Littleport hasn’t changed that much since the 19th century.  

And it certainly wouldn’t have ever merited being depicted as an idyllic English village on one of those rustic biscuit tins or olde worlde chocolate boxes, especially ones with a coach and pair a-parked up outside a shop.  

In the 1850s, the historian Carter remarked that you’d as likely see a coach in Littleport as a ship at Newmarket! 

But the centre of town is going to get a major facelift with a grant of £75,000, so residents can look forward to an enhanced shopping and dining experience.  

Perhaps one of Littleport’s artists will commit the result to canvas, and prompt possible reproduction on to a bijou tin or cardboard casket.  

And carriages, albeit horseless, abound and can freely park either on the roadside or in the Main Street car park. 

The 21st century has seen hundreds of new houses built on what were the outskirts of old Littleport.  

If the inhabitants walk or drive into it this week, they can admire the window exhibition of Littleport’s skating history, artefacts and information at the 19th century JH Adams shop in Main Street, now Littleport Heritage Centre. 

Littleport’s residents are proud of their village, and keen to keep it clean.  

This Saturday, February 11 at 10am, the first community litter pick convened by Damien Bard meets at the Littleport Leisure Centre free car park. There will be prizes for the most bags filled! 

Many who regularly litter-pick around their home areas include entertainments manager for the Ex-Servicemen’s Club, Derek Timbers and Doyen of the Field Theatre Group, author, actor and writer, Deborah Curtis Watson.  

Proprietor of Littleport domestic cleaning service, Bee Clean, Samantha Williams, was out with her children last week and litter picked 4 bags full! [Contact Bee Clean: 07923 684344].