Fowlmere


Fowlmere is one of the southernmost villages in Cambridgeshire, England. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 Census was 1,206. It is very close to the Imperial War Museum Duxford, and southwest of the city of Cambridge.

History

The village has an ancient landmark called the ‘Round Moat’, which is the remains of an early Saxon settlement dating from around the ninth century.
The Census Records from 1841–1891 can be found in the Cambridge Record Office. In addition the 1851 Census for Fowlmere is available in full transcript form, on microfiche, from the .
The village was struck by an F1/T2 tornado on 23 November 1981, as part of the record-breaking nationwide tornado outbreak on that day.

Airfield

Fowlmere Airfield opened in late-1916 as an emergency landing ground for 75 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps, who had their HQ in Bedford and dispersed their three flights to Yelling, Old Weston and Therfield on anti-Zepplin duties. Its purpose was to receive aircraft lost, out of fuel or with engine troubles and was staffed with a minimum number of personnel whose prime task was to light flares to aid pilots in finding the site. It closed down after WW1.
As RAF Fowlmere, near the edge of the village, it was the location for the RAF Station and transferred to the United States Army Air Force for use by their 339th Fighter Group during World War II. The Group flew its first combat mission on 30 April 1944, and its last on 21 April 1945. Modern Air was established at the airfield during September 1990 by Derick Gunning and Anna McDowell. Now the airfield provides pilots with self-fly Piper aircraft and servicing, as well as PPL training.
The Fowlmere nature reserve is situated west of the village, between it and the village of Melbourn. With of nature trails, it attracts many visitors. Several special birds are seen there, including: kingfishers, water rails, and grasshopper warblers.
Fowlmere, along with several other Cambridgeshire villages, lays claim to a sighting of the infamous Fen Tiger, a supposed wild big cat.