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Soham (Population 9230)
Soham is a moderate sized market Town with a population of around 10,000 inhabitants, located on the A142 between Ely and Newmarket, it is the second largest parish in East Cambridgeshire covering 5,245 hectares, it is situated in the Staploe Hundred and is 6 miles from Ely to the North and 6 miles from Newmarket to the South, so has excellent links to the A14 and to Cambridge being only 16 miles away. Soham Parish also includes Barway a small settlement to the North.
The history of Soham goes back to at least the 7th century for a Monastery was established here in 630 AD by St Felix of Normandy and is thought to have been the first known centre of Latin Christianity in Cambridgeshire, so was therefore an earlier monastic settlement than that of its neighbour Ely, the Monastery was sacked by the Danish invaders in the year 870 along with Ely, but unlike Ely, Sohams was never rebuilt. A Cathedral Church and Bishops Palace was built here by a Saxon nobleman called Luttlingus in c.900 AD, traces of which can still be found in the fabric of St Andrews Church.
The parish church dedicated to St Andrew is a handsome medieval building, originally cruciform in plan, and displaying work of all the architectural periods from the Norman times onwards. The west tower has been a landmark across the fens for over 500 years, and was built to replace the original central tower, having richly sculptured battlements and pinnacles, and is ornamented with quatrefoils and St Andrews crosses in black flint, and contains a fine peal of ten inscribed bells.
The nave has a fine example of a 15th century oak roof of alternating hammer beams and tie beams with carved angels amongst other fine carvings, also to be noticed are the bench-ends with well carved animal and foliage designs, the richly carved sedilia or priests seats, the medieval wall painting of what is thought to be Bishop Felix, in the churchyard can be seen the tomb of Mary DAye the great grand-daughter of Oliver Cromwell, her house still survives in Soham.
The c.17th century Steelyard weighing machine opposite the church and attached to the Fountain Inn is thought to be one of only two working examples in the whole country, used for the weighing of agricultural produce up to four tons in weight and having an accuracy of within two ounces, and was used it is thought up until around 1879.
Soham also has Common lands and Horse Fens that go back to the medieval period, their uniqueness shown in Soham are not to be found anywhere else in the country, protected by laws preventing development on them, cattle grazing and other rights are still performed on them today
The earliest windmill recorded in the Soham parish dates back to c.1370, and in 1845 it boasted 42 in total, 24 wind drainage mills and 8 wind corn mills, today only two examples survive, to the South of Soham is Downfield windmill originally built as a smock mill c.1726, built of wood on a brick base and in 1887 was rebuilt after storm damage as an all brick smock shaped tower by Hunts of Soham, well known builders of windmills across the country, the mill was last use to grind wholemeal flour in the 1990.s. The other windmill at the North of Soham has been restored by its private owner, and was originally a drainage mill on Soham Mere, and was moved to its present location in 1830, it is of the small hexagonal smock mill type, and has a pair of stones driven mainly by timber.
Soham also has many interesting buildings, some dating from the 16th century. It also has over 50 miles of public rights of way for the regular walkers and a well attended Footpaths Society, including a well used Millennium Walks & Art Trail with signs around the town to guide you. The Soham Lode was dug in the 17th century being used by horse drawn fen lighters and is included in the walks.
Soham has many of the facilities expected of a town of its size, such as a community college, two primary schools, a library, banks, sports centre, a range of shops including a post office, health care, medical centre, public houses and cafes, including many other leisure facilities.
Soham was officially twinned in 2006 with Andrezieux-Boutheon, a town in France near Lyon. It also holds its famous Soham Carnival in May each year attended by 1000s of visitors and a pumpkin fair in September with competitors from all over the country.
Soham is a very community spirited place to live, hence the many organisations that are present in Soham including the Community Museum, Twinning Association, Allotments Association, Over 60s, Viva Arts Group, Toddler groups, Festival Society, Town Forum, Baptist Chapel, Methodist Chapel, Rotary Club, a newly formed Buildings Preservation Trust and a ghost walk, there are also many individuals who exhibit their own interests at the various events held.
The Town has its own Soham Town Council with 15 members, a Parish Clerk and Assistant Parish Clerk, the Council Chamber is in the Walter Gidney Pavilion, on the recreation ground, the building and grounds were once a private large gentlemans estate, but has been a public open space since 1929, when the then owners sold up. Over the past 18 months Soham has been putting together a 25/30 year document, The Soham Vision, this document will help in the planning of the Town and go a long way in securing a bright, vibrant and secure future for the Town, this has been in partnership with the residents of the town, East Cambs District Council, Soham Town Council and Entec, it has been a very exciting and enthralling project, and we at Soham look forward to our growth with great esteem.
Website links of interest
