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Soham (St. Andrew)

SOHAM (St. Andrew), a market-town and parish, in the union of Newmarket, hundred of Staploe, county of Cambridge, 5¾ miles (S. E.) from Ely, and 69 (N. N. E.) from London; containing, with the chapelry of Barway, 4162 inhabitants. This was a place of some note at a very early period. St. Felix, first bishop of the East Angles, founded a monastery here about 630, which was the seat of the diocese prior to its removal to Dunwich. His remains were interred in the monastery, but were afterwards taken up and conveyed to Ramsey Abbey. The buildings were destroyed by fire, and the monks, a flourishing society, were killed, by the Danish army under the command of Inguar and Ubba, in 870. Before the draining of the fens, here was a large lake, over which was a dangerous passage by water to Ely; the communication was subsequently rendered more safe by the construction of a causeway through the marshes, at the expense of Hervey, Bishop of Ely. The town is situated upon the east bank of the river Cam, on the verge of the county; the streets are irregularly built, and the houses of mean appearance. Horticulture is carried on to a considerable extent, especially in the article of asparagus; the dairies are abundant, and cheese of excellent quality, similar to that of Stilton, is made. The market is on Saturday: fairs are held on May 9th, for horses, cattle, and pedlery; and on the Monday before Midsummer, which is a pleasure-fair. The powers of the county debt-court of Soham, established in 1847, extend over the parishes of Soham, Fordham, Isleham, and Wicken. The parish comprises 12,000 acres, of which 400 are common or waste land. The living is a vicarage, valued in the king's books at £32. 16. 5½., and in the gift of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge: the great tithes have been commuted for £672. 14., and the vicarial for £1653; the impropriate glebe comprises 78 acres, and the vicarial four. The church is a venerable cruciform structure, with a lofty square embattled tower visible at a great distance; it has several monuments. At Barway is a chapel of ease. There are places of worship for Baptists, Independents, Wesleyans, and Unitarians. A free school for boys is endowed with an estate allotted on the division of the commons, in 1658, and now producing £60 per annum; and children are apprenticed with a premium of £20 from funds given by Bishop Laney.

Transcribed from A Topographical Dictionary of England, by Samuel Lewis, seventh edition, published 1858.

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