| Trumpington Local History Group Trumpington History Trails: 8 Trumpington to Great Shelford |
| Copyright © Trumpington Local History Group, 2016. Updated 17 November 2016. Email: admin@trumpingtonlocalhistorygroup.org |
| Trumpington to Great Shelford Explore Great Shelford and Routes from Trumpington Walk or cycle 6.3 miles/10.1 kms: walk on pavements and footpaths; cycle on roads and dual use paths. Option of bus from Great Shelford to Trumpington. Return route can be combined with Trail 7 |
Trumpington History Trails
This is one of a series of history trails about Trumpington and its links to surrounding villages
and Cambridge. We hope that long-established and new residents will find the trails to be a
fascinating way to discover more about the history of the area.
The trails have been developed by the Trumpington Residents’ Association and the Trumpington
Local History Group, with support from Cambridge City Council. The project is led by Andrew
Roberts and Howard Slatter. Thanks to Helen Harwood for contributions to this trail.
Printed copies available free of charge from The Clay Farm Centre (2017) and Trumpington
Pavilion.
Contact the Local History Group with feedback: admin@trumpingtonlocalhistorygroup.org.
Download a PDF version of the trail or continue with the route ...
This is one of a series of history trails about Trumpington and its links to surrounding villages
and Cambridge. We hope that long-established and new residents will find the trails to be a
fascinating way to discover more about the history of the area.
The trails have been developed by the Trumpington Residents’ Association and the Trumpington
Local History Group, with support from Cambridge City Council. The project is led by Andrew
Roberts and Howard Slatter. Thanks to Helen Harwood for contributions to this trail.
Printed copies available free of charge from The Clay Farm Centre (2017) and Trumpington
Pavilion.
Contact the Local History Group with feedback: admin@trumpingtonlocalhistorygroup.org.
Download a PDF version of the trail or continue with the route ...
| King’s Mill, 1906, with the miller Alexander Pearce. Cambridgeshire Collection (stop 11). |
| Shelford Road, Trumpington, from the junction with the High Street and Hauxton Road, c. 1914, with the first homes on the left and the cemetery on the right. Cambridgeshire Collection (stop 2). |
| Shelford Station, c. 1924. Photograph by T. Mott. Cambridgeshire Collection (stop 7). |
| Additional information www.trumpingtonlocalhistorygroup.org www.trumpingtonresidentsassociation.org Great Shelford history (Helen Harwood): http://sites.google.com/site/greatshelfordhistory Eating in Great Shelford: Shelford Delicatessen, Woollards Lane Days of Ashwell, Bakers, Woollards Lane Barkers Butchers, High Street The Square and Compasses, High Street The Plough, High Street © TLHG and TRA, September 2016. |
| Route map: Howard Slatter. |
1. Start at the green by the shops, Anstey Way
Go along Anstey Way to the High Street, turn left, go to the junction and left to Shelford Road.
2. Shelford Road
The generous width of Shelford Road reflects its use as a turnpike (Feature B). The earliest
houses are on the left, with 3-11, 15-21 and 23-27 dating from the early 1900s and number 13
added in 1924, some with dates and names over the doors or on the wall. Houses further left and
right were built from the 1920s. Continue to the bridge.
3. Shelford Road railway bridge
The Cambridge-Bedford railway opened in 1862 and closed in 1968. The route is now used by
the Busway, opened in 2011. Continue to the junction and go left on Addenbrooke’s Road to the
Abode development, stop at the roundabout (Trail 3). The apartments have metal screens with
designs based on the fan vaulting in the ceiling of King's College Chapel. Continue right on
Addenbrooke’s Road, cross Hobson’s Brook and go up the slope towards the railway bridge.
4. Addenbrooke’s Road railway bridge
The railway bridge opened in 2010 and provides a viewpoint of Hobson's Park to the left (Trail
5), Cambridge Biomedical Campus ahead (Trail 10) and the main railway line. Continue to the
roundabout, follow the footpath/cycle path to the left, go under the railway bridge. The path to
the left is on the line of the old parish boundary between Trumpington and Great Shelford.
Continue ahead to the bridge over the stream.
5. Hobson's Brook and Cycle Network
Hobson’s Brook runs from Nine Wells (the wood on the left, Trail 5) through Trumpington to
Cambridge. The double helix sculpture and the design of 10,000 stripes painted on the path in
2005 commemorate DNA, the human genome and the National Cycle Network. Continue on the
path, with White Hill Farm to the left, to the metal footbridge over the railway, built in 2014.
