Peterborough

Peterborough was built on prayer and brick. The cathedral—one of England's finest Norman buildings—dates to 1118 and remains largely intact, its triple-arched West Front without architectural precedent. Catherine of Aragon was buried here in 1536; Mary, Queen of Scots was interred here after her execution in 1587 before being moved to Westminster.

But Peterborough's older history lies beneath. Archaeological evidence under the cathedral indicates Roman buildings—possibly a temple or monumental arch. The original church, called Medeshamstede, was founded around 655 AD, making it one of England's earliest Christian centers. Vikings destroyed it in 870; the Normans rebuilt what stands today.

The industrial revolution came via the railways and the London Brick Company. The Great Northern Railway made Peterborough a junction; brick-making exploited the local clay. At peak, the London Brick Company's chimneys dominated the skyline, producing billions of bricks that built London and other cities.

Modern Peterborough reinvented itself around environment. In 1994, the city designated itself one of four UK 'environment cities' and began building what is now the country's largest cluster of environmental businesses. Growth from 1995 to 2004 made Peterborough the fastest-growing economy among East of England unitary authorities.

By 2026, Peterborough tests whether a city built on Anglo-Saxon prayer and Victorian brick can become Britain's 'environment capital.'