Editing Huntingdon

{{Short description|Former county town of Huntingdonshire}}
{{about|the town in England}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox UK place
| type = [[Market town]]
| country = England
| static_image_name = cmglee Huntingdon town hall war memorial.jpg
| static_image_alt = 
| static_image_caption = [[Huntingdon Town Hall]] and ''The Thinking Soldier'' War Memorial
| coordinates = {{coord|52.3364|-0.1717|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| official_name = Huntingdon
| population = 25,428
| population_ref = (2021 Census)<ref name="bua2011">{{cite web |title=Huntingdon |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/eastofengland/admin/huntingdonshire/E04012030__huntingdon/ |website=City population |access-date=25 October 2022}}</ref>
| shire_district = [[Huntingdonshire]]
| shire_county = [[Cambridgeshire]]
| region = East of England
| constituency_westminster = [[Huntingdon (UK Parliament constituency)|Huntingdon]]
| parts_type = Areas of the town
| p1 = [[Hartford, Cambridgeshire|Hartford]]
| p2 = [[Sapley]]
| p3 = Stukeley Meadows
| p4 = Town Centre
| post_town = HUNTINGDON
| postcode_district = PE28, PE29
| postcode_area = PE
| dial_code = 01480
| os_grid_reference = TL245725
}}

'''Huntingdon''' is a [[market town]] in the [[Huntingdonshire]] district of [[Cambridgeshire]], England. The town was given its [[town charter]] by [[John, King of England|King John]] in 1205. It was the [[county town]] of the historic county of Huntingdonshire. [[Oliver Cromwell]] was born there in 1599<ref name="EB1911"/> and became one of its [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Members of Parliament]] (MP) in 1628. The former [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] (1990–1997) [[John Major]] served as its MP from [[1979 United Kingdom general election|1979]] until his retirement in [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001]].

==History==
During the [[Roman Empire]], in 274, a massive [[coin hoard]] dating to the reign of [[Tetricus I]] and Roman Emperor [[Aurelian]] was hidden in the grounds of the town. Consisting of 9,724 [[Roman coins]], and discovered in 2018, the [[Muddy hoard|Muddy Hoard]] is considered to date the largest treasure trove of Cambridgeshire.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-12-19 |title=Detectorist finds 10,000 Roman coins in Huntingdon hoard |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-59665406 |access-date=2023-09-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Museum |first=The British |last2=Street |first2=Great Russell |last3=T: +4420 73238618 |first3=London WC1B 3DG |title=Record ID: CAM-A0ECFB - ROMAN hoard |url=https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/901810/recordtype/artefacts |access-date=2023-09-22 |website=The Portable Antiquities Scheme |language=en}}</ref>

Huntingdon was founded by the [[Anglo-Saxons]] and [[Danes (Germanic tribe)|Danes]]. It is first mentioned in the [[Anglo-Saxon Chronicle]] in 921, where it appears as ''Huntandun''. It appears as ''Huntedun'' in the [[Domesday Book]] of 1086. The name means "The huntsman's hill" or possibly "Hunta's hill".<ref>[[Eilert Ekwall]], ''The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names'', p. 258.</ref>

Huntingdon seems to have been a staging post for Danish raids outside [[East Anglia]] until 917, when the Danes moved to [[Tempsford]], now in [[Bedfordshire]], before they were crushed by [[Edward the Elder]]. It prospered successively as a bridging point of the [[River Great Ouse]], a market town, and in the 18th and 19th centuries a [[Stagecoach|coaching]] centre, notably at the ''George Hotel''. The town has [[Old Bridge, Huntingdon|a well-preserved medieval bridge]] that used to serve as the main route of [[Ermine Street]] over the river. The bridge only ceased to be the sole crossing point to [[Godmanchester]] in 1975, with the building of what is now the [[A1307 road|A1307]] (formerly [[A14 road (Great Britain)|A14]]) [[Bypass route|bypass]].

[[File:Sebastopol cannon Huntingdon uk.jpg|thumb|right|Sebastopol cannon]]
The town's valuable trading position was secured by [[Huntingdon Castle]], of which only the earthworks of the [[motte]] survive. The site is a [[Scheduled Ancient Monument]] and home to a [[beacon]] used to mark the 400th anniversary of the [[Spanish Armada]].