6. Webster’s Crossing and railway junction
The bridge replaced a level crossing named after the Webster family of nearby Granhams Farm.
The railway lines to Liverpool Street and King’s Cross divide at this point, known as the
Shepreth Branch Junction. Continue to the road, turn right, cross the road, and go on the DNA
path this side of the railway line to Chaston Road. Bear right to Hinton Way, turn right to the
level crossing.
7. Shelford Station
Shelford Station (Liverpool Street line) opened in 1845 (Feature C). The stationmaster lived at
the station-house (now Zara Indian Restaurant). Goods and parcels were delivered to the goods
yard behind the station and taken by horse and cart around the village. Chaston’s Steam Flour
Mill was beyond the goods yard. Go over the level crossing. The road to the right of the crossing
is on the site of the coal yard. There is an information panel in the bus stop. The Railway Tavern
was to the left (demolished in 2016), with Shelford Corn and Coal beyond (later Shelford
Energy). The mill and the coal yard were replaced by offices in the 1980s. Continue along
Station Road to the junction.
8. Freestone’s Corner
The corner is named after the bakery which stood here from 1904-84, now Reed House, see the
plaque on wall. During World War II, Great Shelford was a billeting-place for soldiers. The
Freestone family welcomed them and served refreshments. Cross London Road, the former
turnpike, to the green, with the village sign and information plaques. Continue on Woollards
Lane past Shelford Delicatessen, which has refreshments, and the Library, rebuilt in 2010.
Go along Anstey Way to the High Street, turn left, go to the junction and left to Shelford Road.
2. Shelford Road
The generous width of Shelford Road reflects its use as a turnpike (Feature B). The earliest
houses are on the left, with 3-11, 15-21 and 23-27 dating from the early 1900s and number 13
added in 1924, some with dates and names over the doors or on the wall. Houses further left and
right were built from the 1920s. Continue to the bridge.
3. Shelford Road railway bridge
The Cambridge-Bedford railway opened in 1862 and closed in 1968. The route is now used by
the Busway, opened in 2011. Continue to the junction and go left on Addenbrooke’s Road to the
Abode development, stop at the roundabout (Trail 3). The apartments have metal screens with
designs based on the fan vaulting in the ceiling of King's College Chapel. Continue right on
Addenbrooke’s Road, cross Hobson’s Brook and go up the slope towards the railway bridge.
4. Addenbrooke’s Road railway bridge
The railway bridge opened in 2010 and provides a viewpoint of Hobson's Park to the left (Trail
5), Cambridge Biomedical Campus ahead (Trail 10) and the main railway line. Continue to the
roundabout, follow the footpath/cycle path to the left, go under the railway bridge. The path to
the left is on the line of the old parish boundary between Trumpington and Great Shelford.
Continue ahead to the bridge over the stream.
5. Hobson's Brook and Cycle Network
Hobson’s Brook runs from Nine Wells (the wood on the left, Trail 5) through Trumpington to
Cambridge. The double helix sculpture and the design of 10,000 stripes painted on the path in
2005 commemorate DNA, the human genome and the National Cycle Network. Continue on the
path, with White Hill Farm to the left, to the metal footbridge over the railway, built in 2014.
6. Webster’s Crossing and railway junction
The bridge replaced a level crossing named after the Webster family of nearby Granhams Farm.
The railway lines to Liverpool Street and King’s Cross divide at this point, known as the
Shepreth Branch Junction. Continue to the road, turn right, cross the road, and go on the DNA
path this side of the railway line to Chaston Road. Bear right to Hinton Way, turn right to the
level crossing.
7. Shelford Station
Shelford Station (Liverpool Street line) opened in 1845 (Feature C). The stationmaster lived at
the station-house (now Zara Indian Restaurant). Goods and parcels were delivered to the goods
yard behind the station and taken by horse and cart around the village. Chaston’s Steam Flour
Mill was beyond the goods yard. Go over the level crossing. The road to the right of the crossing
is on the site of the coal yard. There is an information panel in the bus stop. The Railway Tavern
was to the left (demolished in 2016), with Shelford Corn and Coal beyond (later Shelford
Energy). The mill and the coal yard were replaced by offices in the 1980s. Continue along
Station Road to the junction.
8. Freestone’s Corner
The corner is named after the bakery which stood here from 1904-84, now Reed House, see the
plaque on wall. During World War II, Great Shelford was a billeting-place for soldiers. The
Freestone family welcomed them and served refreshments. Cross London Road, the former
turnpike, to the green, with the village sign and information plaques. Continue on Woollards
Lane past Shelford Delicatessen, which has refreshments, and the Library, rebuilt in 2010.
