Despite the close proximity of World War Two airfields at Oakington and Waterbeach very little evidence of the 1939 – 1945 war can be found in the villages.

An incident (potentially Easter Monday 1942) saw a bomb landing on hundreds of barrels of jam just outside the Chiver’s factory.  On the BBC website there is a personal experience recorded about this incident. A chipped tile in a house in School Lane remains from this incident. St Andrew’s Church also suffered a hole in its roof when an anti-aircraft shell from a mortar position at Meadow Farm fell through it. This has now been covered up.

Structures

The Defence of Britain records record that there was a pillbox near the guided busway and the Community Orchard, but this has since been completely removed. The position can clearly be seen using the Google Earth Defence of Britain overlay and is recorded in the Defence of Britain archive.  Many examples of existing pillboxes can be found alongside the guided busway as you go past Oakington, and towards Waterbeach as well as a single one in the centre of the nearby Cambridge Science Park.

Observer Corps in Histon

The pictures below have been kindly provided to the Histon and Impington Village Society (the Society has no rights regarding reproduction by outside individuals, groups or businesses).