Notes about the history of Somersham

The Village of Somersham

It’s thought that Somersham got its name from the Romans who took the waters here as spa waters, it became a ‘summer station’. It’s believed that later on the bishops also drank the spa water, as well as using it to brew ale.

The Saxon hero Brithnorth gave the parish to the Abbot of Ely in 991 as he had been hospitable to Brithnorth and his troops as they marched to meet the Danish invaders. The Abbot of Ramsey had not been so generous; he being the former owner of this land losing it to Ely on the understanding they would give Brithnorth a Christian burial, which soon came to pass during a battle with the Danes.

Somersham does have an entry in the Domesday Book, it was still part of the abbey of Ely covering 1000 acres, with 20 acres of meadow, 3 fish ponds and 3 square miles of woodland. The first bishop was called Hervey not only taking over the diocese of Ely but the new bishopric as well; Somersham was the site he choose to have as his official residence. See Somersham Bishops Palace.