March, ENG - Postcode - PE15 8JG

Introduction & Geography

March is a historic market town and civil parish in the Fenland District of Cambridgeshire, England. It is one of the principal towns of the Fenland area and serves as an important centre for commerce, employment, education, transport and public services. Although surrounded by the characteristically flat landscape of the Fens, March has a strong town identity and a history that reflects the transformation of the region from wetland to one of Britain's most productive agricultural areas.

The town lies in the central part of the Fenland District, approximately between Peterborough and Ely, with Wisbech to the north and Chatteris and Doddington to the south. Its position has made it an important meeting point for the surrounding rural communities. The town serves a wide agricultural hinterland containing numerous villages, farms and smaller settlements.

March's geography is closely connected with the Fenland landscape. Much of the surrounding land is extremely flat, with extensive fields, drainage channels, ditches, embankments and waterways. The apparent simplicity of this landscape hides a complicated history of water management. For centuries, the region was characterised by marshes, fens and seasonally flooded land, and large-scale drainage was required before intensive agriculture could develop.

The settlement of March grew on slightly higher and firmer ground within the wetland environment. Historically, this raised area provided a relatively secure place for settlement, transport and trade. The position was especially valuable because people could travel across the surrounding waterways and wetland areas from this central point.

The town has expanded considerably beyond its historic centre. Modern residential areas now extend in several directions, while industrial estates and commercial districts support the wider local economy. Despite this growth, the older centre retains an attractive mixture of historic buildings, churches, shops and streets.

The landscape around March is dominated by agriculture. The fertile soils of the drained Fens support large-scale production of cereals, potatoes, vegetables, sugar beet and other crops. Agriculture remains an important economic influence, even though the town's economy is now much more diverse than it was in previous centuries.

Water continues to be an important part of the town's geography. Drainage channels and watercourses surround and pass through the wider Fenland area, helping to control water levels and protect homes and farmland. The continued maintenance of these systems is essential because much of the surrounding land is naturally low-lying.

March is also an important transport centre. Its railway station provides connections to other parts of East Anglia and beyond, while major roads connect the town with Peterborough, Wisbech, Ely, Huntingdon and surrounding villages. This accessibility has helped March maintain its importance as a regional service centre.

The railway is particularly significant because March developed into an important railway town during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The rail network supported local agriculture and industry by making it easier to transport people, goods and produce.

The town's flat environment also makes it suitable for cycling. Long roads across the Fens often have very gentle gradients, although cyclists can encounter strong winds because there are few natural features to shelter them.

March also benefits from its position within reach of several important natural and historical areas. The surrounding Fenland countryside provides opportunities for walking, birdwatching, photography and wildlife observation. Nearby villages and towns offer additional churches, historic buildings and landscapes to explore.

As a result, March combines several different geographical characteristics. It is a modern market town, an agricultural service centre, a historic settlement and a major transport hub within the Fenland landscape.

History & Formation

March has a long and fascinating history that reflects the development of settlement in the Fens. The town's origins are closely linked with its position on slightly higher ground within a largely wet environment.

Before extensive drainage, the surrounding Fens were very different from the landscape seen today. Large areas consisted of marshes, reed beds, wet grasslands and shallow waters. Such areas were difficult to cultivate intensively, but they were valuable for fishing, grazing, harvesting reeds and other natural resources.

March developed in a comparatively favourable location within this environment. Its higher ground provided a stable base for settlement, while nearby waterways created opportunities for transport and trade.

During the medieval period, the settlement developed as an agricultural and market community. Farming remained central to local life, but the town's position made it useful as a point where surrounding communities could exchange goods and services.

One of March's most important historic landmarks is St Wendreda's Church. The church is dedicated to St Wendreda, a local saint traditionally associated with the area. Its famous double hammerbeam roof is one of its most remarkable architectural features, and the church is an important reminder of March's medieval heritage.

The development of the market was also essential to the town's growth. Markets gave local farmers and traders a place to sell agricultural produce, livestock and other goods. As March expanded, shops, inns, workshops and other businesses developed around the market and main streets.

The town's fortunes changed significantly with the large-scale drainage of the Fens. From the seventeenth century onwards, engineers and landowners undertook major schemes to control water and reclaim land for agriculture. Drainage altered the physical environment and transformed the economic potential of the whole region.

Once land could be drained reliably, farming became increasingly productive. March developed as an important agricultural centre, handling and supplying goods from the surrounding farms.

The drainage process was complicated and sometimes controversial. Different groups had different interests in the use and management of the Fens, and conflicts arose over land ownership, grazing rights and the effects of drainage. Nevertheless, drainage eventually became one of the foundations of the modern Fenland economy.

