Huntingdon is where the river Great Ouse
crosses the ancient Great North Road, the
main north-south through England, and these
factors brought it great wealth up to
medieval times. After that, Huntingdon’s
fortunes fluctuated; it was attacked during
the Civil War, but later regained prosperity as
a typical market town with handsome historic
buildings and a magnificent fourteenthcentury
bridge across the Great Ouse. As well
as its Cromwellian connections, Huntingdon is
also associated with Samuel Pepys, whose
patron Lord Montagu lived at Hinchingbrooke
House. It is now a school, with an arts centre,
country park and hospital in the grounds.
In recent years, the centre of Huntingdon has
undergone great alterations. The High Street
is now pedestrianised and the Market Place
has also had a facelift, along with the famous
Thinking Soldier War Memorial. This
regeneration has attracted many more
retailers to the town, with major names such
as Tesco, Sainsburys, Waitrose and Marks and
Spencer now in residence. Huntingdon, and
nearby St Ives and Sawtry, all have modern,
multi-sport leisure centres.