Benwick

Benwick is a village and civil parish in the Fenland district of Cambridgeshire, England in the historic Isle of Ely. It is approximately 15 mi from Peterborough and 30 mi from Cambridge. The population of Benwick was recorded as 1137 in the United Kingdom Census 2011 with 452 households. The River Nene (Old Course) (part of the Middle Level Navigations) passes through the village, which is thus accessible by boat from the inland waterways network in England.

History
The settlement's name is derived from the Old English bean or beam, and wic, meaning "farm where beans are grown" or "farm by a tree-trunk." Benwick's High Street is built on a roddon; the silt banks of the old West Water river.

The earliest records of village refer to a garrison built in Benwick by Geoffrey de Mandeville in 1143. In 1221, Benwick had 15 tenants and by 1251, 32. It used to be in the parish of Doddington, one of the largest parishes in England. Under the Doddington Rectory Division Act of 1856 it was divided into seven rectories.

H. C. Darby, in his Drainage of the Fens, records that in 1611 a scholar from the continent, toured the Isle of Ely, noting that the houses in Benwick were all surrounded by water, like islands, and the inhabitants were occupied with fishing and fowling. In 1774 the Earl of Orford remarked of Benwick that "the number of children crossing near a cottage and a school added much to the scene, in appearance much like the best Flemish Landscapes".

In 1737, it was reported 'From March in the Isle of Ely we hear of a most audacious and uncommon Outrage committed on the 6th inst. at Berwick, a small Village between March and Whittlesey, by a numerous Body of Irishmen, who having swarm'd in those Parts for Harvest-Work, upon a Quarrel with the Inhabitants they ravag'd and plunder'd the whole Town and the next Day they attempted the like at March (and) might probably have succeeded, had not Numbers from Whittlesey came opportunely to the Succour of the March-Men but after a sharp Engagement, wherein several were wounded on both Sides, the Irishmen were put to the Route, leaving behind them only five of their Companions, who were taken Prisoners and committed to Wisbech Goal'.

In 1864 the village lock-up was demolished and sold.

From 1898 to 1966 Benwick was the terminus of the Benwick goods railway which ran from Three Horseshoes junction at Turves, on the Ely to Peterborough line. The station was on the road to Whittlesey. There was never a passenger service on the line, except a special enthusiasts train on 9 September 1956.

Benwick Bygones, a book on the History of Benwick was published in 2008 by Adam Keppel-Garner and Janet Fountain.

Governance
There are three tiers of local government covering Benwick, at parish, district and county level: Benwick Parish Council, Fenland District Council and Cambridgeshire County Council. The parish council meets at the village hall on High Street.

Benwick is part of the parliamentary constituency of North East Cambridgeshire; the current Member of Parliament is Steve Barclay.

Religion
Records exist of an early chapel to St James, where an indulgence for repairs was granted in 1518, whilst the earliest recorded church was built around 1637 but unconsecrated.

The Parish Church of St Mary's was started in 1850 and opened in 1854. Designed by Samuel Sanders Teulon, it was built on the site of the earlier unconsecrated church. St Mary's was built of Norfolk carr stone with Caen stone facings, costing £2,500 to build. The tower contained two bells and a clock was added in 1871. In 1966 the tower was removed and the clock loaned to March Museum. Over time the church moved more and was condemned. The last service was held in 1980 and in 1985 the church was demolished. The font and doorway from the parish church are now at St Jude's, Westwood, Peterborough.

A Wesleyan Methodist Chapel was built in 1833; a plain square building to seat 150. An organ was installed in 1923. The chapel fell into disuse in 2006 and was subsequently sold and demolished.

A Baptist chapel was first built in 1818 on land endowed from Gideon Gascoigne; at first just a preaching place as the church was not formed until 1858. The chapel was whitewashed and thatched but in 1873 was recorded as being in a dilapidated state. A new chapel opened in 1874. The chapel was demolished in 1963.

After years of fundraising, in 2012 a church room was built as an extension to the village hall.

Demography
At the time of the 2011 census, Benwick parish had 1137 inhabitants – 548 males and 589 females, living in 452 households.