In 1746, the nurserymen Wood and Ingram of nearby [[Brampton, Cambridgeshire|Brampton]] developed an [[elm]]-tree cultivar, ''[[Ulmus × hollandica 'Vegeta']]'', which they named the Huntingdon Elm after the town.<ref>Louis John Drake. ''Wood and Ingram: A Huntingdonshire Nursery 1742-1950''.</ref>

Original documents on Huntingdon's history, including the borough [[charter]] of 1205, are held by [[Cambridgeshire Archives and Local Studies]] at the County Record Office, Huntingdon.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/leisure/archives/visiting/crohuntingdon.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=2009-03-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081223233329/http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/leisure/archives/visiting/crohuntingdon.htm |archive-date=23 December 2008 |df=dmy-all}} ''cambridgeshire.gov.uk''</ref>

Parts of Huntingdon, including the centre, were struck by [[1981 United Kingdom tornado outbreak|an F1/T3 tornado]] on 23 November 1981, during a record-breaking nationwide tornado outbreak on that day.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.eswd.eu/cgi-bin/eswd.cgi |title=European Severe Weather Database}}</ref> The centre suffered moderate damage.

Between the railway station and the old hospital building, stands a replica cannon installed in the 1990s to replace one from the [[Crimean War]], scrapped for the war effort in the [[Second World War]]. However, it faces in the opposite direction from the original. [[St Mary's Street drill hall, Huntingdon|St Mary's Street drill hall]] was built in the late 19th century.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.godmanchester.co.uk/all-articles/17-organisations/hunts-cyclists/34-the-huntingdonshire-cyclist-battalions-1914-1919 |title=The Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalions 1914–1919|publisher=Porch Museum |access-date=20 September 2017}}</ref>

===George Hotel===

The George Hotel on the corner of High Street and George Street was once a posting house. It was named after [[Saint George]] of England in 1574 and bought some 25 years later by Henry Cromwell, grandfather of [[Oliver Cromwell]].<ref name="EB1911"/> King [[Charles I of England|Charles I]] made the George his headquarters during the [[English Civil War]] in 1645. Later the highwayman [[Dick Turpin]] is said to have been a customer when it was a coaching inn on the [[Great North Road (Great Britain)|Great North Road]]. A theatre was built to the rear of the George in about 1799. The Lincoln company of actors managed by [[Thomas Shaftoe Robertson]] and later [[Fanny Robertson]] performed here in race weeks.<ref>{{cite book|title=Treading the Boards |last=Wright |first=Neil R |year=2016 |page=141 |publisher=SLHA}}</ref> Two wings of the inn burnt down in the mid-19th century, but two were saved, including one with a balcony overlooking the yard. Since 1959, the courtyard and balcony have been used for [[Shakespeare]] performances by a company run by the Shakespeare at the George Trust. These performances took place until 2024 when the Green King company who run the George Hotel decided it was not in their best interest to continue Shakespeare at the George, ending its 65-year run.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.satg.org.uk |title=Shakespeare at the George |website=satg.org.uk |access-date=19 November 2017}}</ref>

<gallery class=center mode=nolines widths=180 heights=180>
File:The George Hotel, Huntingdon courtyard 1574 sides.jpg|The George Hotel's courtyard with balcony later used in Shakespeare play productions
File:The George Hotel, Huntingdon courtyard 1574 sides through arch.jpg|The George Hotel's courtyard, 1574 sides, through carriage arch
File:The George Hotel, Huntingdon 19th century sides from High Street.jpg|The George Hotel's 19th century sides, rebuilt after a fire, from the High Street
</gallery>

==Government==
[[File:UK Huntingdon.jpg|thumb|Huntingdon welcome sign]]
Huntingdon has a town council with 19 councillors elected every four years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Huntingdon Town Council: Councillors |url=http://www.huntingdontown.gov.uk/councillors.html |website=huntingdontown.gov.uk |publisher=Huntingdon Town Council |access-date=8 February 2016}}</ref> Two of them serve also as mayor and deputy mayor.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Huntingdon Town Council: Mayor of Huntingdon |url=http://www.huntingdontown.gov.uk/mayor-of-huntingdon.html |website=huntingdontown.gov.uk |publisher=Huntingdon Town Council |access-date=8 February 2016 |archive-date=1 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101145132/https://www.huntingdontown.gov.uk/mayor-of-huntingdon.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Meetings are normally held once a month at [[Huntingdon Town Hall]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Huntingdon Town Council: council meetings |url=http://www.huntingdontown.gov.uk/council-meetings.html |website=huntingdontown.gov.uk |publisher=Huntingdon Town Council |access-date=8 February 2016 |archive-date=1 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101100357/https://www.huntingdontown.gov.uk/council-meetings.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[Huntingdonshire District Council elections|Huntingdonshire District Council]] has three wards: ''Huntingdon North'', ''Huntingdon East'' and ''Huntingdon West''.<ref name=OSelec>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/#|title=Ordnance Survey Election Maps|website=ordnancesurvey.co.uk|publisher=Ordnance Survey|access-date=4 February 2016}}</ref> The three wards each have two councillors.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.huntsdc.gov.uk/council-democracy/meetings-and-decision-making/councillors/ |title=Huntingdonshire District Council: Councillors |website=huntsdc.gov.uk |publisher=Huntingdonshire District Council |access-date=4 February 2016}}</ref> The main offices of Huntingdonshire District Council are in Huntingdon itself.

