History of Cambourne

Cambourne - South Cambridgeshire councillors Alan Wyatt and Shirley Saunders cut the ribbon to mark the start of development in 1998

South Cambs councillors Alan Wyatt and Shirley Saunders cut the ribbon to mark the start of development in 1998

IT is only just over a decade ago that Cambourne began to rise up in fields on the outskirts of Cambridge.

The master plan for what was then known as the “Super Village” was approved by councillors in 1996.

Groundwork began the following year, and then in September 1998, council bosses ceremonially cut a ribbon to mark the start of construction of some of the business premises.

A bird’s eye view of Cambourne in 1999

In May 1999, schoolchildren teamed up with the Cambridge Boat Race crew to mark the official launch of house-building. They buried a time capsule – scheduled to be dug up in 2099.

By the year 2000, several major business buildings had sprung up, and that year also saw the arrival of the first vicar, the Revd Carrie Pemberton, a fledgling Neighbourhood Watch scheme, and the news that funding had been earmarked to provide healthcare services.

The inaugural Cambourne Summer Festival burst on the scene in August 2001, and in that same month the village’s Eco Park, which featured three lakes intended to be havens for wildlife, was also opened. Cambourne’s unique 19mph speed signs, put up by developers to encourage new residents to drive safely, caused considerable amusement.

Highlights of 2002 including the cutting of the first sod for South Cambridgeshire District Council’s new headquarters, moving to Cambourne from Cambridge, and the much-heralded opening of Morrisons. More summer events were added to the calendar, including the Cambourne Fete.

As the number of houses swelled, there were worries about the lack of supporting community facilities and in 2003, residents staged a placard-waving protest calling for a community centre and games area.

But there was good news for drivers, with the opening of the new stretch of A428 dual carriageway near the village.

Cambourne - 1999 - Schoolchildren (left to right) Joanna Pass, Toby Smith and Aimee Paynter join South Cambridgeshire District Council chairman Alan Wyatt, and Cambridge Boat Race representative Tim Wooge in burying a time capsule

Schoolchildren (left to right) Joanna Pass, Toby Smith and Aimee Paynter join South Cambridgeshire District Council chairman Alan Wyatt, and Cambridge Boat Race representative Tim Wooge in burying a time capsule in 1999

The village’s first primary school, Monkfield Park, reached its fifth birthday in 2004, and in answer to residents’ complaints, there was progress on new amenities – a skateboard park was established, and the building that would house the library and doctors’ surgery was erected.

Cambourne got its first Royal visitor in 2005. The Duke of Edinburgh came along to officially open several community and local council buildings.

The village’s rising population also saw lots more community events in the summer months, including a sports day in June, and a very popular teddy bears picnic.

After many years of being “dry”, the village was able to toast the opening of its long-awaited pub in 2006. The Monkfield Arms pulled its first pints in September.

Younger folk also got what they had been asking for – a youth club. And Cambourne’s green credentials were praised by Environment Minister Elliott Morley on a visit.

Cambourne - 2000 – The Revd Carrie Pemberton becomes the village’s first vicar, licensed by the Rt Revd John Flack, Bishop of Huntingdon

In 2000, the Revd Carrie Pemberton became the village’s first vicar, licensed by the Rt Revd John Flack

More new amenities appeared in 2007, including a pavilion for Cambourne cricket club, and – at last – some playing fields for the Vine primary school, which had opened two years earlier.

Cambourne's new business park as pictured in 2000

The Bovis Homes moustache-growing contest, in aid of Children in Need, showed many residents had a stiff upper lip.

A new Children’s Centre was opened in 2008, and that same year, Cambourne’s fete had a special theme – the village’s 10th birthday.

The year came to a traditional, cosy climax on the green in Lower Cambourne, with open-air carol-singing and mulled wine.

The year 2009 has seen more firsts – the creation of a nature walk by the Wildlife Trust, and the running of the inaugural Cambourne 10km Run.

The village has also hit the headlines, after it emerged that it had a higher birth rate than the world’s most densely-populated nations.

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