1941: On this day, 814 20-year-old city girls responded to their call-up papers - although some forgot their registration card! Many of the girls had come with their mothers, while others had their boyfriends for company. Some are described as arriving 'with an army escort on either side'. Quite a few perambulators are also recorded as being parked outside the building. (Gray, David, Peterborough at War 1939-1945, David Gray, 2011)
Taken from The Peterborough Book of Days by Brian Jones, The History Press, 2014.
Built in 1734 by Charles Manners, who referred to himself as Lord Charles Manners of Ufford and was a relative of the Dukes of Rutland, Grade I Ufford Hall makes quite a statement in such a small village. Originally a typical 5-bayed 3-storied Georgian property, there are similarities with the current Peterborough Museum building. It was later enlarged with two wings, an additional storey and a stable block. The house remained in private hands until being given to the National Trust. They sold the property on in due course, having left it untouched.
The front, dressed-stone side of the house faces 17 acres of parkland, whereas the less-impressive rear, which now contains the entrance, faces the road. The house and 17 acres of land was purchased for £1.75m in 2014 and restored. Thankfully images of the houses interior and exterior are available online thanks to the sale and they detail features including a marble fireplace, cantilevered stone staircase and haha in the parkland.
An earlier manor named Downhall was situated north of the village. The earliest reference to it is the courtroll for the manor dating to 1432. The name still exists on maps and was the name of a covert in the nineteenth century.