The third tier of local government is [[Cambridgeshire County Council]] providing county-wide services such as roads, education, social services, libraries and heritage protection.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk |title=Cambridgeshire County Council |website=cambridgeshire.gov.uk |publisher=Cambridgeshire County Council |access-date=23 February 2016}}</ref> Huntingdon is one of 60 electoral divisions,<ref name=OSelec/> represented by two county councillors.<ref name=CCC1>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/info/20087/councillors_and_meetings/313/county_councillors |title=Cambridgeshire County Council: Councillors |website=cambridgeshire.gov.uk |publisher=Cambridgeshire County Council |access-date=15 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222112615/http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/info/20087/councillors_and_meetings/313/county_councillors |archive-date=22 February 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The fourth tier of local government is [[Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority]], which is headed by a mayor. The Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough is Dr [[Nik Johnson]].<ref name="combined">{{Cite web |title=Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority |url=https://cambridgeshirepeterborough-ca.gov.uk/ |access-date=2023-07-10 |website=Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority |language=en-US}}</ref>

Huntingdon lies in the [[parliamentary constituency]] of [[Huntingdon (UK Parliament constituency)|the same name]] (formerly [[Huntingdonshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Huntingdonshire]]). [[Ben Obese-Jecty]] [[Member of parliament|MP]] [[Conservative Party (UK)|(Conservative)]] was elected to this seat in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] in 2024, replacing [[Jonathan Djanogly]].<ref name=OSelec/>

==Geography==
The town lies on the north bank of the [[River Great Ouse]] opposite [[Godmanchester]] and close to the market town of [[St Ives, Cambridgeshire|St Ives]] to the east and the village of [[Brampton, Cambridgeshire|Brampton]] to the west. Huntingdon incorporates the village of [[Hartford, Cambridgeshire|Hartford]] to the east and the developing areas of Oxmoor, Stukeley Meadows and Hinchingbrooke to the north and west.

Between Godmanchester, Huntingdon and Brampton lies [[Portholme|Portholme Meadow]], England's largest.<ref>[http://www.huntingdon-town.info/portholme.htm http://www.huntingdon-town.info/portholme.htm] ''huntingdon-town.info''</ref> Its {{convert|257|acre|abbr=off}} contain many rare species of grass, flowers and [[dragonfly]]. It is the only known British habitat of the marsh dandelion. It acts as a natural reservoir for water in times of flood, enabling the river to run off slowly, so helping to preclude flooding in nearby towns. It has also served as a horse racecourse and once was a centre for aviation.

===Business===
Huntingdon is home to many local businesses, including [[Huntingdon Racecourse]]. Hinchingbrooke Business Park also contains offices and warehouses.

===Climate===
The nearest weather station for long-term data is at [[RAF Wyton]], {{cvt|3|mi|sigfig=1}} north-east of the town centre. More recently Monks Wood, {{cvt|5|mi|sigfig=1}} to the north-west, has also provided data.

