Chatteris

The market town of Chatteris lies in the Fenland area of the county of Cambridgeshire, surrounded by picturesque Fen landscapes and villages. There is a record of human activity here that dates back to the Neolithic times and it is said to have been the last refuge of Boudica. The Domesday Book of 1086 mentions Chatteris which was, for much of its history, a raised island in the low-lying wetland of the Fens. As with other towns in the Fens, the draining of the Fens around the start of the 17^th century led to improvements in both agricultural development and prosperity. Sadly for historians, much of the town was destroyed by a great fire in 1310 and later fires in 1706 and 1864 destroyed most of the medieval and Georgian architecture.

Chatteris does still have its history though, in the listed buildings from the Victorian period onwards. Today, Chatteris continues as a market town, with a market held every Friday as well as a yearly festival celebrating its heritage. Great pride is taken at Christmas with the renowned annual display of Christmas lights. For a closer look at this town, the local museum has exhibits that tell of the railway development, local history and life in the Fens.