| Trumpington Local History Group Trumpington Timeline: 10,000 - 0 BC |
| Copyright © Trumpington Local History Group, 2011. Updated 13 February 2011. Email: admin@trumpingtonlocalhistorygroup.org |
Edited by Andrew Roberts
The first stage in Trumpington's history: Neolithic, Bronze Age and Iron
Age settlement and farming from the end of the last glaciation to 0 BC.
One of a series of pages with Trumpington's timeline.
The first stage in Trumpington's history: Neolithic, Bronze Age and Iron
Age settlement and farming from the end of the last glaciation to 0 BC.
One of a series of pages with Trumpington's timeline.
'Before Trumpington'
The timeline is concerned with the area that became the
historic parish of Trumpington, a roughly triangular area of
about 2300 acres to the south of Cambridge.
Sources of information: Taylor, Alison (1999). Cambridge:
the Hidden History. The Victoria History of the Counties
of England (1982). A History of Cambridgeshire and the
Isle of Ely, Volume VIII. Armingford and Thriplow
Hundreds. Trumpington, page 248.
The timeline is concerned with the area that became the
historic parish of Trumpington, a roughly triangular area of
about 2300 acres to the south of Cambridge.
Sources of information: Taylor, Alison (1999). Cambridge:
the Hidden History. The Victoria History of the Counties
of England (1982). A History of Cambridgeshire and the
Isle of Ely, Volume VIII. Armingford and Thriplow
Hundreds. Trumpington, page 248.
| Looking across Trumpington from the east, with Hobson's Brook and Clay Farm in the foreground and Haslingfield in the distance, before the construction of Addenbrooke's Road and housing on Clay Farm. Photo: Andrew Roberts, January 2008. |
| Map showing part of Thriplow Hundred, 1845. From The Victoria History of the Counties of England (1982). A History of Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely, Volume VIII. Armingford and Thriplow Hundreds, page 153. |
Glacial and interglacial periods
The Cambridge region was affected by the series of glaciations, the last of which resulted in
vast quantities of gravel being deposited in the river valleys. There is evidence of human
habitation in the Cambridge area in the inter-glacial periods.
Sources of information: Kirby, Tony and Oosthuizen, Susan (eds.) (2000). An Atlas of
Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire History. Cambridge: Anglia Polytechnic University.
Map 1. Taylor, Alison (1999). Cambridge: the Hidden History. Page 15.
The Cambridge region was affected by the series of glaciations, the last of which resulted in
vast quantities of gravel being deposited in the river valleys. There is evidence of human
habitation in the Cambridge area in the inter-glacial periods.
Sources of information: Kirby, Tony and Oosthuizen, Susan (eds.) (2000). An Atlas of
Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire History. Cambridge: Anglia Polytechnic University.
Map 1. Taylor, Alison (1999). Cambridge: the Hidden History. Page 15.
Post-glacial topography
The dominant topographic feature of the area to the
south of Cambridge is the valley of the River Cam and its
tributaries. The land on either side of the river is very
fertile, reasonably light and easily worked, with gravel
and clayey alluvial soils. Christopher Evans describes the
area as 'a pinchpoint in the landscape', where a network
of river tributaries flow between ridges to the west and
east.
Topography of Trumpington from west to east: River
Cam with Second Terrace gravels on the western edge of
area, c. 9-11 m OD; pronounced slope up from river
valley with lower chalk and Third Terrace gravel
immediately to the east of the river valley in the
Trumpington Meadows area; current village centre and
the area to the north west of the current main road on a
low ridge running from south to north, Third Terrace
gravels, c. 17-18 m OD; lower land to the east of the
village with the Vicar's Brook (Hobson's Brook) running
through it in a trough, Second Terrace gravels and clay
and marl beds, poorly drained, c. 12-13 m OD; further
slope up to the east towards and beyond the current
railway line, Clay Farm; low downlands to the south,
Lower Chalk. Parish bounded by the River Cam to the
south west and west and Vicar's Brook to the north.
Sources of information: Archaeology reports and visits to
archaeological sites. Evans, Christopher, with Duncan
Mackay and Leo Webley (2008). Borderlands. The
Archaeology of the Addenbrooke's Environs, South
Cambridge. Cambridge: Cambridge Archaeological Unit.
