Huntingdon and the Great North Road
Huntingdon’s smaller neighbour, Godmanchester, on the south bank of the Great Ouse developed on the site of a Roman settlement. The Roman road from Sandy and the Via Devana from Cambridge and Colchester meet Ermine Street here. The Sandy road is long abandoned though still traceable as field boundaries and crop marks. The Via Devana (heading to Chester) is today followed by the A14 from Cambridge and doubles up with Ermine Street northwards to Alconbury. Ermine Street from Royston to Godmanchester became the route of the Old North Road – and remains the A1198.
The routes of the old north road via Royston, and the Great North Road via Stevenage and Biggleswade met near Huntingdon. The town developed into an important coaching centre in the 16th and 17th centuries. Travellers were catered for in a number of inns, and the houses along the High Street were gradually rebuilt or re-fronted to give the town its characteristic appearance.
About Huntingdon
On the north bank of the River Great Ouse, Huntingdon can trace its roots to an Anglo-Saxon settlement, used as a staging post for Danish raids beyond East Anglia. There is evidence of a market and a mint since at least the reign of Eadwig (955-959) testifying to the early importance of Huntingdon as the shire town.
At the time of the Domesday Book there were 256 burgesses living in four wards. By the end of the 13th century the town had 16 parish churches, and there were 6 religious houses in the area.
Development of the town was impeded during the following centuries first by the Black Death (a quarter of the town’s population may have died), then by the Great Ouse becoming less navigable for larger boats.
Both Samuel Pepys and Oliver Cromwell were born nearby and went to school in Huntingdon. The George Hotel is reputed to have been the home of Cromwell’s grandfather, and has served as a popular inn for over 300 years. At one time it had stabling for 80 horses.
Explore Huntingdon
The images below provide links to additional information either on this website or elsewhere.
Huntingdon Then and Now
Ermine Street
The southern section of Ermine Street aligns closely with the Old North Road, merging with Great North Road near Godmanchester, before heading eastwards.....
Buckden Palace
Buckden Palace sits directly alongside the Great North Road. In medieval times it straddled the road in Buckden with the Bishop’s Palace and Little Park to...
RAF Wittering
RAF Wittering is located just south of Stamford, Lincolnshire. It was the “Home of the Harrier” and for several decades has been marked by a Harrier Jump Jet anchored...
River Great Ouse
At 143 miles the Great Ouse is Britain's 4th longest river after the Severn, Thames and Trent. It has a catchment area of over 5000 sq miles. The modern A1 crosses...
Stilton Cheese
King of Cheeses. Stilton is recognised across the world as a unique and special variety. Its initial commercial success was the direct result of its popularity with coach.....
Wansford – Bauhaus
This Bauhaus inspired building has been a notable feature for travellers on the Great North Road since it was constructed in the early 1930s. It has seen.....
Henry Royce
Sir Henry Royce, a founding partner in Rolls Royce, was born at Alwalton in 1863 where his father was the miller. When the family business failed, they moved.....
River Nene
In Roman times, Ermine Street crossed the Nene to the west of modern Peterborough, close to Durobrivae. The site of the Roman bridge is still evident in.....
Alconbury Junction
Alconbury has long been an important junction of major routes. It is where the Old North Road and the Great North Road routes from London converged.....
Norman Cross
Norman Cross is no major settlement but it has been a well known point of interest along the Great North Road for centuries. It is now necessary to make.....