Graveley, Cambridgeshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Graveley |
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 Graveley
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| Population | 223 (including Papworth St Agnes) 289 2011 census. |
| OS grid reference | TL2464 |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | St Neots |
| Postcode district | PE19 |
| Dialling code | 01480 |
| Police | Cambridgeshire |
| Fire | Cambridgeshire |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
Graveley is a small village in Cambridgeshire, England. It is also a civil parish, which is a local area with its own council. Graveley is located in the southern part of Cambridgeshire.
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History of Graveley Village
The area of Graveley parish is about 1,582 acres. It is located at the western edge of the historic county of Cambridgeshire. Until 1974, its borders touched other parishes in Huntingdonshire. A small stream on its eastern side separates it from Papworth St Agnes.
How Graveley Got Its Name
The village was called Greflea in the 10th century. Later, in the Domesday Book of 1086, it was known as Gravelei. Experts believe the name means "woodland clearing by the pit or trench."
Graveley Airfield During Wartime
In 1941, a piece of land covering 106 acres was taken over by the government. This land was used to create Graveley airfield. Bomber squadrons used this airfield during the Second World War. The part of the airfield in Graveley included the end of the main runway and several buildings.
The airfield closed in 1946. However, it reopened in the late 1950s. It was then used as a backup airstrip for Oakington barracks. The land was returned to farming in 1967.
The Village Church
The local church in Graveley has been named after St Botolph since at least the 14th century. The church building you see today mostly dates from the 13th century. However, some parts from an even older Norman building still remain.
The church has a long chancel, which is the area around the altar. It also has a nave with four sections and a north aisle. The tall tower at the west end of the church was built in the 15th century. The chancel was rebuilt in the mid-1700s. More repairs and improvements were made in 1874 and again in 1888.
Since 1558, Jesus College, Cambridge has been in charge of choosing the church's priest.
Life in Graveley Village
Graveley has one public house, which is like a local restaurant and bar. It is called the Three Horseshoes. This pub opened in the early 1900s. Before that, another pub called The Chequers served the village from the 1760s until it burned down around 1900. After the fire, The White Lion opened, but it closed around 1920.
Village School History
From the 18th century, Graveley had a schoolmaster who taught the children. In 1872, a new schoolroom was built. It was big enough for 70 children. However, the number of students dropped to 20 by 1900. By the 1930s, fewer than 10 children attended the school.
Older children from Graveley moved to a school in Croxton in 1948. Primary school children followed them when the Graveley school finally closed in 1961.
