Burwell, Cambridgeshire
Burwell is a village located in the county of Cambridgeshire. It is a fairly large village with a population of just over 5,000 residents. On the western side of the village run the 'Burwell Lode' and all land lying to the north and west of this point is called 'The Fens'. The name of the village means the 'spring by the fort' and this accounts for the fact that the village lies next to Burwell Castle, and to a spring that is located in the south of the village. People who live in this town are known as 'burwellians'.
Burwell Castle is actually an unfinished castle around which it is possible to see what would once have been a moat. It was built in the 12th century during a period called 'The Anarchy' while King Stephen was on the throne.
The village is only 4 miles for the town of Newmarket, 10 miles from Cambridge and 9 miles from Ely. Originally the village was named Burewelle in the domesday book. In 1727 a very sad accident took place in the village. In a barn located at a part of the village which is now residential (near the centre) a visiting puppet show attended one September day. The show was incredibly popular and in total 78 people turned up to see the show. When as many people as possible had squeezed into the barn the doors were fixed shut so that no-one else could get in to see the show people. Someone was watching the show from the door just outside, and had a lantern with them. This was knocked over and started a fire just inside the barn, fuelled by the amount of hay that was around. Approximately 78 people were killed (51 children). The dead were buried in St Mary's Graveyard at the village and their graves are marked with a stone depicting a blazing heart and angel wings. In 2005 a plague was erected on the spot where the barn used to lie in memory to all those who died there.
Until fairly recently (early 19th century) a building material called clunch was mined in the village and it is still possible to visit the open quarry where this was done today. Most of the village houses were made from the material and it is actually the name of the parish magazine.
The village is twinned with two towns in France, however, only one is mentioned on the village sign as you drive in.