Pages 15, 141-43, 193-96. Kirby, Tony and Oosthuizen,
Susan (eds.) (2000). An Atlas of Cambridgeshire and
Huntingdonshire History. Cambridge: Anglia Polytechnic
University. Map 1. Oosthuizen, Susan (1996).
Cambridgeshire from the Air. Stroud: Alan Sutton
Publishing. Page vii. Steers, J.A. (1965). The Cambridge
Region. London: British Association. Page 85. The
Victoria History of the Counties of England (1982). A
History of Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely, Volume
VIII. Armingford and Thriplow Hundreds. Trumpington,
page 248.
Local History Group web page: Archaeological Reports.
The dominant topographic feature of the area to the
south of Cambridge is the valley of the River Cam and its
tributaries. The land on either side of the river is very
fertile, reasonably light and easily worked, with gravel
and clayey alluvial soils. Christopher Evans describes the
area as 'a pinchpoint in the landscape', where a network
of river tributaries flow between ridges to the west and
east.
Topography of Trumpington from west to east: River
Cam with Second Terrace gravels on the western edge of
area, c. 9-11 m OD; pronounced slope up from river
valley with lower chalk and Third Terrace gravel
immediately to the east of the river valley in the
Trumpington Meadows area; current village centre and
the area to the north west of the current main road on a
low ridge running from south to north, Third Terrace
gravels, c. 17-18 m OD; lower land to the east of the
village with the Vicar's Brook (Hobson's Brook) running
through it in a trough, Second Terrace gravels and clay
and marl beds, poorly drained, c. 12-13 m OD; further
slope up to the east towards and beyond the current
railway line, Clay Farm; low downlands to the south,
Lower Chalk. Parish bounded by the River Cam to the
south west and west and Vicar's Brook to the north.
Sources of information: Archaeology reports and visits to
archaeological sites. Evans, Christopher, with Duncan
Mackay and Leo Webley (2008). Borderlands. The
Archaeology of the Addenbrooke's Environs, South
Cambridge. Cambridge: Cambridge Archaeological Unit.
Pages 15, 141-43, 193-96. Kirby, Tony and Oosthuizen,
Susan (eds.) (2000). An Atlas of Cambridgeshire and
Huntingdonshire History. Cambridge: Anglia Polytechnic
University. Map 1. Oosthuizen, Susan (1996).
Cambridgeshire from the Air. Stroud: Alan Sutton
Publishing. Page vii. Steers, J.A. (1965). The Cambridge
Region. London: British Association. Page 85. The
Victoria History of the Counties of England (1982). A
History of Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely, Volume
VIII. Armingford and Thriplow Hundreds. Trumpington,
page 248.
Local History Group web page: Archaeological Reports.
Early human occupation
There is extensive evidence of human occupation in the
Trumpington area during the last 5000 years. Much of this
has been revealed by detailed archaeological field work and
excavations in advance of developments around the southern
fringe of the previously built-up area, including - from west
to east - Trumpington Meadows, the Park & Ride site, Glebe
Farm, Clay Farm and the Hutchison (Cancer Research UK)
and Addenbrooke's Hospital sites.
Recent research has identified a far greater density of Iron
Age and Roman settlement in the area than had been
understood by previous generations of archaeologists such as
Cyril Fox.
Sources of information: Archaeology reports and visits to
archaeological sites. Cambridgeshire Historic Environment
Record (Sites & Monuments Record), searchable through the
Heritage Gateway. Evans, Christopher, with Duncan Mackay
and Leo Webley (2008). Borderlands. The Archaeology of
the Addenbrooke's Environs, South Cambridge. Cambridge:
Cambridge Archaeological Unit. See in particular the chapter
by Christopher Evans, 'Environs Fieldwork and Distributional
Case-studies', pages 141-86, including maps of archaeological
sites and cropmarks.
Local History Group web page: Archaeological Reports. Clay
Farm Archaeology, August 2010. Early History of the
Shelford Road area.