Like most of Britain, Huntingdon has a temperate, maritime climate free of temperature extremes, with rainfall spread fairly evenly over the year. The absolute maximum recorded at Wyton was {{cvt|35.4|C}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/monitordetail.php?seasonid=0&year=1990&indexid=TXx&stationid=2122 |title=> 1990 Maximum |access-date=2011-02-25 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305110526/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/monitordetail.php?seasonid=0&year=1990&indexid=TXx&stationid=2122 |url-status=dead }}</ref> in August 1990; the temperature at Monks Wood rose in July 2006 to {{cvt|35.1|C}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/interesting/july2006/MaxTemp1907Points_jpeg.JPG |title=> July 2006 |access-date=2011-02-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629215609/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/interesting/july2006/MaxTemp1907Points_jpeg.JPG |archive-date=29 June 2011 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> The mean annual warmest day is {{convert|29.7|C}},<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=TXx&stationid=2122 |title=> The mean annual warmest day |access-date=2011-02-25 |archive-date=11 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011160914/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=TXx&stationid=2122 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and on 16 days a year will rise to {{cvt|25.1|C}} or above.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=SU&stationid=2122 |title=>25c days |access-date=2011-02-25 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304095322/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=SU&stationid=2122 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Typically 43.2 nights of the year report an air frost.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=FD&stationid=2122 |title=air frost incidence |access-date=2011-02-25 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304095337/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=FD&stationid=2122 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The absolute minimum at Wyton was {{cvt|-16.1|C}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/monitordetail.php?seasonid=0&year=1982&indexid=TNn&stationid=2122 |title=1982 minimum |access-date=2011-02-25 |archive-date=8 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308043751/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/monitordetail.php?seasonid=0&year=1982&indexid=TNn&stationid=2122 |url-status=dead }}</ref> in January 1982. The mean for the annual coldest night of the year is {{cvt|-7.7|C}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=TNn&stationid=2122 |title=Mean annual coldest night |access-date=2011-02-25 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304201139/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=TNn&stationid=2122 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

With annual rainfall at under {{convert|550|mm|frac=2|abbr=off}} a year,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=RR&stationid=2122 |title=Annual average rainfall |access-date=2011-02-25 |archive-date=24 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724160808/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=RR&stationid=2122 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the Huntingdon area is among the driest in the UK—103.4 days on average record at least 1&nbsp;mm of rain.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=RR1&stationid=2122 |title=Annual average wetdays |access-date=2011-02-25 |archive-date=24 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724160815/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1971-2000&indexid=RR1&stationid=2122 |url-status=dead }}</ref> All averages mentioned refer to the period 1971–2000.

{{Weather box
 | width       = auto
 | metric first = yes
 | single line = yes
 | location    = Monks Wood (1991–2020)
 | Jan high C = 7.6
 | Feb high C = 8.4
 | Mar high C = 11.1
 | Apr high C = 14.1
 | May high C = 17.2
 | Jun high C = 20.0
 | Jul high C = 22.6
 | Aug high C = 22.5
 | Sep high C = 19.5
 | Oct high C = 15.2
 | Nov high C = 10.7
 | Dec high C = 7.8
 | year high C = 14.8
 | Jan low C = 1.4
 | Feb low C = 1.4
 | Mar low C = 2.6
 | Apr low C = 4.2
 | May low C = 6.8
 | Jun low C = 9.9
 | Jul low C = 11.9
 | Aug low C = 12.0
 | Sep low C = 10.0
 | Oct low C = 7.4
 | Nov low C = 4.2
 | Dec low C = 1.8
 | year low C = 6.2
 | rain colour = green
 | Jan rain mm = 48.7
 | Feb rain mm = 37.4
 | Mar rain mm = 37.8
 | Apr rain mm = 42.7
 | May rain mm = 45.5
 | Jun rain mm = 52.3
 | Jul rain mm = 55.9
 | Aug rain mm = 56.0
 | Sep rain mm = 52.6
 | Oct rain mm = 63.2
 | Nov rain mm = 57.0
 | Dec rain mm = 53.3
 | year rain mm = 602.3
 | unit rain days = 1 mm
 | Jan rain days = 10.5
 | Feb rain days = 9.2
 | Mar rain days = 8.7
 | Apr rain days = 8.6
 | May rain days = 8.1
 | Jun rain days = 8.7
 | Jul rain days = 8.2
 | Aug rain days = 8.8
 | Sep rain days = 8.5
 | Oct rain days = 10.0
 | Nov rain days = 11.1
 | Dec rain days = 10.5
 | year rain days = 111.1
 | Jan sun = 57.4
 | Feb sun = 80.6
 | Mar sun = 118.8
 | Apr sun = 159.3
 | May sun = 191.8
 | Jun sun = 184.5
 | Jul sun = 195.0
 | Aug sun = 184.0
 | Sep sun = 147.3
 | Oct sun = 111.9
 | Nov sun = 66.9
 | Dec sun = 57.7
 | year sun = 1555.2
| source 1 = [[Met Office]]<ref name="Met Office normals">{{cite web
|url = https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/gcrf4enk4
|title = Monks Wood (Cambridgeshire) UK climate averages - Met Office
|publisher = Met Office
|access-date = July 21, 2024}}</ref>
}}

==Demography==
===Population===
Between 1801 and 1901, the current area of Huntingdon consisted of four parishes: Huntingdon All Saints, Huntingdon St Benedict, Huntingdon St John and Huntingdon St Mary. The populations of these were counted in the ten-year [[Census in the United Kingdom|UK census]] and ranged in the period between 2,368 in 1801 and 4,735 in 1891.<ref name= Camin>{{Cite web |title=Historic Census figures Cambridgeshire to 2011 |publisher=Cambridgeshire Insight |website=cambridgeshireinsight.org.uk |access-date=12 February 2016 |url=http://www.cambridgeshireinsight.org.uk/file/2001/download |format=xlsx – download |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215102922/http://www.cambridgeshireinsight.org.uk/file/2001/download |archive-date=15 February 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> (The census was omitted in 1941.)

