Haddenham is a village and

civil parish In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government. Civil parishes can trace their origin to the ancient system of parishes, w ...

Cambridgeshire Cambridgeshire (abbreviated Cambs.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East of England and East Anglia. It is bordered by Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the north-east, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfor ...

, England. In the 2001 census the parish had a population of 3,228. The 2011 census reported a population of 3,344, a figure which includes the hamlet of

Aldreth Aldreth is a hamlet (place), hamlet in Cambridgeshire with about 260 residents (2001 census). It is located near the larger village of Haddenham, Cambridgeshire, Haddenham (where the population is listed) and falls under the same Parish counci ...

History

The Archaeology Data Service reports

Iron Age The Iron Age () is the final epoch of the three historical Metal Ages, after the Chalcolithic and Bronze Age. It has also been considered as the final age of the three-age division starting with prehistory (before recorded history) and progre ...

features such as ditches and possible roundhouses. Historical records of a

Saxon The Saxons, sometimes called the Old Saxons or Continental Saxons, were a Germanic people of early medieval "Old" Saxony () which became a Carolingian " stem duchy" in 804, in what is now northern Germany. Many of their neighbours were, like th ...

ecclesiastical manor suggest ''Haddeenham'' was a settlement in Saxon times. Nine Anglo-Saxon graves were discovered next to the Three Kings pub. During the Second World War, Haddenham was a

Starfish Starfish or sea stars are Star polygon, star-shaped echinoderms belonging to the class (biology), class Asteroidea (). Common usage frequently finds these names being also applied to brittle star, ophiuroids, which are correctly referred to ...

bombing decoy site, both K-type (day) and Q-type (night), which were used to divert

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

bombing away from

RAF Bomber Command RAF Bomber Command controlled the Royal Air Force's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. Along with the United States Army Air Forces, it played the central role in the Strategic bombing during World War II#Europe, strategic bombing of Germany in W ...

's nearby airfields.

Amenities

Haddenham has shops in the High Street, and one public house (The Three Kings), a beauty salon, GP's surgery, art gallery/center, a village hall known as the Arkenstall Centre, and a library that has been volunteer-run since 2003. Holy Trinity Church dates from the 13th century and was extensively remodelled in the 19th century. Haddenham Baptist chapel dates from the late 18th century and the present building from 1905. In September 2012, the village's new playpark was unveiled by Baroness Scott of Needham Market. Bus services run to the cathedral city of Ely, approximately north-east of the village.

Community

For over 40 years the village has hosted a Steam Rally, which attracts more than 20,000 visitors. The rally, with over 700 exhibits, is held in early September and raises money for local charities and causes. In 2013 it celebrated its 40th anniversary. The annual village open day was 'Blossoms & Bygones', a Haddenham local and visitor attraction held until 2013. The event also covered the neighbouring hamlet of Aldreth and included tractor rides around the village, tours of the windmill and orchards, vintage car and tractor displays and open private gardens. In 2011 it held its 40th anniversary event, with a

VE Day Victory in Europe Day is the day celebrating the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Germany's unconditional surrender of its armed forces on Tuesday, 8 May 1945; it marked the official surrender of all German military operations ...

theme and villagers in 1940s costume. Blossoms and Bygones has now been replaced by the Aldreth Vintage Fair.

Freedom of the Parish

The following people and military units have received the Freedom of the Parish of Haddenham.

Individuals

* Robert Norman: 14 July 2023.

References

External links

Village web site
{{authority control Villages in Cambridgeshire Civil parishes in Cambridgeshire East Cambridgeshire District