There is extensive evidence of human occupation in the
Trumpington area during the last 5000 years. Much of this
has been revealed by detailed archaeological field work and
excavations in advance of developments around the southern
fringe of the previously built-up area, including - from west
to east - Trumpington Meadows, the Park & Ride site, Glebe
Farm, Clay Farm and the Hutchison (Cancer Research UK)
and Addenbrooke's Hospital sites.
Recent research has identified a far greater density of Iron
Age and Roman settlement in the area than had been
understood by previous generations of archaeologists such as
Cyril Fox.
Sources of information: Archaeology reports and visits to
archaeological sites. Cambridgeshire Historic Environment
Record (Sites & Monuments Record), searchable through the
Heritage Gateway. Evans, Christopher, with Duncan Mackay
and Leo Webley (2008). Borderlands. The Archaeology of
the Addenbrooke's Environs, South Cambridge. Cambridge:
Cambridge Archaeological Unit. See in particular the chapter
by Christopher Evans, 'Environs Fieldwork and Distributional
Case-studies', pages 141-86, including maps of archaeological
sites and cropmarks.
Local History Group web page: Archaeological Reports. Clay
Farm Archaeology, August 2010. Early History of the
Shelford Road area.
| Archaeological investigations on Clay Farm, near Shelford Road and Addenbrooke's Road, with the hospital in the distance. Photo: Stephen Brown, 19 July 2010. |
Neolithic, c. 4000-2400 BC
The Neolithic period included the introduction
of farming, the use of pottery and more
sophisticated stone tools.
The River Cam was part of a north-south
route from the Fens to the Thames. One
prehistoric trackway may have run between
Great Chesterford, Great Shelford,
Trumpington and Grantchester (the line
followed by the current Shelford Road), with a
ford at the River Cam between Trumpington
and Grantchester. This may have intersected
with another trackway on the line of the
current Great Shelford-Trumpington parish
boundary. The Prehistoric Icknield Way ran
south west to north east, a few miles to the
south of the area.
Archaeological excavations at the Trumpington
Meadows site in 2010-11 revealed evidence of
Neolithic occupation, including three probable
Neolithic ring-ditch monuments on the ridge to
the east of the river valley, with Mildenhall
and Peterborough ware pottery and burials,
and pottery from north Cambridgeshire
(Cambridge Archaeological Unit).
Sources of information: Archaeology reports
and visits to archaeological sites. Evans,
Christopher, with Duncan Mackay and Leo
Webley (2008). Borderlands. The
Archaeology of the Addenbrooke's Environs,
South Cambridge. Cambridge: Cambridge
Archaeological Unit. Fox, Cyril (1923). The
Archaeology of the Cambridge Region.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Pages 111-14, 150-52. Kirby, Tony and
Oosthuizen, Susan (eds.) (2000). An Atlas of
Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire
History. Cambridge: Anglia Polytechnic
University. Map 11. Taylor, Alison (1999).
Cambridge: the Hidden History. Page 15,
127. The Victoria History of the Counties of
England (1978).The History of the County of
Cambridge & the Isle of Ely. Volume VII:
Roman Cambridgeshire. Page 28.
Local History Group web page: Archaeological
Reports.
The Neolithic period included the introduction
of farming, the use of pottery and more
sophisticated stone tools.
The River Cam was part of a north-south
route from the Fens to the Thames. One
prehistoric trackway may have run between
Great Chesterford, Great Shelford,
Trumpington and Grantchester (the line
followed by the current Shelford Road), with a
ford at the River Cam between Trumpington
and Grantchester. This may have intersected
with another trackway on the line of the
current Great Shelford-Trumpington parish
boundary. The Prehistoric Icknield Way ran
south west to north east, a few miles to the
south of the area.
Archaeological excavations at the Trumpington
Meadows site in 2010-11 revealed evidence of
Neolithic occupation, including three probable
Neolithic ring-ditch monuments on the ridge to
the east of the river valley, with Mildenhall
and Peterborough ware pottery and burials,
and pottery from north Cambridgeshire
(Cambridge Archaeological Unit).
