First impressions of Peterborough and its City Centre Heritage

Getting into Peterborough by train can create a first impression of a not vastly attractive station, multi-storey car parks and underpasses. For a city with a strong railway heritage there is surprisingly little left, with the view of Railworld from the train, alongside the two listed sheds, providing the clues to the industrial past and the previous importance of the city to the railway industry. However whilst Peterborough is considered a New Town it has an old core, and rich archaeology. The rural areas surrounding the city are also rich in heritage.

Views of the Cathedral from the train station are limited - it is best appreciated at long distance from the railway line to Ely, but as you do enter the station you get a hint of this fantastic building at the heart of the city centre.

Alongside the railway the river would obviously also have had a larger role in the city in times gone by, and it is interesting to see any development which makes use of this feature.
Once off the train and through the iron arch which signals the way to the city from Cowgate one walks up into the stone city centre guided by the cathedral spires. The city centre area itself is relatively small, with no more large redevelopment schemes planned for it, so enhancing what is there in the historic core is obviously of importance.

OP’s initiative to remove the 1960’s Corn exchange building and the creation of St John’s square, currently being managed on site by PCC, has led to more attractive views already, and ultimately a more attractive vista into cathedral square and subsequently into the cathedral precincts themselves. The new squares and run-up to the Norman gate provides a showcase of the heritage of the city centre, with St Johns leading to the Guildhall leading to the Cathedral. The surrounding buildings, such as Pizza Express and Prezzo, have some fascinating quirks to them, if only more people could be encouraged to look up!

Leading from the Guildhall the Cathedral can be seen through the arch. An iconic image of Peterborough and the heritage ‘asset’ most connected with people’s image of the city, due to its use on promotional materials. The cathedral precincts have a different environment to the rest of the city centre, as one walks through the Norman gate the visual impact is quite striking.
The earliest known map of the city, drawn by John Speed in around 1610AD shows the Market Place (Cathedral Square). A covered market cross, another cross or post, and a free standing building are shown to the east of St John’s Church. The Old Guildhall was not built until 1671AD. The buildings on this map still provide the cities core and their importance cannot be underestimated.

In my next blog I will take a look at the heritage beyond the city centre…

Alice Kershaw