The village of Yaxley is reputed to be the largest village in England, which these days could be a disputed fact, for due to the large number of new housing estates plus factories that have been built in Yaxley, it now seems to be more of a small township. However, many of the old buildings in Main Street have been skillfully preserved and one is still able to find the peace and characteristic beauty of the old village.
Built on the edge of the fens, Yaxley has some of the most fertile land in the country. However, at the opposite side of the village there are many seams of clay, which have been quarried and used in the making of bricks – hence the features of the boundary skylines are tall chimneys, which now are belching less smoke as the industry declines.
The history of wars is also written into Yaxley for the fens were used as a waterway to convey prisoners during the early 19th century Anglo-French wars. Flat-bottomed boats were landed at a point along Main Street and the prisoners marched up Church Street to their camp at Norman Cross; it appears that they found kindness in at least one person during their internment for a plaque is to be found in the church commemorating the life of an officer. The cost of this memorial had been borne by many prisoners out of their meagre pocket-money. During the Second World War history was repeated when a prisoner of war camp was built in the village. This was mainly for Italian prisoners who were either put to work on the land or in the brick kilns. There was no plaque of commemoration for this period but many Italians stayed in the community after VE Day.
The largest part of Main Street contains listed buildings and on the small village green (where once the inhabitants held a market) one can still see the old village water pump and also an Edward VII pillar box, which is still in use.
At the present day there are three schools in the village for children up to the age of 11. In the Main Street of Yaxley there is a well equipped Fire Station which employs both permanent and retained firemen – it has grown to such an extent that it has its own social club on the premises. Besides an excellent Health Centre, Yaxley can boast a Senior Citizens’ Retirement Centre (where a day centre for the elderly is also organised) and an adult handicapped home from where supervision is also given to five houses around the village where handicapped men and women make their home life.
The fens were drained in Cromwellian times by Vermuyden, and now there are beautiful views of acres of fertile crops stretching many miles to adjoining villages. These viewpoints are found on the hillsides leading up from the old village and also from bedroom and attic windows along Main Street. On a clear day it is a glorious sight!
NB
