Fen Causeway, Cambridge facts for kids
Fen Causeway is an important road in the historic city of Cambridge, located in the United Kingdom. It was built in the mid-1920s to help reduce traffic on another busy street called Silver Street. This road is part of the A1134 which acts like a "ring road" around the city, helping cars move smoothly. Fen Causeway connects two other main roads, Newnham Road and Trumpington Road. It also crosses over the beautiful River Cam, with a green area called Sheep's Green to the south and Coe Fen to the north. You won't find many houses or buildings directly along this road.
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What is Fen Causeway?
Fen Causeway is a special type of road known as a link road. Think of it like a shortcut or a connector that helps traffic get from one main area to another more easily. It's also part of Cambridge's ring road, which is a series of roads that go around the city. Ring roads are super helpful for drivers because they allow them to travel around the city without going through the busy center. This helps to keep the city's heart less crowded and noisy.
Building a New Road: The 1920s Project
The idea for Fen Causeway came about in the 1920s. At that time, Cambridge was growing, and its roads were getting very busy. Silver Street was one of the main roads that needed help. To solve this, city planners decided to build a new road. This new road, Fen Causeway, was designed to take some of the traffic away from Silver Street, making journeys quicker and smoother for everyone. Building a new road like this was a big project for Cambridge in the 1920s.
Why "Fen" Causeway?
The name "Fen Causeway" gives us a clue about what the area was like before the road was built. A fen is a type of low, marshy, and often wild wetland area. Before the 1920s, this part of Cambridge was mostly a natural fen. It was a wet, open space, probably with lots of tall grasses and water. The only way to cross it was a small path called Coe Fen Lane. So, when the new road was constructed, it was literally a "causeway" (a raised road across wet ground) built through the "fen."
Fen Causeway and the River Cam
One of the most important features of Fen Causeway is how it crosses the River Cam. The River Cam is famous in Cambridge, especially for its "punts" (flat-bottomed boats pushed with a long pole). The road uses a bridge to span the river. On either side of the road, near the river, are two lovely green spaces:
- Coe Fen: This is a large open meadow located to the north of Fen Causeway. It's a popular spot for walking, picnicking, and enjoying nature.
- Sheep's Green: Found to the south of the road, Sheep's Green is another beautiful open area. It's often used for sports and recreation, and you might even see some sheep grazing there sometimes!
These green areas show how Fen Causeway connects the city with its natural surroundings, even though it's a busy road.