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!Parish
!1911
!1921
!1931
!1951
!1961
!1971
!1981
!1991
!2001
!2011 
|-
|align="left"|Huntingdon
|align="center"|4,464
|align="center"|4,644
|align="center"|4,570
|align="center"|5,282
|align="center"|
|align="center"|
|align="center"|14,648
|align="center"|15,451
|align="center"|20,099
|align="center"|23,732
|-
|colspan=11|All population census figures are taken from the report ''Historic Census figures Cambridgeshire to 2011'' by ''Cambridgeshire Insight''.<ref name=Camin/> For the censuses of 1961 and 1971, Huntingdon was combined with Godmanchester.
|}

In 2011, the parish covered an area of {{convert|2765|acre|0|abbr=off}}.<ref name=Camin/> The population density in that year was {{convert|5,493.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|abbr=off}}.

==Culture and community==

[[File:Huntingdon Old Bridge.jpg|thumb|The [[Old Bridge, Huntingdon|Old Bridge]] across the [[River Great Ouse|Great Ouse]], to [[Godmanchester]] ]]

The former [[Literary and Scientific Institute, Huntingdon|Literary and Scientific Institute]] is now Commemoration Hall.

Following the 2013 closure of [[RAF Brampton]], once home to Headquarters [[RAF Support Command]], there are two operational [[RAF]] stations within {{convert|4|mi|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} of the town: [[RAF Wyton]], once a major flying station but now a facility of the [[Defence Equipment and Support]] arm of the MOD; and [[RAF Alconbury]] currently occupied by the [[United States Air Force]].

=== Cromwell Museum ===

{{main|Cromwell Museum}}

Part of the medieval infirmary hall of St Johns in the market place became [[Huntingdon Grammar School]]. It was attended by Cromwell and by the diarist [[Samuel Pepys]]. The building is now the [[Cromwell Museum]], run by [[Cambridgeshire County Council]].{{-}}

<gallery class=center mode=nolines widths=180 heights=180>
File:Cromwell Museum, Huntingdon from the High Street.jpg|12th century face of the Cromwell Museum from the High Street
File:cmglee Huntingdon Cromwell Museum.jpg|Detail of the interior
File:Cromwell Museum with infilled arches and doorway.jpg|Corner view, showing infilled arches and doorway of the former monastic spital for reuse as Grammar School
File:Model of Monastic Spital that preceded Huntingdon Grammar School and Cromwell Museum.jpg|Model of spital that preceded the Grammar School. Arches support the [[nave]], giving access to the now-demolished side buildings. Only the left-hand end of the nave survives.
</gallery>

===Legends===

[[Hinchingbrooke House]], once a convent, is said to be haunted. The bridge over the Alconbury Brook named Nun's Bridge is said also to be haunted, by one of the nuns who once lived at the convent.<ref>[http://www.francisfrith.com/huntingdon/photos/nuns-bridge-1901_46623/ http://www.francisfrith.com/huntingdon/photos/nuns-bridge-1901_46623/] ''francisfrith.com''</ref> She is said often to be accompanied by another ghost that resembles a nurse. The myth goes that the nun had a monk lover who caused them to be murdered.

==Media==
Local news and television programmes are provided by [[BBC East]] and [[ITV Anglia]]. Television signals are received from the [[Sandy Heath transmitting station|Sandy Heath]] TV transmitter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Sandy_Heath|title=Full Freeview on the Sandy Heath (Central Bedfordshire, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|access-date=22 November 2023}}</ref>

Local radio stations are [[BBC Radio Cambridgeshire]], [[Heart East]],[[Greatest Hits Radio East]], [[Star Radio (Cambridge and Ely)|Star Radio]] and [[Huntingdon Community Radio|HCR FM]], a community based station that broadcast from the town.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hcrfm.co.uk/|title=Huntingdon Community Radio |access-date=22 November 2023}}</ref> 

The Hunts Post is the town's local weekly newspaper.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishpapers.co.uk/england-eang/hunts-post/|title=The Hunts Post|date=12 March 2014|website=British Papers|access-date=22 November 2023}}</ref>

==Education==
The local primary schools are Hartford Junior School, Huntingdon Primary School, Thongsley Fields Primary School, St John's Primary School, Stukeley Meadows Primary School and Cromwell Academy Primary School. Spring Common School is a special-needs school. Secondary schools include [[St Peter's School, Huntingdon|St Peter's School]] and [[Hinchingbrooke School]]. Further education colleges include [[Huntingdonshire Regional College]], Hinchingbrooke School sixth-form college and St Peter's sixth form.

