Did You Know?

Peterborough started out as a Saxon village known as Medeshamstede. It was the site of a noteworthy monastery, although this was entirely destroyed by the Vikings in 870. By 1000 AD, the settlement had grown into a modest-sized town, with its own Benedictine abbey and defensive wall. The town was known as Burh St. Peter, from which Peterborough is derived.

By the 16th century, Peterborough had officially been named a city. Nevertheless, it remained more akin to a small town, with much of its economy revolving around the local wool industry.

During the Reformation, Peterborough's abbey was closed. Two year's later, in 1541, it was re-established as Peterborough Cathedral. Some 46 years later, Mary, Queen of Scots was buried in the cathedral following her execution at nearby Fotheringhay Castle - her body was later moved to Westminster Abbey in London.

For many English towns, the 17th century was a time of upheaval, and Peterborough was no exception. During the English Civil War, Peterborough was somewhat divided, with some townsfolk supporting Cromwell's Roundheads and others in favour of King Charles I. Parliamentary forces prevailed, however, with Cromwell's troops occupying the city. During their stay, they ransacked the cathedral.

Even by the start of the 18th century, little development had taken place in Peterborough. In fact, it was still widely regarded as one of the smallest cities in Britain. It wasn't until the outbreak of the Napoleonic Wars, towards the end of the century, that prosperity and expansion finally came to Peterborough.

In 1774 the first theatre was built in Peterborough. The Custom House was built in 1790. Also in 1790 an act of Parliament created a body of men called the Improvement Commissioners who were responsible for paving, cleaning and lighting the streets of Peterborough.

New industries appeared in Peterborough in the 19th century. An iron foundry opened in 1830. In the late 19th century there was an elastic webbing industry. Another important industry was brick making.

It was the coming of the railway in 1847 that finally transformed Peterborough from small market town to industrial city. By 1880, piped water and sewers had been put in place, a public library had been built, and in 1900, Peterborough finally acquired its own electricity supply. It became one of the leading manufacturers of bricks in Britain, an accolade which endured for a large part of the 20th century.

Peterborough was designated a New Town in 1967, to house some of London's overspill population in new townships around the existing urban area.

Peterborough is home to one of the largest concentrations of Italian immigrants in the UK. This is mainly as a result of labour recruitment in the 1950s by the London Brick Company in the southern Italian regions of Apulia and Campania.

Historical figures were born locally include Hereward the Wake, an outlaw who led resistance to the Norman Conquest, and Andy Bell of Eurasure, while Ernie Wise lived in the city for many years.