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St Wendreda’s Church in
Wimblington Road is world famous for its magnificent double-hammer
beam roof with 120 carved angels and is regarded as one of the best
of its kind.
Wendred, the younger sister of Etheldreda and Sexburga, daughters
of King Anna of the Angles who died in battle in 654 AD, was a remarkable
woman of Christian faith, who had a great knowledge in the healing
properties of herbs. Sharing her faith and using this knowledge
to treat the sick she became a nun and dedicated her life to help
the inhabitants of March who suffered much from disease. After her
death her relics were enshrined in gold and taken to Ely Cathedral.
In 1016, Edward Ironside the son of King Ethelred, hoping that Wendred
could still perform miracles and bring him victory, carried her
relics into battle. In 1343, when the church was rebuilt, her remains
were returned to March; her shrine was destroyed during the reign
of Henry VIII but her final resting place is unknown. 
March Museum is a
voluntary run museum and said to be one of the best of its kind.
Housed in a mid 19th century Carstone School building in the High
Street its displays give a vivid insight into life in the town a
hundred years ago. There is a wide range of domestic and agricultural
artefacts together with a selection of March records. In the yard
there is a reconstructed Fen cottage and working forge. The Museum
Society was formed to encourage support and maintenance of the collection.
Joining fee is £3 per annum. Meetings are held on the 2nd
Friday of each month in St Peters Church hall when a variety of
speakers can be heard. The Museum is open each Wednesday and Saturday
10.30am - 3.30pm and at other times by arrangement; contact 01354
655300.
The Town Hall on the
Market Place was built in 1900 as the Corn Exchange but as such
was redundant by 1911. It was then taken over by March Urban District
Council as their headquarters and where they remained until the
Council was disbanded in 1974. For twenty years it was the local
magistrates Court but became redundant again in the late 1990s when
the Court was moved to Wisbech. A sum of money was gifted to the
town in the year 2000 and the old Town Hall was purchased for the
people of March. Lottery money has seen the premises transformed
into a much-needed centre for the arts. On the ground floor and
overlooking the Market Square is the new Panini café.
Our Town Hall provides the opportunity to display and engage in
all forms of Art from visual aspects on the walls of the café
to the possibilities of 3d art exhibitions, drama, performances,
workshops, music, and the spoken word, with dance and film screenings
in the auditorium; for information 01354 652769.
Dunham’s Wood
can be found on the B1099 on the outskirts of March. It is a four-acre
oasis in the middle of the flat Fen. As well as having a variety
of trees there are guided walks, sculptures and a miniature railway.
Open on the last Sunday of May, June, July and every Sunday during
August 2-5pm and special events are held on Bank Holiday Sundays
and Mondays; contact 01354 652134.
Stonea Camp is the
lowest ‘Hill Fort’ in Britain. Built in the Iron Age
it was used unsuccessfully against the Romans. Its banks and ditches
were restored following archaeological excavations in 1991. Visitors
are welcome all year round. On site information can be found on
a series of interpretation boards. Stonea Camp is situated on the
B1093; turn where signposted to Stitches Farm.
The Stone Cross in
the Avenue was erected circa the year 1500 and is a wayside cross.
Legend tells us that the ancient Stone Cross once carved handsomely
on all four sides with roses and coats of arms was built on the
site originally intended for St. Wendreda’s Church. After
returning each day to the site and finding total destruction the
building was abandoned; the devastation put down to the work of
the ‘devil’. Recent research suggests that this was
a memorial to the last royal earl of March, Edward V, one of the
princes who died in the Tower of London in 1483 aged 13 years.
The Fountain at the
northern end of Broad Street was a monument erected to commemorate
the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary in May 1911. There
was much controversy as to its usefulness and its position but it
was finally agreed that it would be an ornament for the finest thoroughfare
in the town and seen from whichever direction a visitor came. Originally
a drinking fountain for dogs and horses as well as people it has
now lost its centrepiece and the troughs that flanked it. A committee
collected £200 but decided this was not enough and a further
£200 was collected to provide a more permanent memorial.
Gault Wood was planted
on an arable field bought in 1993 by a group of wildlife enthusiasts
on behalf of the Woodland Trust. The volunteers, calling themselves
the Friends of Gault Wood, planted around 9,000 trees between December
1994 and February 1995. The trees have now grown up to 5-6 m in
height. The wood was financially supported by the County and District
Councils, Eastern Electricity and by substantial local contribution.
The wood is situated near the golf course on Grange Road and is
connected to the public rights of way network and has a car park.
March Wildlife Group meets on the third Friday each month at St
Peters Church Hall at 7.30 pm (from Sept-Mar excluding December)
where they have a variety of speakers, slide shows and summer visits.
A working party meets on the first Saturday of each month from 10am-12
noon for the maintenance of Gault Wood and the Rings End Pocket
park; enquiries Rachael Cheverton on 01354 653277.
Edna Stacey - archivist March Museum
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