Peterborough, England Tourist Attractions
|
|
Peterborough is an industrial city attractively situated on the north bank of the River Nene, on the edge of the Fens. Traditionally an agricultural center, it now has large factories producing diesel engines and other heavy machinery.
Peterborough Cathedral
The cathedral was begun in the early 12th C and displays a unique Gothic facade with large doorways and corner towers.
| Highlights: |
|---|
Surroundings
The surrounding area of Peterborough includes Stamford, Burghley House, Barnack, Longthorpe and Castor.
Stamford
The old market town of Stamford (12mi/19km northwest of Peterborough; pop. 15,800), with its four fine churches, has managed to retain much of its original character. St Mary's has an early Gothic tower with a Decorated broach spire. All Saints Church is also early Gothic with a late Gothic tower and notable brass memorial slabs. St John's (Perpendicular) has fine stained glass and carved oak woodwork. St George's (13th-15th century) also has fine old stained glass windows.The most interesting secular building in Stamford is Browne's Hospital, founded in 1480, with a Jacobean hall and chapel. The town hall dates from 1777, the former theater in St Mary's Street from 1769. There are also a large number of fine Elizabethan, Jacobean and Georgian houses.Many of the buildings in Stamford are constructed from old Lincolnshire limestone, which makes it a popular tourist destination for the renowned appearance.
Nassington - Prebendal Manor House
The Prebendal Manor House in Nassington is the oldest surviving manor in Northamptonshire. It dates from the early 13th century, however excavations have revealed that a structure existed here in the 11th century.Attractions include gardens, a medieval fishpond and a tithe barn housing an historical museum.
Stamford Shakespeare Company Season
The 16th century hall was derelict in 1977, but it has 600 seat theater with a permanent canopy and attracts over 34,000 people to the annual 12 week season of plays.
Priest's House
The Priest's House in Stamford is a lodge from before the Reformation. Now a National Trust property, it contains a small museum of local history.
Stamford - Burghley House
Burghley House (2mi/3km south of Stamford), seat of the Marquess of Exeter, is an outstanding example of Elizabethan architecture (1553-87). The mansion was built for William Cecil, Lord Burghley (1520-98), an influential politician during the Elizabethan period. The west front, with its windows, towers and ornamental chimneys, is as delightful as the sumptuous interior fittings, the large number of paintings by Italian and English Baroque painters and the grandiose late 17th century interior decorations by Louis Laguerre (Bow Room) and Antonio Verrio (Heaven Room). The park surrounding the mansion was created by the famous landscape gardener "Capability" Brown in the 18th century.
Queensgate Shopping Centre
In the pedestrian area of Priestgate is the enormous covered Queensgate Shopping Centre - a marble, glass and steel construction.
Barnack
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.
Longthorpe Manor House & Tower
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.
Castor
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.
Peakirk Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust
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.
Lyveden New Bield
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.
Flag Fen Bronze Age Excavations
Flag Fen is recognized as one of the most significant Bronze Age excavation sites in Europe. The museum near Peterborough houses priceless discoveries. Other attractions include a semi-floating visitor center, a landscaped Bronze Age park and primitive animals.The site is important because it had waterlogged conditions that preserved wood and other organic materials in essentially their original form. Archaeologists have recently discovered the oldest wooden wheel in England, and possibly Britain.
Nene Valley Railway
The Nene Valley Railway was the first railroad into Peterborough. Today a preserved steam locomotive and carriages take visitors along the 7.5 miles of track.
