Arbury is a district and electoral ward of the city of Cambridge, England. The ward borders the following other wards (from North, proceeding clockwise): Histon, King's Hedges, West Chesterton, Market and Castle.

Arbury
Church of the Good Shepherd
Arbury Location within Cambridgeshire
OS grid reference	TL457611
Shire county	Cambridgeshire
Region	East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	CAMBRIDGE
Postcode district	CB4
Dialling code	01223
Police	Cambridgeshire
Fire	Cambridgeshire
Ambulance	East of England
UK Parliament	Cambridge
List of places UK England Cambridgeshire 52.2234°N 0.1170°E / 52.2234; 0.1170

History

The area has been occupied since at least Roman times. In the 1950s, stone coffins from the 2nd century were discovered, as well as the remains of a Roman villa and mausoleum.[1] In medieval times, a decaying circular earthwork of unknown age was visible just to the north of where Arbury Road meets Histon Road (now part of Orchard Park) and was known as Hardburgh, Arborough or Arbury Camp. The earthwork was formerly around 100 metres in length, though its western half (extending into Impington) was no longer visible by the start of the 19th century.[2] It is thought to have been an undefended Iron Age enclosure to protect animals from predators.[3]

In medieval times, the area was common land, and local peasants were permitted to graze their sheep on the meadow between Lammas and Lady Day. In the 17th and 18th centuries the meadows were dug for earth to make bricks.[2]

Arbury was historically part of the parishes of Chesterton and Impington. The area was developed by Cambridge City Council from 1957 as a housing estate of around 100 acres.[2]

Electoral ward boundaries have changed substantially over the years and continue to do so.[4] As a result, much of what was originally in Arbury Ward is now in Kings Hedges Ward, including the northern part of the original Arbury estate along with community facilities such as Arbury Community Centre.[5] The ward system in Arbury has little to do with historical facts - and re-warding has seen large areas placed in 'Arbury Ward' which have nothing to do with the original estate or the area's history - including Stretten Avenue, and Garden Walk. In the 're-warding' by Cambridge City Council in 2021, Arbury Ward 'Lost the Chesterton triangle, gained Garden Walk, Warwick Road area and Arbury Court'.[6]

Local life

The community is served by the Church of the Good Shepherd,[7] a red brick church designed by Stephen Dykes Bower. The chancel was built in 1958 and the nave in 1963–4. Opened in 1963, it became the parish church of its own parish in 1969. The Arbury community centre opened in 1974, which is also home to the Arbury Community Church.[2][8]

The Roman Catholic community of Arbury worship at St Laurence's church in Milton Road.

Arbury Court houses a post office, library, supermarket and other local shops. The Carlton Arms public house lies on Carlton Way,[9] which follows the route of the Roman Akeman Street. Crime rates are lower here than in many parts of central Cambridge.[10]

References