At its height Barkway was more of a town than a village and certainly much larger than it is today. A former coaching town, its main street is an impressive kilometre long and lined with brick and flint, plaster and thatch, half-timber and Georgian red brick houses.

The village name derives from the Old English words berc and weg and translates as ‘Birch-tree road'. At the time of the Domesday Book it was known as Bercheuuei and Bercheuueig. In the 2001 Census the population was 593.

The church has been classed as disappointing, large and spreading and mainly rebuilt in Victorian times.

Along the main street there is the last stone in a set of sixteen milestones from Cambridge to Barkway. The milestone was installed by William Warren, using money from a charitable fund set up in 1586. They are said to be the oldest set of milestones surviving today.

Chaise and Pair

The Chaise and Pair (now possibly the Tally Ho) public house in Barkway has a very helpful ghost. For some years now the ghost, who locals have named Henry, changes barrels in the cellar. He has also been seen occasionally during the night.

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St Mary's Church

One corner of St Mary's graveyard and the Wheatsheaf public house are haunted by the ghost of William Phelps also known as ‘Brighton Bill'. In 1838 Bill was almost beaten to death in a boxing match at Norris Folly and was taken to the Wheatsheaf where he died.

To view a map of the area click on the button below



See also - Hertfordshire - Barkway - The Wheatsheaf

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Village

A local legend has it that many years ago Sir Peter Saltonshall met the ghost of his former mistress in Barkway. Over the centuries the details have been lost so it is not known what the circumstances would have been to bring the ghost of the mistress to the village.

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Walsh's Garage

Close to the junction of the High Street and Royston Road in Barkway stands Walsh’s Garage. It is said that the sound of children’s voices can be heard in the workshop. It seems that at first the voices were those of children at play but they would soon change to that of frightened children. Is this haunting related to the death of Ruth Mary Wilson who drowned just outside the garage in 1886?

To view a map of the area click on the button below

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The Wheatsheaf

The Wheatsheaf public house and one corner of St Mary's graveyard are haunted by the ghost of William Phelps also known as ‘Brighton Bill'. In 1838 Bill was almost beaten to death in a boxing match at Norris Folly and was taken to the Wheatsheaf where he died. It is said that you can still hear him moaning and crying out in pain.

To view a map of the area click on the button below



See also - Hertfordshire - Barkway - St Mary's Church