==Transport==
===Railway===
[[File:Huntingdon_Station_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1018223.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Huntingdon station]]

[[Huntingdon railway station]] is sited on the [[East Coast Main Line]]. Services that stop here are operated by [[Govia Thameslink Railway]], on the [[Thameslink]] and [[Great Northern route|Great Northern]] routes. 

Great Northern services operate between [[Peterborough railway station|Peterborough]] and [[London King's Cross railway station|London Kings Cross station]]; trains take just over an hour to reach the capital. Thameslink services run between Peterborough and [[Horsham railway station|Horsham]], in [[West Sussex]], via [[St Pancras railway station|St Pancras]] and [[Blackfriars station|Blackfriars]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Timetables |work=Thameslink |date=21 May 2023 |access-date=10 June 2023 |url= https://www.thameslinkrailway.com/travel-information/plan-your-journey/timetables |quote=}}</ref>

===Buses===
Bus services are operated primarily by [[Stagecoach East]] and [[Whippet (bus company)|Whippet]]. Routes serve the town, including [[Hinchingbrooke Hospital]], and connect Huntingdon with Peterborough, St Neots, Ramsey, St Ives and Cambridge.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stops in Huntingdon |work=Bus Times |date=2023 |access-date=10 June 2023 |url= https://bustimes.org/localities/huntingdon |quote=}}</ref>

===Air===
[[London Luton Airport|Luton]] and [[London Stansted Airport|Stansted]] airports are located within {{convert|40|mi|sigfig=|abbr=}} of the town.

==Religious sites==
[[File:HuntingdonTown-18.jpg|thumb|right|200px|All Saints' Church, from Market Square]]
There are four [[Church of England]] churches in Huntingdon; once there were more, which together with those in the adjacent villages Great and Little Stukeley are members of the Huntingdon Team Ministry<ref>[http://www.huntingdonanglicanchurches.org.uk http://www.huntingdonanglicanchurches.org.uk] ''huntingdonanglicanchurches.org.uk''</ref> in the [[Diocese of Ely]]. The four are [[All Saints' Church, Huntingdon|All Saints']] (next to the Market Square), [[St Mary's Church, Huntingdon|St Mary's]] (opposite Pathfinder House), St Barnabas (on the Oxmoor estate) and All Saints', [[Hartford, Cambridgeshire|Hartford]].

Huntingdon [[Methodism|Methodist Church]] is in the High Street.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.huntingdonmethodist.org.uk/ |title=Home |website=Huntingdon Methodist Church |access-date=19 November 2017}}</ref> Medway Christian Fellowship is based on Medway Road.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://loveoxmoor.org.uk/ |title=Medway Christian Fellowship – Love Oxmoor – A church in the heart of the community |website=loveoxmoor.org.uk |access-date=19 November 2017}}</ref>

==Sport==
The highest-ranking football club, [[Huntingdon Town F.C.|Huntingdon Town]], plays in the [[United Counties Football League|United Counties League]]. [[Huntingdon United RGE F.C.|Huntingdon United RGE]] plays in the [[Cambridgeshire Football Association County League|Cambridgeshire League]].

==Notable residents==

[[File:Terry Reid.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6|[[Terry Reid]] in 1974]]

Names are in birth order. Data are from the subject's Wikipedia article except where referenced.