Transport improvements also played an increasingly important role. Roads were improved, waterways were managed more effectively and eventually railways transformed the town.

The railway reached March during the nineteenth century and had a major influence on its development. The town became an important railway junction and engineering centre, with railway workers, workshops and related businesses contributing significantly to the local economy.

For many years, the railway industry was one of the most important sources of employment in March. The town's position on the network gave it strategic importance beyond the immediate agricultural area.

Railway development also strengthened agriculture. Farmers could transport produce more quickly to distant markets, while goods and machinery could be brought into the region more efficiently.

The nineteenth century saw substantial growth in March's population and built environment. New houses, commercial premises, civic buildings, churches and schools were established. The town increasingly took on the appearance of a traditional Victorian market and railway town.

The twentieth century brought further transformation. Railway employment gradually declined as technology and industrial organisation changed, but other forms of industry and commerce developed.

Agriculture became increasingly mechanised. Modern machinery allowed fewer workers to cultivate much larger areas, while better roads and transport systems improved the movement of agricultural products.

The Second World War also affected March and the surrounding Fenland area. Agricultural production was particularly important during wartime because Britain depended heavily on domestic food supplies. The fertile Fen soils therefore had strategic significance.

In the post-war period, March continued to grow as a service centre. Housing estates expanded around the historic town, schools were improved or added, and commercial developments increased.

The town's administrative importance also developed. March became a key centre for local government and public services within the Fenland area. It continues to serve surrounding villages that depend on the town for shopping, schools, healthcare and other services.

Historic buildings in the town preserve evidence of different periods. Medieval churches, eighteenth- and nineteenth-century houses, Victorian commercial premises and modern buildings all form part of the townscape.

March's history is therefore not simply the story of a rural village becoming a town. It is the story of how a settlement in the Fens adapted to dramatic environmental, technological and economic changes. Water management created agricultural wealth, markets encouraged commercial growth, and railways transformed March into a major transport centre.

Popular & Notable Places

One of March's most important landmarks is St Wendreda's Church. The church is famous for its remarkable double hammerbeam roof, which is decorated with carved angels and is regarded as one of the outstanding medieval church interiors in the region.

The church is dedicated to St Wendreda, who has a special place in the local history and traditions of March. The building itself illustrates the importance of religion in medieval communities and demonstrates the architectural wealth that could develop in prosperous agricultural areas.

The historic town centre is another major attraction. March contains a mixture of traditional shops, historic houses, churches, civic buildings and streets that reflect its development as a market town.

Walking through the centre provides an opportunity to observe different periods of architecture. Older structures stand alongside Victorian commercial buildings and modern businesses, creating a townscape that reflects centuries of continuous activity.

The Market Place remains an important part of March's identity. Markets were central to the development of Fenland towns, providing places where farmers, traders and residents could exchange goods. Although modern retailing has changed the way people shop, the historic market function remains part of the town's character.

March Museum is another important local attraction. It provides an opportunity to learn about the history of March and the surrounding Fenland area, including agriculture, domestic life, local industry and the development of the town.

The museum is particularly useful for understanding how ordinary people lived and worked. While grand churches and civic buildings tell part of the story, museum collections can reveal the everyday experiences of farming families, railway workers, craftsmen, traders and other residents.

The railway heritage of March is another major aspect of the town's identity. March became one of the most important railway centres in East Anglia, and its station remains an important transport facility.

Although the large railway engineering complex that once employed thousands of people has greatly declined, the railway continues to play a vital role. Modern trains connect March with Cambridge, Ely, Peterborough and other destinations, preserving the town's long association with rail transport.

The surrounding Fenland countryside is also an important attraction. Visitors can travel along country lanes, walk beside drainage channels and explore the open agricultural landscape.

The area is particularly attractive to cyclists because of the flat terrain. Long-distance cycling routes can be planned across the surrounding villages, allowing visitors to experience several Fenland communities in a single journey.

Wildlife is another feature of the countryside. Drainage channels, wetlands, field margins and waterways provide habitats for birds and other species. The open landscape is especially useful for birdwatching and nature photography.

Nearby villages add considerably to March's attractions. Wimblington is a close neighbour to the southeast and has its own historic church and rural character.

Doddington lies farther southwest and is another important local settlement. It combines village heritage with modern community services.

Manea lies to the northeast and provides another example of a Fenland village closely connected with agriculture and drainage.

Witcham and Chatteris are farther south and provide additional historical and cultural attractions.

