Littleport between Fenland and history

Littleport connects the history of its Fenland landscape with buildings and places of remembrance in the town. If you are interested in former waterways, architecture and local industrial history, there are several ways to explore the town’s past here. When planning your trip, you can decide whether the landscape and leisure history or Littleport’s buildings and collections will be your main focus.

Fenland landscape and changing waterways

Littleport lies on an island in the Fens, whose highest point is about 20 m above sea level. Fenland surrounds the town. The history of the Ouse also shows how the waterways have changed: in the past, the river followed the course of the Old Croft River through Littleport. Much of this former watercourse is now dry; the Ouse now follows the Ouse Cut, constructed in 1827.

The former and present river courses therefore belong to different chapters of the town’s history. If you want to get to know Littleport through more than its buildings, you can also explore this transformation of the Fenland landscape. The island’s approximate elevation and the Ouse’s former course provide two distinct points of reference: the town’s location in the Fens and the changes to the river’s course.

Buildings, history and collections

The Adams Heritage Centre is based in the J.H. Adams & Sons building. This Victorian commercial building is Grade II listed. From there, the centre promotes education and interest in the history of the Fens. Opened in 1893, the ironmongery building also serves as a central venue in Littleport for exhibitions, workshops and events. If you want to attend a particular event, check the relevant dates in advance.

The Church of St George represents another period in history: it is a parish church dating from the 14th and 15th centuries. One specific historical detail is its 15th-century limestone font. This offers a way to trace the building’s history through a single furnishing, rather than considering only the age of the church as a whole.

Littleport’s 19th-century history can also be read in one of its buildings: a factory from that century stands in the town centre and once housed the clothing manufacturer Hope Brothers Ltd. The factory became an important local employer of women and girls. By 1972, it had become a production site for Burberry trench coats. This history links a specific place with changes in work and manufacturing.

The evening of 22 May 1816 is significant in the history of the Littleport Riots: people in Littleport took a stand in connection with the unrest at that time. The original memorial stone associated with the Littleport Riots is held in the Littleport Society’s collection. The collection is housed in an archive on the first floor of The Barn, off Main Street. If you want to visit the archive, check the current access and appointment arrangements in advance.

Skating history and a town walk

Littleport’s leisure history is also linked to the Fens. On 26 December 1892, a fiercely contested Fen skating championship tournament began in the town, open to spectators and competitors from around the world. For the skating, Thomas Peacock levelled almost 40 acres of land at The Moors, on the north side of Littleport near the railway station. The tournament’s opening and the prepared ground show two different aspects of this skating history: the competition and the space created for it.

If you are interested in the town’s history, the Littleport Society offers a local history walk for small groups at various times throughout the year. It complements the architectural and landscape themes with a walk around the town. Ask about dates if you would like to include this option in your travel plans.

Choosing Littleport as a destination

When looking for a holiday rental in Littleport, you can use your interests to help decide: would you like to focus mainly on the waterways and skating history, or are buildings, industrial history and the collection your priority? These topics offer different ways to explore the town. Also consider whether a small-group walk fits your itinerary; it is offered at various times throughout the year. This helps you choose a destination based on the specific stories you would like to discover during your stay.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: March, Elton, Brampton, St Neots, Huntingdon, Six Mile Bottom, Old Hurst, Fulbourn.

For the main travel overview: Cambridgeshire.