===Arts and entertainment===

* [[Henry Compton (actor)|Henry Compton]] (Charles Mackenzie, 1805–1877), actor, born in Huntingdon
* [[George Mackley]] (1900–1983), wood engraver, born in Huntingdon
* [[Terry Reid]], (born 1949), rock vocalist and guitarist, born in Huntingdon
* [[The Charlottes]] (formed 1988), indie rock band formed in Huntingdon.
* [[Ceara O'Neill]] (born 1990), actor and musician, born in Huntingdon
* [[Himesh Patel]] (born 1990), actor, born in Huntingdon

===Literature===

[[File:Samuel Pepys.jpg|thumb|upright|Portrait of [[Samuel Pepys]], by [[John Hayls]], 1666]]

* [[Henry of Huntingdon]] (c. 1088–1157), historian (''Historia Anglorum'') and Archdeacon of Huntingdon.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Henry of Huntingdon | volume= 13 |last1= Davis |first1= Henry William Carless |author1-link= Henry William Carless Davis | page = 298 |short=1}}</ref>
* [[Samuel Pepys]] (1633–1703), diarist, attended [[Hinchingbrooke School|Huntingdon Grammar School]] in about 1644.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Pepys, Samuel | volume= 21 |last1= Hannay |first1= David McDowall |author1-link= David McDowall Hannay | pages = 130&ndash;132 |short=1}}</ref>
* [[Basil Montagu]] (1770–1851), [[jurist]], [[barrister]], writer and philanthropist, and illegitimate son of [[John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich]]<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Sandwich, John Montagu, 4th Earl of | volume= 24 | pages = 142&ndash;143 |short= 1}}</ref> and [[Martha Ray]]
* [[Robert Carruthers]] (1799–1878), local historian (''History of Huntingdon'') and journalist

===Religion===

* [[Christina of Markyate]] (c. 1096–98 – c. 1155), [[anchorite|anchoress]] and prioress, was born in Huntingdon.
* [[John Swanel Inskip]] (1816–1884), American minister and evangelist, was born in Huntingdon.

===Politics===

[[File:Oliver Cromwell by Samuel Cooper.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Oliver Cromwell]], 1646]]

* [[David, Earl of Huntingdon]] (c. 1144–1219), Scottish prince, was born in Huntingdon.<ref>Rootsweb [http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=john_d_newport&id=I8358 Retrieved 11 March 2016.]</ref>
* [[Richard Patrick (MP)|Richard Patrick]] (died 1566), MP for Huntingdon in 1559
* [[Oliver Cromwell]] (1599–1658), [[Lord Protector]], was born in Huntingdon.<ref name="EB1911">{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Cromwell, Oliver | volume= 7 | pages = 487&ndash;498 |short= 1}}</ref>
* [[Edward Montagu, 1st Earl of Sandwich]] (1625–1672), [[English Civil War]] general and [[Restoration (England)|Restoration]] politician, attended Huntingdon Grammar School.<ref>BCW Project [http://bcw-project.org/biography/edward-montagu-earl-of-sandwich Retrieved 12 March 2016.]</ref>
* [[Richard Cromwell]] (1626–1712), Lord Protector (1658–59), was born in Huntingdon.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Cromwell, Richard | volume= 7 |last= Yorke | first= Philip Chesney |author-link= | pages = 498&ndash;499 |short= 1}}</ref>
* [[Henry Cromwell]] (1628–1674), [[Lord Deputy of Ireland]] and chancellor of [[Trinity College, Dublin]], was born in Huntingdon.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Cromwell, Henry | volume= 7 | pages = 486&ndash;487 |short= 1}}</ref>
* [[Charlie Elphicke]] (born 1971), Conservative member of Parliament for Dover 2010–19 and sex offender,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-07-30 |title=Charlie Elphicke trial: Ex-MP guilty of sexual assaults |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-kent-53515005 |access-date=2023-07-10}}</ref> was born in Huntingdon.

===Science and engineering===

* [[Michael Foster (physiologist)|Michael Foster]] (1836–1907), physiologist and academic, was born in Huntingdon.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Foster, Sir Michael | volume= 10 | page = 733 |short= 1}}</ref>
* [[Robert William Edis]] (1839–1927), architect and writer on decoration, was born in Huntingdon and educated at Huntingdon Grammar School.
* [[Walter Samuel Millard]] (1864–1952), naturalist and conservationist, was born in Huntingdon.

===Sports===

[[File:Darren Bent 26-04-2008 1.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Darren Bent]] in 2008]]

* [[Walter Yarnold]] (1893–1978), first-class cricketer, was born in Huntingdon.
* [[Josh Gifford]], (1941–2012), [[National Hunt racing|National Hunt]] jockey and trainer, was born in Huntingdon.
* [[Oliver Gavin]] (born 1972), racing car driver, was born in Huntingdon.
* [[Charlotte Edwards]] (born 1979), international women's cricketer, was born in Huntingdon.
* [[Darren Bent]] (born 1984), footballer, was raised in Huntingdon.
* [[Harriet Lee (swimmer)|Harriet Lee]] (born 1991), Paralympic swimmer, was born in Huntingdon.
* [[James Sykes (cricketer)|James Sykes]] (born 1992), first-class cricketer, was born in Huntingdon.
* [[James Kettleborough]] (born 1992), first-class cricketer, was born in Huntingdon.
* [[Alex Martin (cricketer)|Alex Martin]] (born 1992), first-class cricketer, was born in Huntingdon.
* [[Todd Kane]] (born 1993), footballer, was born in Huntingdon.<ref>Chelsea info [http://thechels.info/wiki/Todd_Kane Retrieved 8 January 2016.]</ref>
* [[George Furbank]] (born 1996), England international professional [[rugby union]] player was born in Huntingdon

