Great Staughton
Situated in the Kym valley three miles from Kimbolton, Great Staughton has a rich and varied history.
In the 1st Century AD, the Romans built a substantial corridor type villa complete with bath-house and mosaic reception area. Staughton appears under the name of Tochestone in the Domesday Book. One mile south-west of St. Andrew's church stands the impressive moat (one of four moated sites in the village) which was the stronghold of one of Edward I's Knights, Sir Adam de Creeting.
The Church itself, parts of which date from the 13th Century, boasts the impressive double memorial to Sir James and Sir Richard Dyer and is the last resting place of George Wauton, whose heir, Valentine, was one of the signatories of Charles I's death warrant. Opposite the church is the splendid 16th Century Manor House built by Sir Oliver Leder.
Staughton Highway (now the B645) is notable for its sundial, erected in 1637 and a number of charming thatched cottages, as well as the White Hart, a 17th Century coaching inn.
The gently undulating countryside around Staughton can be explored, using the recently inaugurated 50 mile network of paths which take in all the historic sites.
In 1996 the then Prime Minister, John Major, opened a fully equipped sports pavilion on the playing field and this is now home to the flourishing football and tennis clubs. A second tennis court was officially opened in 1998 and now the village plays host to visiting cricket, tennis and football clubs. The village has an excellent range of clubs and societies including a successful drama group. Great Staughton also has two pubs, a village hall and a primary school.