Horseheath is a village and civil parish in South Cambridgeshire, about twelve and a half miles south-east of Cambridge city centre as the crow flies, close to the Suffolk border. Haverhill lies about four miles to the east. The parish borders Linton, Bartlow, Shudy Camps and West Wickham in Cambridgeshire, and, across the county boundary in Suffolk, Withersfield.
The 2021 Census recorded about 460 people living in the parish. The main Cambridge to Haverhill road, the A1307, runs through the parish and separates the hamlet of Cardinal's Green from the main village.
William Alington was licensed in 1448 to impark 320 acres at Horseheath, and Elizabeth I stayed at Horseheath in 1578. By about 1770 the park covered 740 acres, half of it in Horseheath parish.
The Hall was rebuilt between 1663 and 1665 by William, Lord Alington, to a design by Sir Roger Pratt. It was a red-brick house whose main block and side ranges formed a frontage of 500 feet. In the 18th century Henry Bromley employed William Kent on the interior and the gardens. The furniture and paintings were sold in 1775, the remaining contents in 1777, and the empty shell was mostly demolished in 1792. Wrought-iron gates of about 1670 from the Hall survive at Trinity and St John's colleges in Cambridge.
By the time of the Domesday survey of 1086 there were 26 tenants and 3 servi (unfree labourers) at Horseheath, and the parish had woodland for 90 pigs. The Victoria County History describes Horseheath as having been entirely agricultural.
The population rose from 342 in 1801 to a peak of 578 in 1871, then declined to 328 in 1951. By 1839 there were two public houses, the Red Lion and the Montfort Arms.
Stanlake Batson (died 1857) of Horseheath Lodge, by the western boundary of the parish, bred and owned Plenipotentiary, winner of the 1834 Derby. The village sign commemorates the horse.
All Saints' Church on West Wickham Road is listed Grade I. Historic England dates it to the 14th and 15th centuries, restored in 1829 and 1883 and later, and describes it as built of flint, fieldstone and clunch with limestone dressings. It has a west tower of four stages and an aisleless nave. The chancel holds monuments to the Alington family, including an alabaster tomb chest with recumbent effigies of Sir Giles Alington and Lady Dorothy and reliefs of their children kneeling.
Horseheath Lodge is listed Grade II. Historic England describes it as a house of about 1815 to 1825, of gault brick, built for Stanlake Batson, who trained racehorses.
Horseheath does not appear in the council's list of conservation areas.
Horseheath has no school of its own. Its catchment primary school has been Castle Camps Church of England (Controlled) Primary School in Castle Camps, and its catchment secondary school has been Linton Village College. Catchment areas can change, so families should confirm current catchment with Cambridgeshire County Council admissions.
Check National Rail and the bus operator for current times before you travel.
The Victoria County History records several rows of mid 19th-century cottages at Sherwood Green, east of the village along the main road, one row of five in flint dated 1838. In the mid 20th century many new houses, mostly detached, were built in the spaces between the village's scattered older dwellings.
HM Land Registry recorded seven standard residential sales in Horseheath between October 2024 and March 2026. Five were detached houses, one semi-detached and one terraced, with prices ranging from £280,000 to £735,000. With so few sales, and because the mix of homes sold varies from year to year, these figures give a general picture rather than a precise valuation.
Thinking of moving to or from Horseheath? Book a free valuation or browse property for sale with our team.
Horseheath is about twelve and a half miles south-east of Cambridge city centre in a straight line, and about four miles west of Haverhill.
No. The nearest stations are Dullingham, about seven miles north, and Great Chesterford, about seven and a half miles south-west, both served by Greater Anglia. Stagecoach East buses run through the village between Cambridge and Haverhill.
There is no school in the village. The catchment schools have been Castle Camps Church of England (Controlled) Primary School and Linton Village College; please confirm current catchment with Cambridgeshire County Council.
Yes. The Old Red Lion is a pub with a restaurant and rooms.
