Coordinates: 52°16′N 0°18′E / 52.27°N 0.3°E
| Reach | |
  Reach
Reach shown within Cambridgeshire |
|
| Population | 365 (2001 Census) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| District | East Cambridgeshire |
| Shire county | Cambridgeshire |
| Region | East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CAMBRIDGE |
| Postcode district | CB25 |
| Dialling code | 01638 |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| List of places: UK • England • Cambridgeshire | |
Reach is a small fen-edge village and civil parish in East Cambridgeshire, England.
Reach is located at the north end of Devil's Dyke, about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) west of Burwell. The dyke split the settlement in two (East Reach and West Reach) until part of it was refilled to create the current Fair Green in the 18th century. East Reach has since vanished, filled in by arable land.
Contents |
History
It was in the early Anglo-Saxon and Viking times an important economic centre; goods were loaded at its common hythe (wharf) for transport into the fen waterway system from at least 1100, and it was a large producer of clunch; a new wood has been planted on the old clunch pits, where chalky cliffs are still visible from early quarrying. Its use as a port continued until about 200 years ago. Reach Lode, a Roman canal, still exists, and is still navigable. The village church, originally Holy Trinity School Church[1] and latterly called St Etheldreda's[2], was built in 1860 on the site of the former chapel of St John. The ruined perpendicular arch of the old chapel is still visible behind the new church.
On village signs the name of the village is spelled 'Reche'.
Reach Fair
The village is scene of the Reach Fair, one of England's oldest festivals[3].
The Fair was originally held annually at Rogationtide (which replaced the pagan festival of May Day) and is now held every May Day Bank Holiday. Officially run by the Cambridge Corporation and opened annually by the Mayor of Cambridge, it has been an annual event for over 800 years since receiving its charter in 1201 from King John. Reach Fair was historically a grand regional occasion, hosting feasting and parades over three days. The Fair is held on the central Fair Green, and probably extended down further to Reach Lode in its earlier days. In 2001, on the 800th anniversary of the fair, a plaque was unveiled on Hill Farm[4] , one of the Fair Green's older buildings commemorating the charter.
Village life
The village is home to "The Dyke's End", a public house which was saved from closure by the villagers and visited by Prince Charles at that time.
Primary school children attend Swaffham Prior primary school whilst secondary pupils usually go to Bottisham Village College.
 Ruined archway behind St Etheldreda's Church |
 Village sign |
 Village sign |
 St Etheldreda's Church |
References
- ^ Information about Reach circa 1900, Cambridgeshire County Council, http://hipweb.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/cgi-bin/cambscoll/history.pl?term=Reach&category=village&exact=exact, retrieved 2009-04-04
- ^ , http://www.eastcambs.gov.uk/html/LBDetails.asp?field1=715, retrieved 2009-04-04[dead link]
- ^ Wareham, A F; Wright, A P M (2002). "History of Reach Fair". A History of the County of Cambridge and the Isle of Ely. 10. pp. 225–227. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=18856. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
- ^ , http://www.eastcambs.gov.uk/html/LBDetails.asp?field1=6, retrieved 2009-04-04[dead link]
External links
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
