Local History

After the Romans left, Ramsey went through a very restless period with many Kings and leaders. It was not only invaded by British Tribes but also from abroad by Danes.  

A period of peace under Saxon Kings lasted for nearly 100 years and it was during this that the great Abbey of Ramsey was founded in 969 AD. Ailwyn, Duke of East Anglia is traditionally recorded as being responsible for this.  According to the Saxon Chronicle, on a visit to Glastonbury, he informed his host, Archbishop Oswold, that he had created a hermitage at Ramsey. Oswald encouraged Ailwyn and promised him a dozen monks and an experienced Prior to help him with his new venture.  Ailwyn returned to Ramsey and commenced his construction of the Abbey with the building of a wooden chapel dedicated to Our Lady, Saint Benedict and all Holy Virgins. Supported by his brother the king the Abbey thrived and grew.

In 975 AD just before his death King Edgar presented the Abbey with its Charter where all its rights and privileges were confirmed.

William the Conqueror was quick to confirm the Abbey's Charter which he did in 1077 and the Abbey was unusual in that he allowed it to keep its English Abbots, a privilege which continued until 1113.  The abbey was gradually rebuilt in the 12th century following its near destruction by forces opposed to King Stephen. Additions were made during the 13th century and into the 14th century, and the gatehouse was rebuilt in the 15th century. After the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539, the monastic buildings were sold off as a source of building materials, much of it being used by colleges at Cambridge. The use of the abbey as a quarry continued well into the 17th century. All that is now left is a fragment of the Great Gate of the monastery which, when perfect, must have been a fine specimen of a 15th century gatehouse.

Ramsey was once an island covered with woods that included alders, large quantities of elm, also sedges and bulrushes. At the time the Abbey was first built it was only accessible by boat across the mere (ancient word for lake) and then up stream. A causeway was built using wood, sand and stone to join it to firm ground to enable carts to be used to get to the settlement.

The current church of St Thomas á Becket was built in around 1180. A peculiar thing about this building is that it was not originally built as a church at all: instead it appears to have been as a hospitum - either a guesthouse or possibly a hospital. This was certainly dissolved before 1291, and then became the parish church.

Sadly, as time progressed, other towns in the region began to overshadow Ramsey. As these other towns grow, Ramsey, because of transport difficulties declined. The monks were reaping increased income from their interests in these other places, so only the town suffered. Eventually the market place was built over in the 15th century, the wharves of this small town unable to compete.

A fire in August 1639 burnt down a number of dwellings and therefore, no buildings have survived on this site, which pre-date this fire. Another fire burnt down parts of both Great Whyte and High Street but luckily this time some of the 17th century houses survived. Great Whyte is particularly wide, not because of the market, but because a stream ran through it. Work began on the tunneling of this stream in 1852.