Somersham, Cambridgeshire

Somersham village. Photo: © CPRE

Medium/low density: 40 dwellings per hectare – centre (estimated), surrounded by lower density
Population: 4000 people

Location
Somersham is an attractive English village in rural Cambridgeshire. Originally a fenland farming community, the village has evolved to become more of a commuter settlement. The village has grown enormously in the last few decades.

The village is centred on a hub of three pubs, a church and a cluster of shops. There is a primary school and an independent school in the village centre. It has a butchers, bakers, post office, two doctors surgeries, a number of restaurants and a community centre. There are also a couple of sports facilities funded through a combination of lottery and community generated funds.

Village life
The village is not the thriving community it once was, although it has still maintained its identity and facilities fairly well. The parish council have supported initiatives such as a designated dog walking field and the popular Christmas lights switch on.

Most people are reliant on car travel with only a limited bus service creating both hazardous and congested roads.

They have shops still, which is a good thing because some of my friends’ villages don’t. It’s quiet and not that run down or estate like. Resident, Somersham