The village also has a strong sporting history, and there is evidence it was a Roman settlement.
A lovely Cambridgeshire village with a name that is hard to pronounce is full of posh period houses. There are many places in Cambridgeshire that have names that sound differently to how they should be pronounced.
One of these is the rural village of Great Wilbraham, located six miles from Cambridge. People may think it’s supposed to be pronounced as Great Wil-bra-ham, but it’s actually Great Will-brum.
Despite having a hard name to pronounce, the village boasts an impressive history. Its history dates back to the Bronze Age, but there is also evidence of Roman settlements.
The village appeared in the Domesday Book as Wilburgaham. The name is said to derive from the Anglo-Saxon princess Wilburh, the daughter or close family member of Penda King of the Mercians. She is portrayed on a village sign.
In the Middle Ages, the Knights Templar held the manor of Great Wilbraham. Their local headquarters were at Denny Abbey. The manor house is still known as ‘The Temple’ today. Within the grounds of the temple, the remains of a Roman villa were found.
Above it, a Middle Saxon burial ground was also found. Today, Great Wilbraham is a charming village home to around 600 people. Homes in the village range from around £300,000 to over £1 million.
The homes stand tall and grand along the roads. They are also hidden behind lots of greenery, providing plenty of privacy for all who live there. There is one pub in the village, called The Carpenter Arms.
The pub has served the village community for more than 250 years, with what it calls “genuine hospitality”. Visitors have praised it for its “beautiful” decorations and that it feels “really welcoming”. The pub is also dog-friendly.
There is also a Post Office, a shop and a well-used village hall. The village also has a strong sporting history, as it has a local football and cricket team.