Sources of information: Archaeology reports
and visits to archaeological sites. Evans,
Christopher, with Duncan Mackay and Leo
Webley (2008). Borderlands. The
Archaeology of the Addenbrooke's Environs,
South Cambridge. Cambridge: Cambridge
Archaeological Unit. Fox, Cyril (1923). The
Archaeology of the Cambridge Region.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Pages 111-14, 150-52. Kirby, Tony and
Oosthuizen, Susan (eds.) (2000). An Atlas of
Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire
History. Cambridge: Anglia Polytechnic
University. Map 11. Taylor, Alison (1999).
Cambridge: the Hidden History. Page 15,
127. The Victoria History of the Counties of
England (1978).The History of the County of
Cambridge & the Isle of Ely. Volume VII:
Roman Cambridgeshire. Page 28.
Local History Group web page: Archaeological
Reports.
| One of three Neolithic burial monuments being excavated on the Trumpington Meadows site, with burials marked by white posts, burials in rectangular area, blue pegs marking earlier inner ring, red pegs outer ring with pottery dating from c. 3500BC, with Trumpington Church and Anstey hall in the distance. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 3 October 2010. |
Bronze Age, c. 2400-800 BC
Archaeological work has identified
field systems and settlement patterns
around Trumpington village. The
archaeological excavations at
Trumpington Meadows in 2010-11
identified possible Early Bronze Age
burials (Cambridge Archaeological
Unit). On the Clay Farm site to the
east of Shelford Road, excavations in
2009-10 identified a network of
Middle Bronze Age ditches which
may have been field boundaries and
a settlement or work area. Work is
continuing in other parts of Clay
Farm in 2011, with rich evidence
from the Middle Bronze Age (Oxford
Archaeology East). The excavation
at the Hutchison site in 2002-03
revealed substantial evidence of use
in the Late Bronze Age and again in
the Late Iron Age and Roman
periods.
Sources of information: Archaeology
reports and visits to archaeological
sites. Evans, Christopher, with
Duncan Mackay and Leo Webley
(2008). Borderlands. The
Archaeology of the Addenbrooke's
Environs, South Cambridge.
Cambridge: Cambridge
Archaeological Unit. Kirby, Tony
and Oosthuizen, Susan (eds.) (2000).
An Atlas of Cambridgeshire and
Huntingdonshire History.
Cambridge: Anglia Polytechnic
University. Map 9.
Local History Group web page:
Archaeological Reports. Clay Farm
Archaeology, August 2010.
Archaeological work has identified
field systems and settlement patterns
around Trumpington village. The
archaeological excavations at
Trumpington Meadows in 2010-11
identified possible Early Bronze Age
burials (Cambridge Archaeological
Unit). On the Clay Farm site to the
east of Shelford Road, excavations in
2009-10 identified a network of
Middle Bronze Age ditches which
may have been field boundaries and
a settlement or work area. Work is
continuing in other parts of Clay
Farm in 2011, with rich evidence
from the Middle Bronze Age (Oxford
Archaeology East). The excavation
at the Hutchison site in 2002-03
revealed substantial evidence of use
in the Late Bronze Age and again in
the Late Iron Age and Roman
periods.
Sources of information: Archaeology
reports and visits to archaeological
sites. Evans, Christopher, with
Duncan Mackay and Leo Webley
(2008). Borderlands. The
Archaeology of the Addenbrooke's
Environs, South Cambridge.
Cambridge: Cambridge
Archaeological Unit. Kirby, Tony
and Oosthuizen, Susan (eds.) (2000).
An Atlas of Cambridgeshire and
Huntingdonshire History.
Cambridge: Anglia Polytechnic
University. Map 9.
Local History Group web page:
Archaeological Reports. Clay Farm
Archaeology, August 2010.
Iron Age, c. 800 BC – 70 AD
Iron Age/Roman farming settlements were widely established
both sides of the River Cam. In Borderlands, Christopher
Evans argues that there was a far greater density of settlement
than had been assumed by earlier researchers, with sites at
intervals of 300-500 metres across the area and quite a high
population level. There were hill forts at Wandlebury and on
the north west bank of the Cam (the area of the later
Cambridge Roman settlement).
