Peterborough - Surroundings

Barnack (3mi/5km southeast of Burghley House) is the source of the fine building stone, ranging in color from ivory-white to yellowish, used in so many churches and houses in this part of the country. It can be seen in the local church, St John the Baptist, built at the beginning of the 11th century. The Saxon tower has an Early English spire, while inside there is an elaborately decorated early Gothic font (13th century).

Barnack is also the site of a Bronze Age burial monument with 23 bodies. The items found in the grave were donated to the British Museum.

The tiny village of Castor (pop. 550) was so named because it occupies the site of a Roman camp ("castrum") called Durobrivae. According to the inscription on the doorway, the Norman church was consecrated to St Cyneburga, daughter of King Penda of Mercia, in 1124. Inside the church the 14th century wall paintings repay close inspection.

The fortified manor house of Longthorpe (3mi/5km to the west of Peterborough) has an old 13th century tower. On the first floor there are wall paintings showing scenes of everyday domestic life, which have survived from the 14th century.

Lyveden New Bield is a National Trust property located near Oundle, in the Peterborough area. It is an incomplete lodge or garden house built in the shape of a cross, begun around 1595 by Sir Thomas Tresham.

Peakirk Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Gardens (7mi/11km north of Castor) belong to the Severn Wildfowl Trust, founded by Sir Peter Scott in 1946 to preserve and maintain Britain's many species of waterfowl.