, and paper was manufactured near Sturbridge. Sturbridge
fair was at this period reckoned the largest in Europe, the chief
articles of merchandise being wool, hops and leather; and the Newmarket
races and horse-trade were already famous. Large waste areas were
brought under cultivation in the 17th century through the drainage of
the fen-district, which was brought to completion about 1652 through the
labours of Cornelius Vermuyden, a Dutchman. The coprolite industry was
very profitable for a short period from 1850 to 1880, and its decline
was accompanied by a general industrial and agricultural depression.
Cambridgeshire returned three members to parliament in 1290, and in 1295
the county returned two members, the borough of Cambridge two members,
and the city of Ely two members, this being the sole return for Ely. The
university was summoned to return members in 1300 and again in 1603, but
no returns are recorded before 1614, after which it continued to return
two members. Under the Reform Act of 1832 the county returned three
members.

_Antiquities_.--In ecclesiastical architecture Cambridgeshire would be
rich only in the possession of the magnificent cathedral at Ely and the
round church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jesus College and King's College
chapels, and many other examples in Cambridge. But there are many fine
churches elsewhere. At Thorney, a small town in the north of the county,
which owes much in appearance to the 8th duke of Bedford (d. 1872), the
parish church is actually a portion of the church of an abbey said to
date originally from the 7th century, and refounded in 972 by Ethelwold,
bishop of Winchester, as a Benedictine monastery. The church is partly
fine Norman. Another Norman building of special interest is Sturbridge
chapel near Cambridge, which belonged to a lepers' hospital. To this
foundation King John granted a fair, which became, and continued until
the 18th century, one of the most important in England. It is still held
in September. At Swaffham Prior there are remains of two churches in one
churchyard, the tower of one being good Transitional Norman, while that
of the other is Perpendicular, the upper part octagonal. Among many
Early English examples the church of Cherry Hinton near Cambridge may be
mentioned. The churches of Trumpington and Bottisham are fine specimens
of the Decorated style; in the first is a famous brass to Sir Roger de
Trumpington (1289). As Perpendicular examples the tower