Things to Do in Burwell

Burwell is a fascinating village to walk and cycle around, with many historic attractions in the village and sites of great natural beauty nearby.

The name Burwell originated in Anglo-Saxon times meaning ‘the spring by the fort’. The village lies on the fen edge, where fertile chalk uplands meet marshy fen rich in fish, water fowl, reeds for thatch and peat for fuel. This special location has uniquely shaped the lives of Burwell’s inhabitants over its long history.

Places to visit:

Burwell Castle
Impressive earthworks that mark the site of Burwell Castle. This was one of a ring of 12th-century castles built by King Stephen to contain the ambitions of rebellious Geoffrey de Mandeville, Earl of Essex, who was based at nearby Ely. In 1144, de Mandeville was mortally wounded while attacking Burwell Castle.

St Mary’s Church
Described by Pevsner as ‘the most perfect example in the county of the Perpendicular ideal’. Most of the church dates from the 15th century, and was probably built by the same craftsmen responsible for King’s College Chapel in Cambridge. In the churchyard, you can see a 'flaming heart' headstone, erected to commemorate the victims of Burwell’s ‘Great Fire’ of 1727 (over 70 villagers died when attending a puppet show in a barn); and a headstone for miller George Mason.

Burwell Lode
A man-made waterway cut mostly in the 17th century during the drainage of the Fens. The Lode runs about 2½ miles from Anchor Lane off North Street to Reach Lode, with a pleasant footpath that you can follow alongside.

Devil’s Dyke
A defensive Anglo-Saxon earthwork that extends over seven miles from Reach to Ditton Green. A footpath runs along its length and you get an idea of the Dyke’s sheer size (over 10m high at some points) at the vantage point on Galley Hill just south of Burwell. The Devil’s Dyke is a protected Scheduled Ancient Monument and Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Places to stay
For a selection of places to stay in the village and surrounding area, see the Burwell Community website.

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