==International relations==
===Twin towns===
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Salon de Provence]], France
*{{flagicon|HUN}} [[Szentendre]], Hungary
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Wertheim am Main]], Germany
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Gubbio]], Italy

Source:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huntingdontown.gov.uk/twin-towns-and-villages.html|title=Huntingdon and Godmanchester's Twin Towns|date=15 June 2015|publisher=Huntingdon Town Council|access-date=8 May 2021|archive-date=30 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530091518/https://www.huntingdontown.gov.uk/twin-towns-and-villages.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Freedom of the Town==
The following people and military units have received the [[Freedom of the City|Freedom of the Town]] of Huntingdon.

{{Incomplete list|date=June 2022}}

===Individuals===
* Gordon Peacock: 7 May 2022
* Derek Bristow: 7 May 2022<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.huntspost.co.uk/news/local-council/two-men-awarded-the-freedom-of-huntingdon-8996480 |title=Great honour for two men awarded the freedom of Huntingdon |last=Gilham |first=Aexander |date=27 May 2022 |website=The Hunts Post |access-date=19 June 2022 }}</ref>

===Military Units===
* [[RAF Wyton]]: 17 September 1955<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huntspost.co.uk/news/battle-of-britain-anniversary-marked-by-raf-wyton-1-6842859|title=Wreath-laying ceremony in Huntingdon for Battle of Britain anniversary|first=Alexandra|last=Collett|website=huntspost.co.uk|date=17 September 2020|access-date=19 June 2022|archive-date=26 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926181257/https://www.huntspost.co.uk/news/battle-of-britain-anniversary-marked-by-raf-wyton-1-6842859|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Copy of the Charter awarding the freedom of the Borough of Huntingdon to RAF Wyton. |url=https://huntingdon.ccan.co.uk/content/catalogue_item/copy-of-the-charter-awarding-the-freedom-of-the-borough-of-huntingdon-to-raf-wyton |website=Cambridgeshire Community Archive Network |access-date=4 November 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[RAF Brampton]]: 1995<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huntspost.co.uk/lifestyle/huntingdon-to-host-raf-parade-today-1-843845|title=Huntingdon to host RAF parade today|website=huntspost.co.uk|date=12 April 2011|access-date=19 June 2022|archive-date=30 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830041423/https://www.huntspost.co.uk/lifestyle/huntingdon-to-host-raf-parade-today-1-843845|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* The [[Royal Anglian Regiment]]: 21 January 2010<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.calligraphyanddesign.com/Resources/IMG_2593Aopt.jpg |title=Archived copy |access-date=15 May 2017 |archive-date=3 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303113758/http://calligraphyanddesign.com/Resources/IMG_2593Aopt.jpg |url-status=usurped }}</ref>
* The [[Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment]]: 23 November 2017
* The [[501st Combat Support Wing]], [[USAF]]: 21 September 2018<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-cambridgeshire-45605287/us-air-force-unit-receives-freedom-of-huntingdon|title=US Air Force unit gets freedom of town|work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huntspost.co.uk/news/combat-support-wing-awarded-freedom-of-the-town-1-5705541|title=Combat Support Wing awarded freedom of Huntingdon|first=Katie|last=Ridley|date=21 September 2018|access-date=19 June 2022|archive-date=2 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002190804/https://www.huntspost.co.uk/news/combat-support-wing-awarded-freedom-of-the-town-1-5705541|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Earl of Huntingdon]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire}}
*{{wikivoyage-inline|Huntingdon}}
*[http://www.huntingdontown.gov.uk/ Huntingdon Town Council]
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Huntingdon (Huntingdonshire) | volume= 13 | pages = 950&ndash;951 |short= 1}}

{{Cambridgeshire}}
{{River Great Ouse}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Huntingdon| ]]
[[Category:Populated places on the River Great Ouse]]
[[Category:Towns in Cambridgeshire]]
[[Category:Huntingdonshire]]
[[Category:County towns in England]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Cambridgeshire]]