PETERBOROUGH

IIn AD 655 the King of Mercia founded a monastery on the site of the present cathedral, with was started in 1118. Peterborough Cathedral is part of Britain's Heritage. The gothic front is dominated by three deeply recessed arches 81 foot high.The centre porch, in late gothic style, was added around 1370.

Peterborough Cathedral contains the tomb of the first wife of Henry VIII, Katharine of Aragon. Mary Queen of Scots was also buried here, although her body is now at Westminster Abbey. Peterborough Museum & Art Gallery located in a Regency house built in 1816, gives an insight into the history and culture of the area. Here also a unique collection of carved bonework and straw marquetry by prisoners from the Napoleonic Wars held in Norman Cross Barracks can be seen. Here also objects relating to Mary, Queen of Scots are on display.

Sacrewell Farm and Country Centre has a fine example of an 18th century working watermill, and provides a chance to learn about agricultural life throughout the centuries with various farm animals as an added attraction.Flag Fen Bronze Age Centre in Northey Road displays a reconstructed iron and bronze age roundhouse, and an undercover archaeological display. It also displays many artefacts from earlier civilisations and includes Britain's earliest known wheel. Eight miles from central Peterborough in Station Road, Thorney, lies the Thorney Heritage Museum which gives a unique insight into the development of the area from the Anglo-Saxon monastic settlement. A Victorian model village is just one of the attractions.