Visit Eaton Socon Places

Welcome to Visit Eaton Socon Places
The Walkfo guide to things to do & explore in Eaton Socon

  

Eaton Socon Places Overview: History, Culture & Facts about Eaton Socon

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Eaton Socon history

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Early history

There were probably a few scattered settlements around Eaton Socon in the Neolithic period. The majority of the population were pagan, and the Pope sent Augustine in 597 AD, to impose Christianity. Augustine’s work was successful and a hundred years later most of East Anglia was Christian.

The Norman Conquest

In 1066 AD William, Duke of Normandy launched an invasion of southern England, and defeated English forces at the Battle of Hastings. The resulting subjugation of the Anglo-Saxon indigenous people is referred to as the Norman Conquest. At Eaton the local chieftain was Ulmar, a thegn (or thane) and he was superior to two sokemen. In time the area became known as Soka de Eton by 1247 AD. In 1645 it was known as Eton cum Soca, and in the nineteenth century this had become Eaton Socon.

Eaton Socon Castle

Hugh de Beauchamp built a castle in present-day Eaton Socon around 1140. It was probably of timber construction with earthworks and may never have been completed, but the earth mound still exists. Castle was built during a period of civil war over succession to the throne.

Turnpikes and stage coaches

The roads that were adequate for static populations in the sixteenth century were becoming a hindrance to the commercial progress. By 1700 a few turnpikes had been set up: a turnpike was a toll road: the toll income was used to improve and maintain the road surface. By 1754 coaches were travelling from London as far as Edinburgh. At the height of stagecoach activity there were 20 coaches passing through Eaton Socon daily, some going straight up the Great North Road.

The Cock Inn

The Cock Inn stood to the north of Eaton Socon Green, between the church and the corner of Peppercorn Lane. It was a well-known hostelry in the 18th century, with a reputation for good food. Lord Torrington, writing in his diary in 1794, was very complimentary about it.

Reference in Nicolas Nickleby

In Dickens’ novel Nicolas Nickleby, Squeers and some boys are making their way from London to Yorkshire by stagecoach. They stop at a place named Eton Slocomb, evidently a pseudonym for Eaton Socon.

The Great North Road in 1794

John Byng travelled in the county and wrote a description of his travels: Sandy Field exhibits the same shew of fertility. To the right, upon the hill, amidst woods, stands the new built seat of Mr. Pym; to the left, over the river, the village of Blunham, the beautiful steeple of its church, and the pretty house of Mrs. C—. The village of Wroxston is on the other side of the river; to which there is a Ford passable when the water is down.

Impact of railways

On 7 August 1850, a railway opened to the public through St Neots. The Great Northern Railway opened its line from a temporary station in London, Maiden Lane, to Peterborough. In succeeding years the company opened throughout from Kings Cross to Doncaster. The railway enabled the transport of goods and minerals: manufactured goods outward, and heavy commodities inward.

You can visit Eaton Socon places with Walkfo Eaton Socon to hear history at Eaton Socon’s places whilst walking around using the free digital tour app. Walkfo Eaton Socon has 26 places to visit in our interactive Eaton Socon map, with amazing history, culture & travel facts you can explore the same way you would at a museum or art gallery with information audio headset. With Walkfo, you can travel by foot, bike or bus throughout Eaton Socon, being in the moment, without digital distraction or limits to a specific walking route. Our historic audio walks, National Trust interactive audio experiences, digital tour guides for English Heritage locations are available at Eaton Socon places, with a AI tour guide to help you get the best from a visit to Eaton Socon & the surrounding areas.

“Curated content for millions of locations across the UK, with 26 audio facts unique to Eaton Socon places in an interactive Eaton Socon map you can explore.”

Walkfo: Visit Eaton Socon Places Map
26 tourist, history, culture & geography spots

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Eaton Socon historic spots	Eaton Socon tourist destinations	Eaton Socon plaques	Eaton Socon geographic features
Walkfo Eaton Socon tourism map key: places to see & visit like National Trust sites, Blue Plaques, English Heritage locations & top tourist destinations in Eaton Socon

  

Best Eaton Socon places to visit

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Eaton Socon has places to explore by foot, bike or bus. Below are a selection of the varied Eaton Socon’s destinations you can visit with additional content available at the Walkfo Eaton Socon’s information audio spots:

St Denys’ Church, Little Barford St Denys’ Church is a redundant Anglican church in the village of Little Barford, Bedfordshire. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a Grade II* listed building. The church lies to the west of the village, overlooking the River Great Ouse.

Visit Eaton Socon plaques