9. Memorial Hall and Recreation Ground
In 1921, the Parish Council acquired two fields reaching to the river as a Recreation Ground
(there is an attractive walk to the river). During World War II, it was an army camp. The hall
was built in 1958 as a war memorial. Continue along Woollards Lane: most of the shops started
as private homes, built in the 1900s-1930s. The baker’s (Days) has outdoor seating. Barclays
Bank was built in 1991 on the site of Robinson’s Dairy. Continue to the junction.
10. The British School
The building to the left was the non-conformist British School, built in 1870. After it closed in
1906, Frederick Pumfrey used it as a garage. The site was redeveloped as housing in 2012. Go
left along Church Street past the church, turn left into King’s Mill Lane and continue to the River
Cam.
11. King’s Mill
There has been a corn mill here since Domesday, run by the Pearce family from the 1880s-
1950s, purchased by the architect Sir Leslie Martin in 1960 and converted into a house. The
artist Ben Nicholson stayed here for a time. Turn back towards Church Street: King’s Mill
House on the right was the setting for Philippa Pearce’s book, Tom’s Midnight Garden. Philippa
was the miller’s daughter: there is a plaque in her memory on 4 King’s Mill Lane on the left. At
the junction, there is an alternative walking route shown on a sign opposite (see Trail 7). To
continue the main route, go right to the church.
In 1921, the Parish Council acquired two fields reaching to the river as a Recreation Ground
(there is an attractive walk to the river). During World War II, it was an army camp. The hall
was built in 1958 as a war memorial. Continue along Woollards Lane: most of the shops started
as private homes, built in the 1900s-1930s. The baker’s (Days) has outdoor seating. Barclays
Bank was built in 1991 on the site of Robinson’s Dairy. Continue to the junction.
10. The British School
The building to the left was the non-conformist British School, built in 1870. After it closed in
1906, Frederick Pumfrey used it as a garage. The site was redeveloped as housing in 2012. Go
left along Church Street past the church, turn left into King’s Mill Lane and continue to the River
Cam.
11. King’s Mill
There has been a corn mill here since Domesday, run by the Pearce family from the 1880s-
1950s, purchased by the architect Sir Leslie Martin in 1960 and converted into a house. The
artist Ben Nicholson stayed here for a time. Turn back towards Church Street: King’s Mill
House on the right was the setting for Philippa Pearce’s book, Tom’s Midnight Garden. Philippa
was the miller’s daughter: there is a plaque in her memory on 4 King’s Mill Lane on the left. At
the junction, there is an alternative walking route shown on a sign opposite (see Trail 7). To
continue the main route, go right to the church.
A. Great Shelford history
Before 1800, Great Shelford was a corn-growing area, though farmers also had livestock to
provide manure to fertilise the fields. Beyond the village, there were arable fields and long open
roads until you reached the next village. Great Shelford was unusual in having two foci, with
houses clustered around the church (along Church Street and High Street) and around High
Green. It was only after the enclosure of the parish in 1835 that the Green was gradually built on
and the two parts of the village merged. Enclosure was a big change: the old system of
commoning – shared grazing for the village livestock and arable fields which were made of strips
– was overturned. The fields were divided by hawthorn hedges and distributed to individual
landowners. It became easy to sell your land for development and many more houses were built.
B. Turnpike Roads and Green Belt
provide manure to fertilise the fields. Beyond the village, there were arable fields and long open
roads until you reached the next village. Great Shelford was unusual in having two foci, with
houses clustered around the church (along Church Street and High Street) and around High
Green. It was only after the enclosure of the parish in 1835 that the Green was gradually built on
and the two parts of the village merged. Enclosure was a big change: the old system of
commoning – shared grazing for the village livestock and arable fields which were made of strips
– was overturned. The fields were divided by hawthorn hedges and distributed to individual
landowners. It became easy to sell your land for development and many more houses were built.
B. Turnpike Roads and Green Belt
From the 1720s, there were two turnpike roads from Cambridge to London which separated in
Trumpington. The route via Great Chesterford is followed by Shelford Road (Trumpington) and
Cambridge Road (Great Shelford). In the 1700s, this was a long, unfenced stretch of road,
crossing the common or “waste” which was part of the common grazing of the two parishes. A
series of milestones was placed along the turnpike, including one near the Trumpington/Great
Shelford parish boundary (stop 16). Ribbon development of houses along the road began at the
Trumpington end in 1901 (stop 2) and gradually spread from the 1910s (stop 16). Trumpington
was incorporated in Cambridge in 1934, but the Green Belt between the city and the surrounding
villages has survived largely intact, apart from a revision in 2006 which was followed by house
building on Clay Farm, Glebe Farm and Trumpington Meadows.
