Bretton, Peterborough facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bretton |
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 Bretton
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| Population | 12,689 |
| OS grid reference | TF1601 |
| Unitary authority |
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| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Peterborough |
| Postcode district | PE3 |
| Dialling code | 01733 |
| Police | Cambridgeshire |
| Fire | Cambridgeshire |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
Bretton is a town located on the edge of Peterborough in Cambridgeshire, England. It was planned to be a green and friendly place. You'll see many trees along the main roads, like Bretton Gate and Bretton Way. There are also several large parks and playing fields.
Bretton is split into two main parts: North Bretton and South Bretton. The Bretton Centre sits right in the middle. North Bretton has more people and is home to many businesses and fun places. You can find the main entrance to Milton Hall in South Bretton. Nene Park, a large park, is also easy to reach from Bretton. The Bretton Centre has a big building called The Cresset. It's a multi-purpose place with a stage, shops, a church, and places to eat.
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History of Bretton
Archaeologists have found signs of very old homes in Bretton. These homes belonged to people from the Iron Age and Roman times. They were found near Grimeshaw wood, which is one of the old forests in the area. This wood has been saved even as the town grew.
In 1967, Peterborough was chosen to be a "New Town." This meant it would grow and have new areas built. Bretton was the very first new area created for Peterborough, starting in 1970. It was built on land that used to be part of the Milton estate.
You can take a short walk from South Bretton to the deer park and Milton Hall. Milton Hall is the biggest private home in Cambridgeshire. It was built a long time ago, in the 1500s. There are also other old buildings on the estate from the 1600s and 1700s.
Bretton is surrounded by countryside to its north and west. To the south, you'll find the old village of Longthorpe and the A47 road. The East Coast Main Line railway is to the east.
How Bretton is Governed
Bretton has its own local government called the Bretton Parish Council. It was set up in 1984 and has an office in the Pyramid Centre in North Bretton.
People in Bretton vote for councillors to represent them on the Peterborough City Council. There are three councillors for North Bretton and one for South Bretton. Bretton is also part of the Peterborough area for the UK Parliament.
People in Bretton
According to the 2001 census, Bretton had 12,689 people living there. This included 6,160 males and 6,529 females. They lived in 5,191 homes.
Schools in Bretton
Bretton has several primary schools for younger students. For older students, there used to be Bretton Woods Community School. It closed in 2007 and was replaced by The Voyager School, which is now called Queen Katharine Academy. This school is located in Walton, nearby.
There is also an independent secondary school for Muslim girls called The IQRA Academy in North Bretton.
The primary schools in Bretton include:
- Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School
- Middleton County Primary School
- Eyrescroft County Primary School
- Lime Academy Watergall
Businesses and Services
Many businesses have been based in Bretton. BGL Group, known for Budget Insurance, used to be one of the biggest employers in Peterborough. The main office for the Thomas Cook Group was also in North Bretton before it moved. The old Thomas Cook site has now been rebuilt for other businesses.
The new Peterborough City Hospital is located just outside Bretton. The Eagle Wood Neurological Care Centre, which helps people with brain and nerve conditions, is on the north side of Bretton Centre. There is also a special hospital in North Bretton for bones and spines. In South Bretton, you'll find the Fitzwilliam private hospital.
The Bretton Medical Practice, a doctor's office, is located in the Bretton Centre. North Bretton also has several business parks between Bretton Way and the railway line.
Culture and Fun
The Cresset is a popular place in Bretton. It's a theatre that also has other fun things to do. You can find a pub called the Fayre Spot, a library, a pre-school, and a church there. There are also independent shops, a gym, and YMCA flats.
Every summer, the Bretton Carnival is held in Bretton Park. Bretton also hosts one of the biggest fireworks displays in Peterborough. This happens every November at the Peterborough Rugby Lions Club.
You can find a Masonic Hall in North Bretton and a Baptist church in South Bretton. Bretton has many paths for cycling and walking. This makes it easy to explore the countryside nearby.
Sports in Bretton
The Peterborough Ice Arena is in Bretton. It's the home of the Peterborough Phantoms ice hockey team.
Bretton is also home to the Peterborough Lions rugby club. They play on the fields of Bretton Park. The park also has outdoor gym equipment, a small BMX track, and a skate park. These fields are also used by the local football team, Peterborough City FC.
In South Bretton, people play crown green bowls at the pavilion in South Bretton recreation park. There are also two football pitches that are used regularly.
