Wicken, Cambridgeshire

Description
Wicken, a parish, with a village, in Cambridgeshire, 4 miles SSW of Soham station on the G.E.R., and 7 NW of Newmarket. It has a post office under Soham; money order and telegraph office, Soham. Acreage, 3934 of land and of water; population, 716. There is a parish council consisting of nine members. The village is much frequented in summer by entomologists on account of the rare specimens of moths and butterflies, some of which are not met with anywhere else. There is also an ancient abbey, once occupied by various members of the Cromwell family, some of whom are buried in the old church. Ancient coins and other antiquities have been found. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Ely; net value, £175 with residence. Patron, the Church Patronage Society. The church is an ancient building of stone in the Gothic style, and has been restored. There are Wesleyan and Primitive Methodist chapels, a church mission hall, and three almshouses.