C. Great Shelford and Railways
Trumpington. The route via Great Chesterford is followed by Shelford Road (Trumpington) and
Cambridge Road (Great Shelford). In the 1700s, this was a long, unfenced stretch of road,
crossing the common or “waste” which was part of the common grazing of the two parishes. A
series of milestones was placed along the turnpike, including one near the Trumpington/Great
Shelford parish boundary (stop 16). Ribbon development of houses along the road began at the
Trumpington end in 1901 (stop 2) and gradually spread from the 1910s (stop 16). Trumpington
was incorporated in Cambridge in 1934, but the Green Belt between the city and the surrounding
villages has survived largely intact, apart from a revision in 2006 which was followed by house
building on Clay Farm, Glebe Farm and Trumpington Meadows.
C. Great Shelford and Railways
Just 10 years after enclosure in 1835, the railways arrived, with a dramatic effect on the local
economy and society. The first railway through Shelford opened in 1845, from Shoreditch (later
Liverpool Street) to Cambridge and Norwich. This was followed in 1851 by the line from King’s
Cross to Cambridge and in 1865 by a branch line from Haverhill. Unlike Trumpington, Shelford
had a station, built in 1845 on the Liverpool Street line, which gave the village good
communication links. An industrial area developed nearby, including a large goods yard and
sidings. The Corn and Coal Company sent grain to the markets of London and the Midlands,
malt to the breweries in Burton-on-Trent, and brought in coal as fuel for local households. From
the early 1900s, a number of market gardens grew up and distributed cut flowers and salad crops
by rail.
D. Medieval Open Fields
economy and society. The first railway through Shelford opened in 1845, from Shoreditch (later
Liverpool Street) to Cambridge and Norwich. This was followed in 1851 by the line from King’s
Cross to Cambridge and in 1865 by a branch line from Haverhill. Unlike Trumpington, Shelford
had a station, built in 1845 on the Liverpool Street line, which gave the village good
communication links. An industrial area developed nearby, including a large goods yard and
sidings. The Corn and Coal Company sent grain to the markets of London and the Midlands,
malt to the breweries in Burton-on-Trent, and brought in coal as fuel for local households. From
the early 1900s, a number of market gardens grew up and distributed cut flowers and salad crops
by rail.
D. Medieval Open Fields
| Field names, 1830. Victoria County History. |
Prior to the 1835 Inclosure Act, Great Shelford village was surrounded by open fields. The
railway line and cycle path (stop 5) mark the western limit of three of the arable fields: Nine
Wells, Beans End and White Field. The turnpike, now Cambridge Road (stop 14), was the
eastern limit of three other arable fields: Hauxton West, Church West and Causeway West Field.
The land between the railway line and the turnpike was more low-lying, used as open grazing,
with field names including Cabbage Moor and Sheep Common. Roads off Cambridge Road
reflect the older names: Stonehill Road leads to a stone pit; Westfield Road to the West Field;
May Pasture was where livestock were grazed in spring; and Cabbage Moor was an area of
grazing.
railway line and cycle path (stop 5) mark the western limit of three of the arable fields: Nine
Wells, Beans End and White Field. The turnpike, now Cambridge Road (stop 14), was the
eastern limit of three other arable fields: Hauxton West, Church West and Causeway West Field.
The land between the railway line and the turnpike was more low-lying, used as open grazing,
with field names including Cabbage Moor and Sheep Common. Roads off Cambridge Road
reflect the older names: Stonehill Road leads to a stone pit; Westfield Road to the West Field;
May Pasture was where livestock were grazed in spring; and Cabbage Moor was an area of
grazing.
| Great Shelford village sign, erected to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of the Queen, 1977, April 2013. Andrew Roberts (stop 8). |
12. St Mary's Church and Church Street
St Mary’s Church was rebuilt about 1400. It has a Doom Painting above the chancel arch,
depicting the Last Judgment. Numbers 15-19 opposite the church have been used as the
Guildhall, brew house, workhouse and sheltered accommodation. Continue along Church Street:
The Grange on the right is on the site of a Medieval manor house. On the left, the old phone box
is put to novel uses. Go straight ahead along the High Street. Look out for swifts from May to
August, there is a population in this area.
