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Aldreth is a small village on the edge of the Fens in Cambridgeshire. It is surrounded by fenland with the River Great Ouse to the south.
Aldreth has been the scene of two battles, both between Hereward the Wake and William the Conqueror. The Isle of Ely was Hereward's last stronghold and Aldreth was an important gateway to the Isle which is why William attempted to cross there. On both occasions William was defeated, although later William reached the Isle after a monk betrayed the secret route through the marshes.
There have been at least 2 major fires in Aldreth. The worst occurred on 24th April 1852. This fire was reported in both the Cambridge Chronicle and Cambridge Independent press on 1st May 1852. According to the Chronicle the fire was thought to have started as a result of 'letting of off a gun at a sparrow perched on a thatched cottage'. The result was decribed as follows 'owing to the dryness of the season the thatch immediately ignited, and the fire carried by the wind, which was rather high and blowing in the direction of the village, ignited within 15 minutes two thatched cottages adjoining, six other thatched cottages a little distance off, some outbuildings belonging to Wm. Smith and John Tagg; the farm premises and house belonging to Mr. John Cockle; the farm premises belonging to Mr. Jacob Read, the outbuildings belonging to Mr. William Prime; and two other cottages it was thought necessary to pull down, in order to check the progress of the fire.'. An earlier 'dreadful' fire occurred on 19th May 1808 which 'consumed eight dwelling houses and appurtenances thereto'.
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