Soham
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- For the Sanskrit word see Soham
| Soham | |
|---|---|
| OS Grid Reference: | TL591732 |
| Lat/Lon: | |
| Population: | 9,102 (2001 Census) |
| Dwellings: | 3,771 (2001 Census) |
| Formal status: | Town |
| Administration | |
| County: | Cambridgeshire |
| Region: | East Anglia |
| Nation: | England |
| Post Office and Telephone | |
| Post town: | Ely |
| Postcode: | CB7 |
| Dialling Code: | 01353 |
| Map sources for Soham at grid reference TL591732
|
Soham is a small town in the English county of Cambridgeshire. It lies just off the A142 between Ely and Newmarket (Suffolk). Its population is 9,102 (2001 census), and it is within the district of East Cambridgeshire.
Contents |
[edit] History
A monastery was founded here by St Felix of Burgundy in the 6th century but this was later destroyed by the Danes. The village today has a 12th century cruciform church, which has a peal of ten bells.
The first black British author, Olaudah Equiano, lived there.
Soham Village College is one of a number of secondary schools of a type unique to Cambridgeshire.
[edit] Tragic incidents
By an unfortunate co-incidence, despite its small size and relatively undistinguished nature, the village of Soham has twice become very well known nationally in connection with tragic incidents.
[edit] The Soham Rail Disaster
The town narrowly escaped destruction on June 2, 1944, during the Second World War, when a fire developed on the lead wagon of a heavy ammunition train travelling slowly along the line through the town. The town was saved by the bravery of three railway staff, Ben Gimbert, Jim Nightall, and Frank Bridges, who uncoupled the rest of the train and drove the engine and lead wagon clear of the town, where it exploded, killing them but causing no other deaths. Although small in comparison to what would have happened if the entire train had blown up, the explosion caused substantial property damage. Gimbert and Nightall were posthumously awarded the George Cross.
[edit] The Soham Murders
In August 2002, Soham became the centre of international media attention due to the Soham murders. The victims were two 10-year-old girls living in the town, Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman. They disappeared on the evening of 4 August and were found dead some miles 10 miles away, near Wangford, on 17 August. Ian Huntley, a caretaker from the local college was later found guilty of their murders 16 months later and received life imprisonment with a recommendation that he should serve at least 40 years before being considered for parole.
[edit] Archaeology
The region between Devil's Dyke and the line between Littleport and Shippea Hill shows a remarkable amount of archaeological findings of the Stone Age, the Bronze Age and the Iron Age. A couple of hoards of bronze objects are found in the area of Soham, including one with swords and spearheads of the later Bronze Age as well as a gold torque (1938).<ref>Hall, David [1994]. Fenland survey : an essay in landscape and persistence / David Hall and John Coles. London; English Heritage. ISBN 1-850-74477-7., p. 81-88</ref> An extensive ditch system was found, not visible on aerial photographs, as well as a wooden track-way 800m in length between Fordey Farm (Barway) and Little Thetford with associated shards of later Bronze Age pottery (1935).[citation needed]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
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[edit] External links
- Soham On-Line Community Website (used as a reference)
- 2001 Census
- Soham Roots contains local history and genealogical resources
