Located in the county of Cambridgeshire, and around 60 miles north of London, is the town of St Ives (not to be confused with the town of St Ives in Cornwall).
During the Saxon era, the settlement was known originally as Slepe. Sometime around 1001-1002 AD a peasant is said to have discovered the remains of Ivo of Ramsey, a Cornish Celtic Christian Bishop and hermit, while ploughing a field. St Ivo was said to have died here around 600 AD. The discovery of his remains led to the foundation of St Ivo's Priory on the site, attracting many pilgrims.
The town's first charter was granted in 1110 by Henry I, allowing it to host a fair for eight days each Easter. The St Ives Easter fair went on to become one of the four biggest fairs in England during the 13th century.
In 1107 the monks of Ramsey Abbey (Ramsey being a neighbouring town) built a wooden bridge across the River Great Ouse which runs through St Ives. In 1414 it was decided to replace this bridge with a stone arch bridge, which was completed in 1425. In 1426 a chapel was built on the bridge, dedicated to St Leger. This makes it one of only four bridges in England with a chapel attached (the other three being at Rotherham, Wakefield and Bradford-on-Avon). The location of the bridge at the last natural crossing point on the river, around 50 miles from the sea, made it a key source of income for St Ives during the medieval era, as it was tolled, and many drovers brought their livestock to the market from the surrounding countryside.
Between 1631 and 1636 Oliver Cromwell lived on a farmstead in St Ives after selling most of his properties in the neighbouring town of Huntingdon where he was born. This quiet life is said to have triggered a spiritual awakening in Cromwell. However, in 1636 he left for Ely after inheriting yet more property. Cromwell would of course lead the Parliamentarians during the English Civil War, after which he became Lord Protector of the short-lived republic of England, Scotland and Ireland. A statue of Oliver Cromwell is seen in the town centre of St Ives. This was placed in 1901, following a rejection of a like-for-like statue to be placed in Huntingdon where he was born, perhaps owing to his controversial legacy, particularly in regards to the Irish campaign of 1649-1650.
At the western end of the town is All Saints Parish Church. This is seen at the end of the walk. Most of the building that stands today dates from the late 15th century. The spire has been rebuilt multiple times over the centuries. One notable occasion was in March of 1918 when a student pilot from the nearby Royal Flying Corps station in the nearby village of Wyton (now RAF Wyton) died in a tragic accident as he crashed into the spire. The other church with the tall spire in town is St Ives Free Church. This is seen from the start of the walk, and dates back to 1864.
Between the 17th and 19th century St Ives became a key hub for trading. Goods were transported across the River Great Ouse and waterways via horse-drawn barges. Typically, coal was brought in from the port of King's Lynn and corn was transported in the opposite direction. Livestock was sent south to Smithfield Market in London. The architecture around the quay is indicative of the prosperity of St Ives during this period.
In 1847 the railway arrived in St Ives, courtesy of the Great Eastern Railway. This was a junction station which had links to Cambridge to the southeast, Ely to the north and Huntingdon to the west. In 1970 it fell victim to the Beeching Axe which saw over 2000 stations across Britain closed to make way for increased road usage via the then brand new motorways. The station was demolished in 1977 and is now occupied by the St Ives Park and Ride area just to the right of where the walk starts on Station Road, hence the street name.
Historically St Ives was part of Huntingdonshire up until 1974.
The 18th century riddle "as I was going to St Ives" is thought to allude to either this town or St Ives in Cornwall. At the time both were well-established towns so are equally likely settings. The riddle was featured in the 1995 movie Die Hard with a Vengeance.
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Filmed: 26th February 2022
Link to the walk on Google Maps: goo.gl/maps/aVizaQYoZnnBHhMn6
Filmed on a Sony FDR-AX700 with a Zhiyun Crane 2 and a Sony ECM-XYST1M Stereo Microphone.
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Station Road
1:26 Market Hill
2:11 The Pavement
2:41 Oliver Cromwell Statue
2:48 The Pavement
3:19 Crown Street
4:44 The Broadway
4:58 Merryland
5:50 Bridge Street
7:00 St Ives Bridge (built 15th century)
7:04 River Great Ouse
7:14 St Ives Bridge (built 15th century)
7:40 River Great Ouse
7:52 St Ives Bridge (built 15th century)
8:36 Bridge Street
9:52 Merryland
10:38 The Broadway
12:19 The Waits
15:25 Ramsey Road
16:09 Church Place
16:23 All Saints Parish Church
16:48 Church Place
17:03 All Saints Parish Church