In his thesis on The Archaeology of the Cambridge Region
published in 1923, Cyril Fox argued that the ford between
Trumpington and Grantchester was the lowest convenient
crossing of the Cam and that there would have been pre-
Roman routes from Chesterford to Trumpington and on an
alignment from the area of Trumpington Hall to Dam Hill and
the Leys School (to the west of the modern road). Writing in
the Victoria County History in 1938, J. Grahame Clark went
so far as to say that the "twin settlements at Grantchester and
Trumpington, on either side of the ford of the Cam, were the
Early Iron Age predecessors of Cambridge ...". Within the
Trumpington area, Iron Age/Roman settlements have been
identified in locations including the river valley south of the
ford to Grantchester; a gravel pit opposite the cemetery to the
east of the High Street/Shelford Road junction (now the rear
of the first houses on Shelford Road); the grounds of Anstey
Hall; to the west of Trumpington Road; on the Hutchison and
Addenbrooke's Hospital sites; and along Hills Road. There
was an important Iron Age/Roman cemetery at Dam Hill (the
area between Latham Road, River Farm, and Chaucer Road).
Cyril Fox refers to Iron Age evidence from Trumpington,
including a brooch (see figures) and pottery beakers, bowls
and amphorae. Unfortunately, many of the areas that might
have provided evidence were affected by coprolite digging in
the 19th century and sites such as Dam Hill were identified
before systematic excavation techniques were developed.
Archaeological excavations to the south west of the current
village centre (on the Park & Ride site in 2000-01 and the
adjacent part of the Trumpington Meadows site in 2010-11)
have identified 100s of pits which may have been associated
with domestic occupation of the terrace. The 2010 work also
found a number of burials (Cambridge Archaeological Unit).
Research at Clay Farm has identified important Iron Age
evidence, including Late Iron Age occupation and farming
patterns to the east of Shelford Road (Oxford Archaeology
East). This area continued in use into the Roman period
before being abandoned before the end of the 2nd century.
Excavations at the Hutchison site in 2002-03 showed that it
was heavily used in the Late Iron Age.
Sources of information: Archaeology reports and visits to
archaeological sites. Evans, Christopher, with Duncan Mackay
and Leo Webley (2008). Borderlands. The Archaeology of the
Addenbrooke's Environs, South Cambridge. Cambridge:
Cambridge Archaeological Unit. Page 19; pages 132, 141 and
151 for maps of archaeological sites and cropmarks; pages
197-200 for overview. Fox, Cyril (1923). The Archaeology of
the Cambridge Region. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press. Pages 70-120, 150-52. Kirby, Tony and Oosthuizen,
Susan (eds.) (2000). An Atlas of Cambridgeshire and
Huntingdonshire History. Cambridge: Anglia Polytechnic
University. Map 10. 12 and 14. Oosthuizen, Susan (1996).
Cambridgeshire from the Air. Stroud: Alan Sutton Publishing.
Page 7. Taylor, Alison (1999). Cambridge: the Hidden
History. Page 18-20, 41. The Victoria History of the Counties
of England (1938). The History of the County of Cambridge
& the Isle of Ely, Volume I. Page 285-92. The Victoria
History of the Counties of England (1982). A History of
Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely, Volume VIII. Armingford
and Thriplow Hundreds. Trumpington, page 248.
Local History Group web page: Archaeological Reports. Clay
Farm Archaeology, August 2010.
Iron Age/Roman farming settlements were widely established
both sides of the River Cam. In Borderlands, Christopher
Evans argues that there was a far greater density of settlement
than had been assumed by earlier researchers, with sites at
intervals of 300-500 metres across the area and quite a high
population level. There were hill forts at Wandlebury and on
the north west bank of the Cam (the area of the later
Cambridge Roman settlement).
In his thesis on The Archaeology of the Cambridge Region
published in 1923, Cyril Fox argued that the ford between
Trumpington and Grantchester was the lowest convenient
crossing of the Cam and that there would have been pre-
Roman routes from Chesterford to Trumpington and on an
alignment from the area of Trumpington Hall to Dam Hill and
the Leys School (to the west of the modern road). Writing in
the Victoria County History in 1938, J. Grahame Clark went
so far as to say that the "twin settlements at Grantchester and
Trumpington, on either side of the ford of the Cam, were the
Early Iron Age predecessors of Cambridge ...". Within the
Trumpington area, Iron Age/Roman settlements have been
identified in locations including the river valley south of the
ford to Grantchester; a gravel pit opposite the cemetery to the
east of the High Street/Shelford Road junction (now the rear
of the first houses on Shelford Road); the grounds of Anstey
Hall; to the west of Trumpington Road; on the Hutchison and
Addenbrooke's Hospital sites; and along Hills Road. There
was an important Iron Age/Roman cemetery at Dam Hill (the
area between Latham Road, River Farm, and Chaucer Road).
