For everyone in Benwick you probably know all this stuff, or at least you should do. This page contains loads of information about Benwick as it is today. If anyone has any information that should be added to this page; or you know any of the information to be incorrect please contact me using the contact us page.
Benwick is a small rural village in the heart of Fenland; located approximately 15 miles away from Peterborough and 30 miles from Cambridge (view map of Benwick). Benwick comprises of around 330 houses and in 2001 the census showed the population to be around 860. Benwick has been its own parish since 1868, when it split from Doddington. The name Benwick is derived from "Farm by a Plank Bridge".
Benwick is a unique village, being the only village truly standing on black fen soil in England; however this has cost the village much of its history. The shrinking of the peat meant that many of the oldest house in the village leant at angles, so much so that doors had to be re-hung to counteract it. The Church began sinking even while it was being built in 1850, and
has since been demolished due to the damage. There are very few of the old houses left in the village, the oldest going back to the Victorian times, and in this day and age more are in jeopardy of being lost, not due to damage from shrinking soil, but from being demolished and new houses replacing them.
Benwick has few amenities to offer. The last of the Benwick shops closed down in 2007 - Benwick Post Office and Stores, there was once a multitude of shops down along the High Street, from Butchers and Bakers to Cobblers and Greengrocers. The Five Alls is the last of
Benwick County Primary School educates around 85 children aged 4-11 and was built in 1873, the head teacher is Gill Thomas, and since she became head mistress in 2003 the school has had one of its best Ofsted reports. The school has its own charity – Friends of Benwick School, who raise money to provide some extra curricular activities which the school budget cannot meet.
Benwick Village Hall was built in 1987, and is managed by the Village Hall Committee; it is available to be rented by anyone, with a discount for regular non-profit users.
Benwick no longer has its own Church, St. Mary’s was demolished in 1985, and the Wesleyan Chapel has been out of use since 2005 and sold recently. Friends of Benwick Church have been fundraising for many years with the aim of building a new place of worship for the village.
Benwick has a variety of groups for the community, The Over 60’s, Benwick Residents Association, Friends of Benwick Church, Turf Fen Charity, The Village Hall Committee, Friends of Benwick School, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, and more. Unfortunately there is no longer a Women’s Institute; it was the WI that supplied Benwick with the first village sign, and with the replacement.
There is only one bus which serves Benwick and that is the no. 38 to Wisbech Monday to Saturday. Benwick has its own bimonthly newsletter – The Benwick Bugle which was set up by Jane Leviki, it also has two websites (three if you include the Benwick Bugle’s) one of which is of course Lilyholt Road!
Benwick is a peaceful and quiet village, surrounded by acres of the black fenland soil, farming has been part of village life for hundreds of years. Due to the quality of the soil root crops do especially well.
Benwick carries much of its History in its road names, Whitehart Close was named because of the White Hart Pub which stood at the top of the road before it was built, Bakehouse close named as it was built on land behind the old Bakehouse. The Old Orchard, was a road which led to Orchards (obviously) though still on some maps this road is referred to as "Denmark Close" which was named after the developers of the houses. Fountain Close, named because the houses are built on land which once was owned by the Fountains, and his lorries were parked there for many many years. Neneside, River Close and Nene Parade are quite obviously named owing to the river Nene which flows through the village.
Some names have changed, Lilyholt Road was once called Back Road, and it joined onto Russell Road and New Road, which have now been amalgamated into Doddington Road. Cambridgeshire Row was once called The Lane.
About Benwick
Benwick Parish Council meets each month in the village hall, it consists of 7 elected members who quintessentially run Benwick, the next council up is Fenland District Council and higher still is Cambridgeshire County Council. We are in the Benwick, Coates and Turves ward of Fenland, and have two elected District councillors to represent us, Pam Potts and Ralph Butcher.
The Benwick Butterflies are the village playgroup, established in 1974; they got their own building in 2004 – the Benwick Children’s Centre, which is conveniently located next to the school.
Benwick has one of Fenland’s biggest scout movements, there is all the groups ranging from the Beavers to the Explorers, the groups meet in the village hall each week (term time) and are ran by volunteers.
