History · 6,000 years
Before Peterborough was a city
Peterborough sits where the River Nene meets the Fens, on the edge between dry gravel and wetland. People have lived on that edge for six thousand years. They farmed it, built across it, fought over it and, eventually, raised one of England’s great Norman churches beside it.
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Artist’s reconstruction
1 · c.4000–2200 BC
First farmers on the fen edge
Farming families at Fengate, and the pottery that took the city’s name. Read more →
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Artist’s reconstruction
2 · c.1500–800 BC
Timber across the water
The Flag Fen causeway and Must Farm, the stilt village preserved by fire. Read more →
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Artist’s reconstruction
3 · c.800 BC–AD 43
Roundhouses between the rivers
Floods, a return, and the Cat’s Water settlement at Fengate. Read more →
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Artist’s reconstruction
4 · AD 43–410
The fort by the bridges
Longthorpe fort, the town of Durobrivae and the Water Newton silver. Read more →
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5 · c.655–1238
From Medeshamstede to the Cathedral
A monastery in the meadows, Vikings, fire and 120 years of building. Read more →
Explore in 3D · 6,000 Years
The layers beneath your feet
Each band is one chapter, oldest at the bottom.
- The Cathedral
- Roman
- Iron Age
- Bronze Age
- First farmers
Drag to turn · a simplified model, not a survey
Plan a history day
- MorningFlag Fen Archaeology ParkBronze Age timbers in the preservation hall and a walk along the replica causeway.
- LunchPeterborough MuseumPeterborough Ware, Iron Age finds from Fengate and Roman Durobrivae.
- AfternoonPeterborough CathedralThe West Front, the Norman nave and the painted ceiling. Start with the 360° tour.