Net
- Waterbeach School
- Waterbeach After School Playscheme (WASPS)
- Waterbeach Colts FC
Nearby villages
- Mereham is a planned nearby new town