Discover Soham

For a stay in Soham, local history and water landscapes offer different points of interest. The site of St Andrew's Church has been in use for more than 1,300 years. Christian services are held there. The present church building dates back to the early 12th century. Northfield Windmill tells a different story: it was used for drainage, later moved, and today is a three-storey corn mill. Soham Mere and the Soham Lode add to the landscape. If you are looking for a hotel in Soham, these themes can help you shape your stay around your interests: church history, mill construction, or a walk by the waterway.

St Andrew's Church: church site and building

Christian services have been held at the site of St Andrew's Church for more than 1,300 years; the present church building dates back to the early 12th century. These details describe different aspects: the long-standing use of the church site and the origins of the building. St Felix founded an abbey there in 631 AD; it is said to have been endowed by Sigeberht, King of East Anglia.

The Church of St Andrew in Soham is a Grade I listed building. A memorial plaque in St Andrew's Church commemorates the marriage of Olaudah Equiano and Susannah Cullen there on 7 April 1792. The church's historical associations thus extend from its early abbey history to a precisely dated event in the 18th century.

Northfield Windmill: a history of technical development

At Northfield Windmill, the focus is on the design and transformation of a single structure. Originally an early 18th-century smock windmill, it was used for drainage. In the 19th century, it was moved to its present site and raised on a brick base. Today, it is a three-storey corn mill. The stages are clearly distinct: the original mill type and its purpose were followed by its relocation and its present description as a corn mill. Unlike the long-standing use of the church site, the windmill is notable above all for its architectural development.

Soham Mere, the Soham Lode and the Fen Edge Trail

Soham Mere is documented from the 11th century. The Soham Lode offers a different point of interest: this waterway carries the water of the River Snail, a chalk stream, through the town. The Fen Edge Trail section from Soham to Fordham follows the Soham Lode. This establishes a specific connection between this section of the route and the waterway. Check the route conditions before setting out. The Mere offers its own historical perspective; for planning a walk, the Lode and the section of the trail that follows it are the more direct points of interest.

Group walks

Soham Heritage & Tourism runs selected walks for groups and organisations throughout the year; booking is required. If you are travelling together, allow for this when planning. The group walks and the Fen Edge Trail offer different points of interest: the walks are specifically for groups, while the trail includes a particular section from Soham to Fordham along the Soham Lode.

Discover more destinations: Stilton, Sawtry, Willingham, Hinxton, Little Wilbraham, Yaxley, Cambridge, Huntingdon

See the main travel guide: Cambridgeshire.