B1381
B1381 | ||||
Location Map ( geo) | ||||
| ||||
From: | Earith (TL393747) | |||
To: | Sutton (TL451793) | |||
Distance: | 4.9 miles (7.9 km) | |||
Meets: | A1123, B1050, A142 | |||
Highway Authorities | ||||
Traditional Counties | ||||
Route outline (key) | ||||
|
The B1381 is a typical fenland road in Cambridgeshire. The road was originally unclassified but gained its number in the mid-1920s.
The road starts at a double mini-roundabout on the A1123 to the east of Earith and heads northeast along a dead-straight road alongside the New Bedford River. The water level in the Fens is, however, higher than the land, so all that can be seen of the drain is the bank leading to it.
After a couple of miles the road separates from the drain and then shortly bears right to move away completely. It continues across the South Fen and soon reaches Sutton. After running along the High Street there's a badly signed TOTSO left; the High Street continues ahead into the village centre. We pass to the north, as we always have, along The Brook. Presently a roundabout is reached.
This roundabout marks the original eastern end of the B1381, although there have been a couple of changes since. Originally the A142 headed south from Mepal along Mepal Road and then headed east towards Ely. However, construction of RAF Mepal during World War II severed the road, which was diverted via Witcham and so the B1381 was extended east to meet that road more-or-less where the A1421 is now. Later still Mepal and Witcham were both bypassed, with the B1381 cut back to its current terminus at a roundabout on the A142, with that road having taken over what was the B1381 east of here.