SAWSTON

66 High Street, Sawston

Cambridgeshire CB22 3BG

01223 836656

All services available by appointment only

Sawston has existed as a village for only about 400 to 600 years, but there is evidence that a settlement was in the area dating back to the bronze age about 5,000 years ago.

Sawston Hall, a Grade 1 Tudor manor house dating from the 16th century boasts many fine
original features including a fireplace dated 1571.

Mary Tudor spent the night at Sawston Hall before fleeing, dressed as a dairymaid, the next morning from the Duke of Northumberland’s soldiers in the Duke’s attempts to oust Mary and put Lady Jane Grey on the throne succeeding Edward VI. The soldiers set fire to the hall destroying large portions which were later rebuilt by Sir John and Edmond Huddleston using stone from Cambridge Castle under licence from the now Queen Mary.

The hall has seen many uses outside of political intrigue including as a setting for Michael Winner’s film The Nightcomers and as a headquarters of the 66th Fighter Wing, part of the USAAF Eighth Air Force during the Second World War.

Until 1815 Sawston had an ancient cross, reputedly erected by the Knights Templar with many purposes including as a place to mete out justice in the 13th century. Although the cross survived the civil wars it was torn down between the summer of 1815 and autumn 1816 by the villagers, along with an ancient sycamore and the stocks and amphitheatre – like enclosure and sold to make way for redevelopment.

More recently Sawston has been an area earmarked for redevelopment to meet the growing need
for housing and is home to the very first Village College, built by Henry Morris in 1930.