Olympic Champion

15/07/1908

Information

For many years the Robertson family ran a cycle shop at the top of Cowgate. It was on this day that one of the founding family, Arthur (Archie) Robertson, became an Olympic champion when he won gold as part of the winning British 3-mile team race at those games, held in London. He also came second - to another British runner - in the 3,200 metres steeplechase and just missed a third medal when he finished fifth in the 5-mile race. He retired from running in 1909, returning to his first love - competitive cycling. (BBC Scotland; Peterborough Evening Telegraph; birchfieldharriers.net)

Taken from The Peterborough Book of Days by Brian Jones, The History Press, 2014.

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Woodstons Fair

1268

Information

Its position abutting the Nene has provided Woodston with both fertile growing land and access to and from the water. This access has made it desirable as a place to disembark if travelling from the west, for the Peterborough toll could be avoided. It is possible that Wharf Road was the toll road used.

The Abbot of Thorney had been granted the right to hold a regular market in Yaxley by William the Conqueror. Goods and people travelling there would disembark in Woodston, which was also in the possession of Thorney Abbey. The abbot asked for a market to be held in Woodston on the day before Yaxley market in 1268.

In the same year the abbot requested a fair to celebrate 'the vigil and feast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist'. Woodston fair would fall on the 29th August, despite sounding like something more appropriate for 31st October! There is no evidence that this fair ever took place, but a fair to celebrate a beheading must have been an interesting sight.

Reference:

https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/hunts/vol3/pp233-236

Picture Credit: