Editing Sutton-in-the-Isle (section)

==History==

The village was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, identified as ''Sudtone''. There were then 9 sokemen, 8 villeins (each with 7.5 acres), 15 cotters and 7 serfs.

In 1109, the charter 51 of Bishop Hervey included ''Suttune'' in the lands recorded as being conferred upon the Cathedral Priory of Ely. According to the Ely Diocesan Register, the Manor of Sutton was established in 1292 and belonged to the Priory. In 1312, Sutton was granted the right to hold a street market each Thursday; this was held on the broader part of the High Street, outside what is now the One Stop Shop. During the 14th century, the Sutton resident Reginald de Beringhale also became a major landowner, further developing his father's programme of land acquisition.

The vicarage of St Andrew's was instituted in 1254, and the re-building of the church started between 1350 and 1360. It was completed by 1388.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=St Andrew, Sutton in the Isle |url=https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/church/st-andrew-sutton-isle |access-date=5 May 2023 |website=National Churches Trust}}</ref> With two octagons atop each other crowning its square tower, it is reminiscent of [[Ely Cathedral]], from whom it enjoyed patronage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cambridgeshire Churches, Sutton, St Andrew |url=http://www.druidic.org/camchurch/churches/sutton.htm |access-date=5 May 2023 |website=Druidic}}</ref> It has a distinctively shaped tower that is often described as being in the shape of a pepper pot. Several non-conformist chapels once also existed in the village. These included a [[Methodist]] chapel constructed in 1790, following a visit by [[John Wesley]] in 1774, and a [[Baptist]] chapel built in the same century. Both of these closed in recent decades, leaving the [[Anglican]] church as the sole place of worship.

By 1599, the village was so prosperous that it became known as "Golden Sutton." In 1800, it had a population of about 950, quickly rising to 1,862 by 1851.

Although a school had been established in the village in 1579, under William Heye, it was not until 1860 that the first purpose-built school building opened. John Taylor was the first headmaster for the boys, and his wife was the headmistress for the girls. The school continues to this day and has expanded to serve the village's growing population.

A railway station was opened in 1866, with the [[Great Eastern Railway]] inaugurating passenger-train services to [[Ely, Cambridgeshire|Ely]] on 16 April. The railway line was later extended round the edge of the fen to [[Earith Bridge railway station|Earith Bridge]] and onto [[St Ives, Cambridgeshire|St Ives]], with this branch opening on 11 May 1878.  The combined line was then reorganised to become the [[Ely and St Ives Railway]]. The branch to St Ives was closed on 6 October 1958, followed by the line to Ely on 13 July 1964, as part of the [[Beeching Axe]].

In 1942, with the increase in bomber operations in World War II, work began on [[RAF Mepal]] between the villages of Sutton and [[Mepal]]. 
The airfield opened in 1943 and remained operational for the rest of the war.

During the 1960s, the Sutton Gault hamlet was the site of one of the world's first [[Tracked Hovercraft|tracked hovercraft]], designed by [[Eric Laithwaite]]. A [[linear induction motor]] propelled this hovertrain and ran alongside the Old Bedford River, on a one-mile section of air-cushion trackway.

In 1984, Sutton Village was given a bypass. In 2002, it won the East Cambs, Cambridgeshire and Calor England and Wales Village of the Year awards.

The village has known a variety of businesses throughout its history. It was once well known for fruit-growing, but has also been a place for cheese production. Later, it manufactured road sweepers, and now it hosts a monthly auction of construction and agricultural equipment, which is the largest of its kind in Europe. In addition, a straw-burning power station was opened in 1996.