Cambridge Past, Present & Future

21/08/2026

Could you help turn an entire windmill?

Bourn Windmill is one of England’s oldest surviving windmills and a designated Ancient Monument. Built during the reign of Henry VIII, it is also one of only around 50 trestle post mills still standing in the UK.

Unlike later windmills, the whole wooden body of a post mill must be turned so that its sails face squarely into the wind. It sounds like an impossible task, but just two or three people can rotate the entire structure around its central post.

At our August Open Day, our knowledgeable volunteer guides will welcome you inside, explain how the mill works and share the story of this remarkable building, including the essential restoration work that allowed it to reopen in 2023.

📅 Sunday 23 August
🕑 2pm to 4.30pm, last tour at 4pm
📍 Bourn Windmill, Caxton Road, Bourn, CB23 2SU
🎟 Cambridge Past, Present & Future members go free
🎟 Non-members, £4 per adult and £1 per child
🍰 Tea and cakes available to purchase

Please note that entry to the mill is via steep ladders, with around 30 steps in total. The exterior and surrounding countryside can also be enjoyed from ground level.

Bourn Windmill is owned and cared for by Cambridge Past, Present & Future, with the support of our members, patrons, volunteers and donors.

Come and experience a rare piece of Cambridgeshire’s living heritage.

Find out more:
https://cambridgeppf.org/etn/bourn-windmill-open-day-7/

17/08/2026

🛒 Shop at Co-op? You can support Cambridge’s heritage at no extra cost!

If you’re a Co-op member, you can choose Cambridge Past, Present & Future as your Local Community Fund cause. Every time you shop, Co-op gives back to us 💚

👉 Choose us here:
https://membership.coop.co.uk/causes/97161

Thank you for helping protect Cambridge’s past for future generations 🙌

17/08/2026

Lovely visitors to Wandlebury. We have no coffee pop up this Mon-Thurs so please bring your own drinks and snacks. The weather is cooler and it’s perfect for a picnic so please come prepared 🧺. Pop up will be back Friday ☕️

13/08/2026

Preparing Barwell Meadows for Stourbridge Fair, one sweep at a time.

The Cambridge Scything Group joined us to cut the meadow by hand, using a traditional skill that works in harmony with the landscape.

Warden Hannah takes us behind the scenes as preparations begin for Stourbridge Fair on Saturday 5 September.

07/08/2026

See traditional scything in action in central Cambridge🌾

This Sunday, local scythers from the Cambs Scything Workgroup will be cutting the small meadow between the L***r Chapel and the Chisholm Trail, in preparation for September’s Stourbridge Fair on 05 September.

Scything is a traditional rural skill that remains valuable today, particularly in smaller or difficult-to-reach places where machinery cannot easily go.

Drop by and watch these skilled mowers at work.

📅 Sunday 9 August
⏰ 10.30am–12.30pm
📍 Cambridge L***r Chapel, Newmarket Road

Find out more: https://cambridgeppf.org/etn/scything-demonstration-2/

***rChapel

06/08/2026

Before Amazon. Before supermarkets. There was Stourbridge Fair. Learn more about the fair and the L***r Chapel from Bookbinder and expert Flávio Marzo ahead of this years Stourbridge Fair reenactment on Sat 5 September.

03/08/2026

🌿 Slow down beneath the trees at Wandlebury.

Join Green Coach David Lynch for a gentle woodland walk shaped around birdsong, shifting light and the small details we often miss. Through simple nature-based practices and mindful movement, you’ll have space to pause, unwind and reconnect, before returning to the pop-up café to share reflections and conversation.

No previous experience is needed, just come as you are.

📅 Friday 7 August, 3–4.30pm
📍 Wandlebury Country Park
🎟️ Three walks £50, or six walks £70, concessions available

Find out more: https://cambridgeppf.org/etn/calm-under-the-canopy-7/

31/07/2026

Wandlebury favourites The Coffee Station August dates at Wandlebury. We have a pop up cafe serving hot and cold drinks and snacks every day during the summer holidays ☕️🧋

Our August dates at the Park ☕️ 🧁 ☀️

31/07/2026

💧 Hinxton Watermill Open Day this Sunday 02 august

Experience this beautiful 17th-century watermill beside the River Cam and learn more about one of Cambridgeshire's hidden historic gems.

Perfect for families, history lovers and anyone looking for a unique afternoon out.

📍 Hinxton Watermill
📅 Sunday 2 August
🕝 2.30pm–5pm

If you care about places like hinxton, become a Guardian and join us:
https://cambridgeppf.org/guardians

31/07/2026

Hidden just beyond Newmarket Road stands the L***r Chapel, built in the 12th century, nearly 900 years ago.

It has witnessed pilgrims, plague, civil war, changing landscapes and the growth of Cambridge around it. Today, it remains one of the city's most extraordinary hidden treasures.

This Sunday, 2 August, its doors will open once again.

Whether you've lived in Cambridge all your life or are discovering it for the first time, stepping inside is a rare opportunity to experience a remarkable piece of the city's history.

📍 L***r Chapel Open Day
🗓️ Sunday 02 august
🕜 1.30pm–3.30pm
🎟️ Free entry, no booking required

Come and discover one of Cambridge's best-kept secrets.

If places like the L***r Chapel matter to you, becoming a CPPF member helps us care for Cambridge's historic buildings, green spaces and landscapes for future generations.
https://cambridgeppf.org/join-us-page/