Wisbech is an important destination to the north. The town is particularly known for its Georgian architecture and historic relationship with the River Nene.

Ely, to the southeast, is one of the region's most important historic cities. Its cathedral is one of the most recognisable landmarks in eastern England.

Peterborough, to the northwest, offers major shopping, entertainment, museums and Peterborough Cathedral, while also serving as an important regional transport centre.

March therefore has considerable appeal both as a destination in its own right and as a base for exploring the wider Fenland region.

Nearby Places & Postcodes

March is surrounded by a large number of villages, hamlets and towns, making it an important centre within the Fenland network.

Wimblington is one of the nearest villages. It lies southeast of March and has a long-established rural character, with farmland and traditional buildings surrounding the settlement.

Doddington lies southwest of March and serves as another important local service centre. Its historic character and surrounding countryside make it a prominent neighbouring community.

Witcham is situated farther southeast and forms part of the agricultural landscape between March and Ely.

Manea lies to the northeast and is closely associated with the distinctive Fenland environment of drainage channels and productive farmland.

Welney is farther north and is known for the surrounding wetland landscape and its importance for birds and wildlife.

Chatteris lies south of March and is another important Fenland market town. It has a long agricultural history and serves the communities in the surrounding countryside.

Wisbech lies north of March and is one of the main towns of the northern Fenlands. It provides shopping, employment, schools, healthcare and other major services.

Whittlesey lies to the northwest and is another substantial Fenland settlement within the wider Peterborough area.

Peterborough is farther northwest and is the nearest major city. It offers extensive employment opportunities, higher education, healthcare, shopping, entertainment and national transport connections.

Ely lies southeast of March and is particularly famous for Ely Cathedral. The city also has a historic centre and an important railway station.

The general postcode district associated with March is PE15. The PE15 district covers March and several surrounding rural communities. Individual streets and properties have their own full postcodes, so PE15 should be regarded as the general district rather than a complete address.

March's location makes it an important transport hub. The railway station provides services towards Peterborough, Ely, Cambridge and other destinations, maintaining a role that has existed since the nineteenth-century expansion of the railway network.

The road network also supports the town's regional importance. Roads radiate outward towards Wisbech, Chatteris, Doddington, Ely and Peterborough, linking March with many smaller villages.

The town's central position within the Fens means that agricultural producers and rural residents can reach it relatively easily from several directions. As a result, March functions as a service centre for a considerable area.

The surrounding countryside remains strongly agricultural. Large fields and drainage systems dominate much of the landscape between neighbouring settlements. Farms supply food to local and national markets, continuing a tradition that has existed for centuries.

The relationship between March and its surrounding villages is mutually important. Smaller communities depend upon the town for major services, while March depends on the surrounding rural population for trade, employment and community connections.

The town is also well positioned for visitors exploring the wider Fens. Journeys from March can reach historic churches, nature reserves, villages and waterways throughout central and northern Cambridgeshire.

Conclusion

March is one of the most important towns in the Fenland District and has developed through a unique combination of geography, agriculture, water management, commerce and transport. Its position on relatively high and stable ground within the surrounding wetlands allowed a settlement to develop, while the transformation of the Fens created the agricultural wealth that supported its long-term growth.

The town's medieval heritage remains visible in places such as St Wendreda's Church, whose extraordinary double hammerbeam roof is one of the great architectural features of the region. The historic town centre and market traditions also preserve the character of March as an old commercial settlement.

The drainage of the Fens was equally important. By controlling water and reclaiming land, successive generations transformed the surrounding landscape into highly productive farmland. Agriculture continues to shape the countryside around March and remains an important part of the local economy.

Perhaps no development influenced March more dramatically than the railway. The town became a major railway centre and for generations railway employment was an essential part of local life. Although the railway industry has changed considerably, March station remains an important transport link and continues the town's long association with rail travel.

Today, March is a modern and active Fenland town with schools, shops, businesses, community facilities, public services and transport connections. At the same time, it retains strong links with the rural landscape that surrounds it.

Its location provides easy access to neighbouring settlements such as Wimblington, Doddington, Manea, Chatteris, Wisbech and Whittlesey, while Peterborough and Ely provide major regional centres for additional services and employment.

The town's open landscape, waterways, agricultural fields and historic streets give it a distinctive character. It is an excellent example of how a Fenland settlement can evolve from a medieval agricultural community into a modern market and transport town without losing its connection with the landscape that created it.

Today, March remains an important part of Cambridgeshire's history and geography. Its churches, market traditions, railway heritage, agricultural surroundings and thriving community make it one of the most significant settlements in the Fens and an important centre for the people and villages of the surrounding region.