13. High Street
The Square and Compasses pub was originally a farm then a blacksmith’s home; The Plough
opened as a pub in the 1830s, having originally been a blacksmith’s shop: both serve food. The
green at the junction was given to the village by builder William Sindall, who lived nearby. The
War Memorial was unveiled in 1921. Bear left on the main road, High Green (the bus stop has
services to Trumpington), and continue towards the railway bridge (King's Cross line).
St Mary’s Church was rebuilt about 1400. It has a Doom Painting above the chancel arch,
depicting the Last Judgment. Numbers 15-19 opposite the church have been used as the
Guildhall, brew house, workhouse and sheltered accommodation. Continue along Church Street:
The Grange on the right is on the site of a Medieval manor house. On the left, the old phone box
is put to novel uses. Go straight ahead along the High Street. Look out for swifts from May to
August, there is a population in this area.
13. High Street
The Square and Compasses pub was originally a farm then a blacksmith’s home; The Plough
opened as a pub in the 1830s, having originally been a blacksmith’s shop: both serve food. The
green at the junction was given to the village by builder William Sindall, who lived nearby. The
War Memorial was unveiled in 1921. Bear left on the main road, High Green (the bus stop has
services to Trumpington), and continue towards the railway bridge (King's Cross line).
| Sketch map of the village in the mid 19th century, showing two centres. Helen Harwood. |
| Freestone’s Bakery, c. 1922. Cambridgeshire Collection (stop 8). |
| High Green, Great Shelford, 1950s. Cambridgeshire Collection (stop 13). |
14. High Green and turnpike route
The approach to the bridge was originally an open green (Feature A). The houses to the left are
set back with long front gardens which were part of the green. The house nearest the bridge, De
Freville Manor, dates from 1500 or earlier, one of three manors in the village and a farmhouse
until the early 2000s. The original turnpike alignment can be seen to the left of the bridge over
the railway line. Go over the bridge, rebuilt in 1957-58 to allow for the eventual electrification of
the railway. Continue along the turnpike route (Cambridge Road), look out for historic road
names (Features B, D).
15. Scotsdales Nurseries/Rugby Ground
Until the early 1900s, there were no houses between Great Shelford and Trumpington.
Scotsdales Garden Centre started as Davey’s Nurseries, opened about 1904, growing salad
produce and cut flowers which were distributed by train (there is an old painted sign on the side
of the house to the right of the entrance). There is a café in the garden centre. This side of the
road, Shelford Rugby Club moved to the Davey Field (formerly part of the nurseries) in the
1960s. Percy Davey gave the land in memory of his son, Renford, an RAF pilot who died in
World War II. Go on along the turnpike route.
16. Parish boundary and Milestone
The Cambridge sign marks the 1000 year old boundary between the parishes of Great Shelford
and Trumpington. There is a small plaque commemorating the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
between the two street signs across the road and a turnpike milestone further on the left on this
side of the road. This was an area of ribbon development of housing from the 1910s (look for
houses dated 1914 and 1915 beyond the garage). Continue along Shelford Road to the junction.
Turn right to Trumpington High Street to return to the green at Anstey Way.
The approach to the bridge was originally an open green (Feature A). The houses to the left are
set back with long front gardens which were part of the green. The house nearest the bridge, De
Freville Manor, dates from 1500 or earlier, one of three manors in the village and a farmhouse
until the early 2000s. The original turnpike alignment can be seen to the left of the bridge over
the railway line. Go over the bridge, rebuilt in 1957-58 to allow for the eventual electrification of
the railway. Continue along the turnpike route (Cambridge Road), look out for historic road
names (Features B, D).
15. Scotsdales Nurseries/Rugby Ground
Until the early 1900s, there were no houses between Great Shelford and Trumpington.
Scotsdales Garden Centre started as Davey’s Nurseries, opened about 1904, growing salad
produce and cut flowers which were distributed by train (there is an old painted sign on the side
of the house to the right of the entrance). There is a café in the garden centre. This side of the
road, Shelford Rugby Club moved to the Davey Field (formerly part of the nurseries) in the
1960s. Percy Davey gave the land in memory of his son, Renford, an RAF pilot who died in
World War II. Go on along the turnpike route.
16. Parish boundary and Milestone
The Cambridge sign marks the 1000 year old boundary between the parishes of Great Shelford
and Trumpington. There is a small plaque commemorating the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
between the two street signs across the road and a turnpike milestone further on the left on this
side of the road. This was an area of ribbon development of housing from the 1910s (look for
houses dated 1914 and 1915 beyond the garage). Continue along Shelford Road to the junction.
Turn right to Trumpington High Street to return to the green at Anstey Way.
