Parson Drove

Coordinates: 52°40′N 0°02′E / 52.66°N 0.03°E / 52.66; 0.03

Parson Drove is a village in the Fens, in Cambridgeshire, England. Located approximately 7 miles (11 km) west of Wisbech, the nearest town, the village is named after the central road around which the village developed, formerly a green drove wider than it is now.

Other nearby towns include Peterborough, 19 miles to the west, and King's Lynn, 21 miles to the east.

History

The area was originally farmed by the Romans, who left evidence of their presence in several places throughout Parson Drove and the surrounding parish.

Parson Drove was mentioned in the Domesday Book.

Samuel Pepys wrote about Parson Drove in his diaries in 1663, describing it as a "heathen place" where he stayed on 17 and 18 September, and apparently had his horse stolen.

Historical buildings

The Drove has many buildings dating from the 16th century, 10 of which are Grade II Listed Buildings. The village has three pubs, including The Swan Inn, in which Pepys stayed in the 17th century. The village has three churches, two of which are historically interesting: