Recent archaeological work in the area of the Papworth Business Park has shown that there was some Bronze Age activity in the area. In the Roman period when Ermine Street was built, in the first century AD, it is unlikely that there was as yet anything which would now be recognised as a village there. However, the same archaeological work does show signs of Romano-British activity, as well as the road. Roman rule collapsed in Britain in 410 AD. It was at least another two or three centuries before a
Saxon leader, probably called 'Papa', established a small settlement about a quarter of a mile to the west of Ermine Street around the site of the present parish church. Indeed, Papworth means "the enclosure of Papa's people"; they were also involved in establishing
Papworth St Agnes and Papley Grove. Following the
Norman conquest of 1066, the village and land of Papworth were granted by the new king to a
Norman knight, Everard De Beche, from whose name the second element of the village's name is derived. A moated area in the village is the remains of his castle. ==Sport and recreation==