Edition 412 17 July 2026 Sheet 226 · TL 54 80

On the High Street since 1978.

Four partners. One office above the shop on the High Street. Forty-six years of selling homes within fifteen miles of where we are standing.

By the numbers

East Cambridgeshire · since 1978

47yrs
On the same High Street in Ely, three generations of the same family.
92%
Of homes sold within 1% of asking price across the last twelve months.
124
Cambridgeshire homes sold in 2025. Most within three miles of our door.
Memo From the office Edition 412 · 17 July 2026

What's moving in Ely this fortnight.

The market in Ely this fortnight is doing the thing it does in May, which is moving quickly on anything under £450,000 and slowly on anything over £700,000. We had three viewings on Cherry Hill in one day last Saturday, and the offers were in by Monday lunchtime.

If you are selling at the top end, this is not a panic situation, it is simply seasonal. The £750k-£900k bracket always quiets in the run-up to the school summer holidays and picks up again in September. We are advising owners in that range to hold their price and use the next six weeks to finish small jobs, not to chase a discount.

One specific note for buyers: the 9.34 to King's Cross is going to gain two minutes from the timetable change on the 25th, which puts central London under sixty-five minutes from Ely station. Worth knowing if you are weighing up commuter routes.

- Marcus Hayward, for the office.

Sheet 226 East Cambridgeshire & the Fens Where we work

Eight places on one sheet.

We stay within a fifteen-mile radius of the High Street. Every partner walks the streets they sell.

  1. 01

    Ely

    Cathedral city, the office and our patch HQ.

    The cathedral city sits at the heart of our patch. Rail links reach Cambridge in twenty minutes and London King's Cross in just over an hour. A weekly market, strong schools, and a growing restaurant quarter make it the most sought-after address on the sheet.

    12 available · 2 UO View properties →
  2. 02

    Soham

    Working market town, six miles south-east.

    A self-sufficient town with its own secondary school, supermarkets, and a leisure centre. Popular with buyers who want more house for their money without sacrificing amenities. The A142 gives fast access to the A14 and the A11.

    4 available View properties →
  3. 03

    Littleport

    Fen-edge village on the Great Ouse, north of Ely.

    A tight-knit fen community with its own railway station on the Ely-Peterborough line. Large plots and competitively priced stock attract first-time buyers and investors alike. The Great Ouse offers walking and boating within minutes of the door.

    3 available · 1 UO View properties →
  4. 04

    Haddenham

    Hill village above the fens, ten minutes by car.

    One of the few villages with genuine elevation above the fens, the views south towards Cambridge are exceptional on a clear day. A village pub, primary school, and a well-regarded butcher give it a self-contained feel. Prices hold particularly well here.

    3 available View properties →
  5. 05

    Stretham

    Straddles the A10, half-way to Cambridge.

    Sits midway on the A10 between Ely and Cambridge, making it a practical choice for buyers working in either city. The village retains a pub and a primary school. A quiet residential character with none of the premium attached to Ely itself.

    3 available View properties →
  6. 06

    Sutton

    Quiet village west of Ely, a strong school.

    A village with a notably strong primary school that consistently draws family buyers from a wide area. The high street has a post office, a butcher, and a pub. West of Ely, it feels genuinely rural while remaining well connected by road.

    2 available · 1 sold View properties →
  7. 07

    Wilburton

    Three-pub Edwardian village on the Cambridge road.

    Three pubs for a village of its size is unusual, and Wilburton's community spirit matches it. Edwardian and inter-war housing stock gives good room sizes at sensible prices. The Cambridge road means a twenty-minute drive to the city centre.

    2 available View properties →
  8. 08

    Witchford

    Commuter village west of Ely, regular instructions.

    A ten-minute drive from Ely's cathedral and rail station, Witchford suits buyers who want the convenience of the city without the price. We receive instructions here regularly, a sign of a settled but mobile community.

    1 available · 1 sold View properties →
Staff The office · four of us About the office →

Meet your team.

No call centre, no junior pass-throughs. Four of us in the office, direct lines below. Call whichever of us you like.

  1. Marcus Hayward

    Senior Partner

    Marcus Hayward

    Ely & south of the patch

    Direct 01353 660 201
  2. Helena Carr

    Partner, Sales

    Helena Carr

    Surrounding villages

    Direct 01353 660 202
  3. Tom Reeve

    Associate, Valuations

    Tom Reeve

    Valuations · New build

    Direct 01353 660 203
  4. Sarah Whitfield

    Office Manager

    Sarah Whitfield

    Office · Sales progression

    Direct 01353 660 200
TL 5420 8035 · ELY

Hayward & Sons

18 High Street
Ely
Cambridgeshire CB7 4LJ
Mon to Fri
9 to 5.30
Saturday
9 to 4
Sunday
Closed
Enquire Selling?

Come and have a chat.

Most valuations are an hour at the kitchen table. We'll tell you what we think it's worth, what we'd do to sell it, and whether we think we're the right agent for the job. No pressure to instruct.

Book a valuation Or call Sarah on 01353 660 200