Pictures of Fen Ditton

About Fen Ditton

This pleasant village can be found in the spacious countryside within easy driving distance from Cambridge. It has many attributes including the ancient church dedicated to St. Mary which lies on a bend close to the river. The church shows much that is in the Early English Decorated Style, it has lovely arches, exquisite stained glass, a font decorated with shields, and many other interesting treasures from the past including monuments of the 17th century. Church records go back to 1538 and there are gravestones from many centuries. The church is an attractive Barnack ashlar building, and is well worth seeing.

Other attractive features are the Almshouses which were built to house poor widows in 1665, some pretty thatched cottages, and buildings from the Victorian and Georgian periods. The village was granted its market charter in 1270, and in 1729 a noted local family founded a charity school.

For centuries the main activity here was farming and mostly men were engaged working the land or became blacksmiths, masons, builders, or carpenters. In the 20th-century things began to change, industries moved here, the great telecommunications company Pye set up in Fen Ditton, and was later followed by others. Pye was eventually taken over by Phillips, who closed the Fen Ditton works down in 1981.

Farming continues to this day. In the area you will note a number of mellow farmhouses surrounded by fine crops, some showing vibrant yellow rapeseed, and lazy cattle and sheep meander in lush meadows watered by the River Cam.

Interestingly, most of the pubs are named for Fen Ditton's fine farming tradition; these include the Ancient Shepherds, and the Plough which lies in a picturesque position overlooking the river. Others are the Blue Lion and the Kings Head.

Fen Ditton is in a pleasant region of Cambridgeshire and is surrounded by fine Fen countryside and lively market towns. The waters of the Cam offer interesting riverside walks and opportunities for boating and fishing. Anglesey Abbey, a beautiful National Trust property can be found a short drive away.

For further information and a picture tour of the village, please visit Fenditton-aa.org.uk