Lammas Land

A Thousand Years of Common Ground

Lammas Land represents one of Cambridge's most precious historical treasures—a piece of common land that has remained accessible to the public for over a millennium. The name itself carries medieval significance, derived from the Anglo-Saxon festival of Lammas (August 1st), when private landowners were required to open their fields to common grazing rights. The term combines the Old English words for loaf and mass, reflecting the harvest festival traditions when the first bread from newly ripened corn was blessed in church. This ancient system of shared land use shaped the character of Cambridge itself, creating the distinctive green belt that weaves through the city today. The specific Lammas Land at this location was historically known by several names—Mill Pasture, Nutter's Close, and Foster's Close—each reflecting different periods of ownership and use. The Mill Pasture name suggests the land was once considered a perk for the millers of King's Mill, who used it to graze their carthorses. In 1899, Professor George Darwin, the renowned mathematician and son of Charles Darwin, purchased the Lammas Land to expand his estate at nearby Newnham Grange. He paid £200 for the freehold and subsequently leased it to various tenants, including William Saint the builder and Mr Bull, a local dairy farmer. Darwin himself became an enthusiast for archery in his later years and practiced the sport on these very meadows.

From Private Estate to Public Treasure

The transformation of Lammas Land into the public park it is today occurred in 1951, when the Darwin family relinquished their ownership. Finding suitable tenants had become increasingly difficult, and concerns about vandalism and hooliganism prompted the family to negotiate with Cambridge Corporation. In a remarkable exchange, the Darwin family transferred the Lammas Land in return for the freehold of the Little Island and the kitchen garden at Newnham Grange, both of which had previously been leased to the city. This transaction secured the land's future as a public space, ensuring that generations of Cambridge residents and visitors could enjoy its open meadows and riverside setting.

Landscape and Natural Character

Today, Lammas Land encompasses approximately 22 acres of gently rolling parkland, bordered by Fen Causeway and Newnham Road. The landscape is dominated by ancient willows, many of which are managed through pollarding—a traditional pruning technique that encourages regenerative growth and maintains the trees' distinctive silhouette. These willows frame views across open meadows that slope toward the River Cam, creating a quintessentially English pastoral scene within the urban environment. The park's proximity to the river has historically made it prone to flooding, a characteristic shared by many of Cambridge's commons. This natural vulnerability to water has paradoxically preserved the land, as it proved unsuitable for development and therefore remained available for grazing and recreation.

Recreation and Community Life

The park serves as a vital recreational hub for Cambridge's southwest neighborhoods. A substantial children's play area accommodates young visitors of all ages, while a heated open-air swimming pool operates seasonally, drawing swimmers throughout the warmer months. The Newnham Bowls Club maintains a bowling green on the grounds, and a tennis court provides facilities for racquet sports. Picnic areas with short-cut grass invite families to spread blankets and enjoy outdoor meals, while ample seating throughout the park encourages visitors to linger. A 75-space car park and public toilets provide essential amenities, and a bridge connects Lammas Land directly to Sheep's Green, an adjacent recreation ground that incorporates a local nature reserve. This connectivity transforms the two spaces into a unified green corridor along the river.

Ecological and Historical Significance

Beyond its recreational value, Lammas Land holds profound ecological and historical importance. It forms part of Cambridge's broader commons system—a network of green spaces that includes Jesus Green, Midsummer Common, and Stourbridge Common. These commons have been grazed by cattle since medieval times, with documented rights dating back to 1381. The survival of these spaces in Cambridge contrasts sharply with other English towns, such as Brighton, where commons were developed and lost. The commons remain subject to ancient grazing rights; historically, occupiers of tenements could turn out cattle from May Day to Candlemas, and records indicate that up to 120 cattle may still graze on Cambridge's commons from Maundy Thursday until November 1st. This continuity of use links modern visitors directly to centuries of agricultural tradition and communal land stewardship.