Cyril Fox refers to Iron Age evidence from Trumpington,
including a brooch (see figures) and pottery beakers, bowls
and amphorae. Unfortunately, many of the areas that might
have provided evidence were affected by coprolite digging in
the 19th century and sites such as Dam Hill were identified
before systematic excavation techniques were developed.
Archaeological excavations to the south west of the current
village centre (on the Park & Ride site in 2000-01 and the
adjacent part of the Trumpington Meadows site in 2010-11)
have identified 100s of pits which may have been associated
with domestic occupation of the terrace. The 2010 work also
found a number of burials (Cambridge Archaeological Unit).
Research at Clay Farm has identified important Iron Age
evidence, including Late Iron Age occupation and farming
patterns to the east of Shelford Road (Oxford Archaeology
East). This area continued in use into the Roman period
before being abandoned before the end of the 2nd century.
Excavations at the Hutchison site in 2002-03 showed that it
was heavily used in the Late Iron Age.
Sources of information: Archaeology reports and visits to
archaeological sites. Evans, Christopher, with Duncan Mackay
and Leo Webley (2008). Borderlands. The Archaeology of the
Addenbrooke's Environs, South Cambridge. Cambridge:
Cambridge Archaeological Unit. Page 19; pages 132, 141 and
151 for maps of archaeological sites and cropmarks; pages
197-200 for overview. Fox, Cyril (1923). The Archaeology of
the Cambridge Region. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press. Pages 70-120, 150-52. Kirby, Tony and Oosthuizen,
Susan (eds.) (2000). An Atlas of Cambridgeshire and
Huntingdonshire History. Cambridge: Anglia Polytechnic
University. Map 10. 12 and 14. Oosthuizen, Susan (1996).
Cambridgeshire from the Air. Stroud: Alan Sutton Publishing.
Page 7. Taylor, Alison (1999). Cambridge: the Hidden
History. Page 18-20, 41. The Victoria History of the Counties
of England (1938). The History of the County of Cambridge
& the Isle of Ely, Volume I. Page 285-92. The Victoria
History of the Counties of England (1982). A History of
Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely, Volume VIII. Armingford
and Thriplow Hundreds. Trumpington, page 248.
Local History Group web page: Archaeological Reports. Clay
Farm Archaeology, August 2010.
| Local History Group visit to the archaeological site on the route of Addenbrooke's Road, Showground site to the rear of Shelford Road. Photo: Stephen Brown, 12 July 2007. |
| Part of a large trench of the 'D' shaped enclosure on Clay Farm, Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age. Photo: Stephen Brown, 11 August 2010. |
| A series of Iron Age pits being excavated on the Trumpington Meadows site, with the trees on the line of the old railway in the background. Photo: Andrew Roberts, 3 October 2010. |
| Extract from Tim Malim (2000) 'Prehistoric Trackways', in An Atlas of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire History, map 11. Reproduced with permission. Copyright, Centre for Regional Studies, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge. Best known routes in solid red, probable routes dashed red. Trumpington parish highlighted in yellow, Cambridge at top of extract, county boundary at bottom. |
| Geological Survey map, 1957. Green: Chalk Blue: Upper Greensand and Gault. |
| Ordnance Survey map, 1865. |
| A La Certosa type Early Iron Age brooch (5th century BC) found in Trumpington. Illustrated in Fox (1923), plate XVIII and Victoria County History (1938), Volume 1, page 292. |
| Timeline pages 1000- 1- 1001- 1501- 1601- 1701- 1801- 1851- 1901- 1951- 2001- 0 BC 1000 AD 1500 1600 1700 1800 1850 1900 1950 2000 present |
| Iron Age site to the east of Shelford Road, Ordnance Survey map, 1925. |