Thorney is a quaint village just outside of Peterborough (Image: Thorney Museum) Stay up to date with all the latest news, features and reviews of all things food, drink, and entertainment with our weekly What's On email More Newsletters Subscribe Please enter a valid email Something went wrong, please try again later. More Newsletters We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you.
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More info × Group 28 Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show Me No thanks, close See our Privacy Notice Cambridgeshire is not short of exciting and historical towns, many of which go under the radar. This remote town just outside of Peterborough is no different. Thorney has been around since the sixth century and therefore, has an incredibly rich history in spite of its small size.
The town used to be called the Isle of Thorns thanks to it being a tiny island in the middle of the fens. The area is now a quaint residential village that is easily accessible from Cambridge with a few historical attractions to stop at. READ MORE: Rugby club facing £91k shortfall gets green light to host wider range events READ MORE: Cambridge Criterium new cycling festival: Road closures and race route for the city's new event Thorney's history Thorney has a rich history that spand many centuries.
Archaeological research that has been conducted in the town revealed that there had been settlements in the area from the Iron Age, Bronze Age, and Roman Times. In the 17th century, the Dukes of Bedford were largely involved in draining the fens to create a thriving town out of what used to be the island. A lot of the town's surrounding land was perfect for farming, however nowadays, most of the agricultural cottages and farmhouses have been converted into homes.
In 1849, the seventh Duke of Bedford ordered a rebuilding of Thorney to turn it into a model village. The architect, Samuel Sanders Teulon, helped to design many of the cottages that are still a major part of Thorney today. The model village improvements also include adding in fresh water and sewage systems, a gas supply, and the usual shops and schools for the area.
Thorney's design was based around medieval and Tudor buildings. You can learn even more about Thorney's deep history from the locally run Thorney Museum. With talks from local experts, you'll find out everything you need to know about the town.
Tankyard The focal point of the town has to be the Tankyard. Built as part of the model village project, the Tankyard was used to pump water to homes in the area and collect their sewage just by using gravity. Bedford Hall is the 96 foot high tower attached to the beautiful Jacobean style building.
Thanks to its height, the hall is impossible to miss. The hall is now home to many community events, such as discos and festivals. The building is well worth a visit just for its architectural beauty.
Tea at 18 After spending a day exploring the historic town, you can take a moment to sit down and enjoy an afternoon tea at Tea at 18. The luxury tea room is a staple part of the town and is well-liked by both locals and visitors. The popular café has something for everyone with a wide range of sandwiches, paninis, and rolls for the perfect lunch.
If you have more of a sweet tooth, Tea at 18 also sells homemade cakes and pastries that are definitely generously sized. The highlight at Tea at 18 seems to be the afternoon tea, where you can get warm scones served with fresh cream and jam, a selection of sandwiches, a slice of cake, and unlimited tea or coffee. The charming café is a nice way to finish the day off.
How to get there Thorney is easy to get to by car and is around an hour from Cambridge. If you follow the A14 to join the A1 , you'll reach Peterborough and from there, join the A47 to get to the village. If you prefer to travel via public transport, you can get a train to Peterborough and a bus that takes you right into the heart of Thorney.
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