Chatteris, Cambridgeshire

Description
Chatteris, a small market-town and parish in Cambridgeshire. The town stands on the west border of the Isle of Ely, near the Wisbech and St Ives branch of the G.E.R., 10 1/4 miles NNE of St Ives, and has a station on the railway, a post, money order, and telegraph office, two banks, a weekly market on Friday, and two fairs, one on the last Friday in April, and one on the Friday before October 11. It was known at Domesday as Ceterig or Caterig, and has ever since possessed some local importance, but was not made a market-town till 1834. It is governed by a Local Board of nine members, and its industries include brewing, malting, engineering, and horse-clothing, rope, and mat making. The parish is well drained and highly cultivated, a small part being common; 48 acres are devoted to the poor. Acreage, 13,719; population, 4587. British relics were found in 1757 in a barrow, and many Roman coins have been ploughed up. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Ely; net yearly value, £1150 with residence. The church is a handsome and ancient building of stone in mixed styles, and consists of chancel, nave, aisles, south porch, and an embattled western tower with a spire. There are Congregational, General and Particular Baptists, Primitive Methodist, and Wesleyan chapels, and a Friends' meeting-house.