Peterborough Heritage and Haunted Sites: A Historic City Guide

The Cathedral City at Your Doorstep

From The Bull Hotel’s prime position on Westgate, guests find themselves at the very heart of one of England’s most historically significant cathedral cities. Peterborough’s story spans nearly a millennium, from Saxon monastery through Norman conquest to Victorian industrial powerhouse, and each era has left its distinctive mark on the cityscape that surrounds the hotel.

Westgate itself represents one of Peterborough’s most historic thoroughfares, connecting the cathedral precinct with the medieval marketplace and beyond. As guests step from The Bull Hotel onto this ancient street, they follow in the footsteps of countless pilgrims, merchants, nobility, and common folk who have travelled this route for over eight centuries. The very cobblestones beneath modern pavements have witnessed royal processions, religious ceremonies, market days, and the daily life of a community that has thrived continuously since Saxon times.

Peterborough Cathedral: The Crown Jewel

Just a five-minute walk from The Bull Hotel stands Peterborough Cathedral, one of England’s finest examples of Norman architecture and a building whose influence shaped the development of the entire city. Founded as a Saxon monastery in 655 AD, the current cathedral was built between 1118 and 1238, representing one of the most complete Norman cathedrals in England.

The cathedral’s remarkable west front, with its three enormous arches, creates one of the most impressive ecclesiastical facades in Europe. Inside, visitors discover a wealth of medieval art and architecture, including rare 13th-century painted nave ceiling depicting saints, kings, and fantastical creatures. The building serves as the final resting place of two queens of England: Catherine of Aragon, first wife of Henry VIII, lies buried here after her death at nearby Kimbolton Castle, whilst Mary Queen of Scots was initially interred here following her execution at Fotheringhay Castle, before her remains were moved to Westminster Abbey.

The cathedral’s connection to The Bull Hotel extends beyond mere proximity. During the coaching era, many visitors to Peterborough came specifically to pay respects at royal tombs or to attend significant religious ceremonies. The Bull naturally served as preferred accommodation for such distinguished guests, creating centuries of connection between the two historic establishments.

Peterborough Museum: Gateway to Local History

Located on Priestgate, just steps from both the cathedral and The Bull Hotel, Peterborough Museum occupies a beautiful Victorian building that once served as the city’s first public library. Reopened in 2023 after extensive renovation, the museum provides fascinating insights into the area’s history from prehistoric times to the present day.

The museum’s archaeological collections include remarkable finds from Flag Fen, one of Europe’s most important Bronze Age sites, located just outside the city. Roman artifacts tell the story of Durobrivae, the Romano-British settlement that preceded modern Peterborough, whilst Saxon and medieval collections illustrate the development of the monastic community that became today’s cathedral city.

Of particular interest to guests of The Bull Hotel are the museum’s Victorian and Industrial collections, which document Peterborough’s transformation from market town to major railway junction and brick-making centre. These displays provide context for understanding the social and economic forces that shaped The Bull’s development during its most significant period of expansion.

Historic Streets and Architecture

The immediate vicinity of The Bull Hotel offers exceptional examples of English urban development across multiple centuries. Westgate itself retains much of its medieval street pattern, with narrow side streets and courtyards that once housed craftsmen’s workshops and merchant dwellings. Many buildings display architectural features spanning from Tudor timber framing through Georgian elegance to Victorian commercial grandeur.

Cathedral Square presents a particularly striking architectural ensemble, where the Norman cathedral facade faces Georgian and Victorian buildings that once housed the residences and businesses of Peterborough’s most prosperous citizens. The Guildhall, dating from the 17th century, serves as a reminder of the city’s medieval civic traditions, whilst the nearby Peterborough Arts Centre occupies a beautifully converted Victorian church.

Walking tours departing from The Bull Hotel can easily encompass these historic streets within a comfortable circuit. The compact nature of central Peterborough means that visitors can experience eight centuries of architectural development within a leisurely afternoon’s exploration, returning to the hotel with a profound appreciation for the historical layers that surround their accommodation.

The Railway Revolution Heritage

Peterborough’s transformation following the arrival of the Great Northern Railway in 1850 fundamentally altered both the city’s character and The Bull Hotel’s clientele. The magnificent Victorian railway station, designed by architect William Henry Barlow, stands as a testament to the confidence and ambition of the railway age. Its elaborate iron and glass construction represents the pinnacle of 19th-century engineering and architectural innovation.

Railway enthusiasts will find much to explore at Railworld Wildlife Haven, an innovative attraction that combines transport heritage with environmental education. Located on the site of former railway sidings, Railworld tells the story of Peterborough’s railway development whilst providing habitats for wildlife species that have adapted to urban environments.

The Nene Valley Railway, operating historic steam and diesel trains along the route of a former Great Northern Railway branch line, offers visitors the opportunity to experience travel as it might have been during The Bull Hotel’s coaching-to-railway transition period. The railway passes through beautiful countryside and several picturesque stations, providing an excellent day excursion from the hotel.

Flag Fen and Prehistoric Heritage

One of Europe’s most significant Bronze Age archaeological sites lies just outside Peterborough at Flag Fen. This remarkable site, discovered in 1982, reveals a sophisticated 3,000-year-old wooden causeway and artificial island that provided insights into prehistoric life and ritual practices. The preserved timber structures represent the largest collection of Bronze Age wood in Europe.

Flag Fen’s significance extends beyond archaeology to demonstrate the continuous human occupation of the Peterborough area across millennia. The sophisticated engineering and craftsmanship evident in Bronze Age construction finds echoes in the medieval cathedral builders and Victorian railway engineers who successively shaped the landscape around The Bull Hotel.

Literary and Cultural Connections

Peterborough’s location at the intersection of major transport routes has made it a crossroads for cultural as well as commercial exchange. The city features in literary works ranging from medieval chronicles to contemporary fiction, whilst its cathedral and historic streets have provided settings for numerous films and television productions.

John Clare, the celebrated “peasant poet” of the Romantic movement, spent his final years at Peterborough’s St Andrew’s Hospital and is buried in the city. His profound connection to the Cambridgeshire landscape and his tragic personal story add poetic resonance to the area’s heritage. Visitors to The Bull Hotel can easily visit Clare’s grave and explore locations that inspired some of his most moving verses.

Modern Peterborough and Future Heritage

Contemporary Peterborough successfully balances preservation of its historic core with dynamic modern development. The Queensgate Shopping Centre, directly opposite The Bull Hotel, represents sympathetic modern architecture that complements rather than dominates the historic streetscape. Similarly, new residential and commercial developments throughout the city demonstrate how heritage preservation can coexist with urban growth.

The city’s designation as a “New Town” in 1967 brought planned expansion whilst protecting the historic centre where The Bull Hotel stands. This thoughtful approach to development ensures that future visitors will continue to experience the remarkable continuity of heritage that makes Peterborough such a compelling destination.

From Bronze Age settlements through Roman towns, Saxon monasteries, Norman cathedrals, medieval markets, coaching inns, Victorian industry, and modern civic pride, Peterborough offers visitors staying at The Bull Hotel an unparalleled opportunity to experience the full sweep of English history within walking distance of their accommodation. The city serves not merely as a backdrop to the hotel’s own fascinating story, but as a living museum where each street corner reveals new chapters in the ongoing story of English civilization.