Longthorpe, Peterborough

Longthorpe is a village in the city of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire in the United Kingdom. Located two miles (3 km) west from the city centre, the area covers 1,390 acres (563 hectares). For electoral purposes it forms part of Peterborough West ward.

A first century Roman fort was established at Longthorpe, it may have been as early as around AD 44–48 but was certainly present by 61–62. The first phase covered convert|27|acre|ha, this was later replaced by another fort measuring convert|11|acre|ha. [ [http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=364099 Monument No. 364099] National Monuments Record, English Heritage (retrieved 20 July 2008)]

The ecclesiastical parish was formed in 1850 from the parish of Saint John the Baptist. The church of Saint Botolph is a plain building of coarse rubble, dating from the thirteenth century, consisting of chancel, nave, aisles and a western bell cote, containing one bell. In the chancel is a piscina and aumbry, two other brackets and a piscina are in the south aisle and two brackets in the north aisle. [LONGTHORPE 1. 1500 Parish Church of St. Botolph TL 1698 12/3 7.2.52. A 2, see [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=49710&mode=quick Images of England No. 49710] National Monuments Record, English Heritage (retrieved 07 February 2007)] The church was restored in 1869 and will seat about 200 persons. The register dates from the year 1837; the earlier register is included in that of St. John the Baptist, Peterborough. [ [http://www.cromwellcollection.org.uk/cgi-bin/cambscoll/history.pl?term=Peterborough&category=village&exact=exact Peterborough with Longthorpe and Newark] [http://www.historicaldirectories.org/hd/pageviewer.asp?pnum=616&zoom=&dn=LUL5008tif&fn "Kelly's Directory of Northamptonshire"] (p.239) Kelly & Co., London, 1903]

Oliver St. John, a Lord Chief Justice who supported Parliament in the civil war, bought the lease of the manor of Longthorpe and built Thorpe Hall. In 1654 it was described by the author John Evelyn as "a stately place...built out of the ruins of the Bishop's Palace and cloisters." [Davies, Elizabeth et al. [http://www.peterborough.gov.uk/page-9568 Civil war and a return to peace] "Peterborough: A Story of City and Country, People and Places" (pp.18-19) Peterborough City Council and Pitkin Unichrome, 2001] It is a Grade I listed building, situated in a Grade II listed garden open to members of the public throughout the year.

Longthorpe Tower, a fourteenth century, three-storey tower and fortified manor house in the care of English Heritage, is also situated here. A Grade I listed building and scheduled ancient monument protected by law, it contains the finest and most complete set of domestic paintings of the period in northern Europe. [Salter, Mike "The Castles of East Anglia" (p.21) Folly Publications, Malvern, 2001] Exhibitions are held there from time to time by local artists.

Longthorpe contains a number of other listed buildings, including the old Manor House [LONGTHORPE 1. 1500 (South Side) Old Manor House TL 1690 12/58 7.2.52. II 2, see [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=49720&mode=quick Images of England No. 49720] National Monuments Record, English Heritage (retrieved 07 February 2007)] and Holy Well to south-east of the Manor House. [LONGTHORPE 1. 1500 (South Side) Holy Well to South-East of Manor House TL 1698 12/244 7.5.73. II 2, see [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=49719&mode=quick Images of England No. 49719] National Monuments Record, English Heritage (retrieved 07 February 2007)]

Longthorpe County Primary School is located in the village; secondary pupils attend nearby Jack Hunt School in Netherton.

References

ee also

*Thorpe Wood

External links

* [http://www.longthorpechurch.org.uk/ St. Botolph's Church]
* [http://www.longthorpe.peterborough.sch.uk/a.html Longthorpe School]