Summary (by AI): I enjoyed visiting Littleport to see the Harley-Davidson statue and appreciate its surprising local history, despite the village being otherwise very quiet.
Blog: I’ve been digging into some of the more, shall we say, "interesting" places to visit lately. It is incredibly easy to find a boring statue of some dusty historical figure, especially in a place like Cambridgeshire, but the one I found for this region is genuinely excellent.
You’ve almost certainly heard of the motorbike company Harley-Davidson. It was founded, famously, by two men: Harley and Davidson. As it turns out, the "Harley" half of that legendary duo has deep roots in the Fens. William Sylvester Harley’s father, also named William, was born in 1835 in a small cottage on Victoria Street in Littleport—a village just north of Ely.
Life in the Fens back then wasn't easy; in fact, the area is just as famous for the Littleport Riots of 1816. Perhaps looking for a fresh start, the elder William emigrated to the United States in 1859, eventually settling in Milwaukee. It was there that his son, William Sylvester, was born and later teamed up with Arthur Davidson (who was indeed an American) to build their first motorized bicycle in a backyard shed. While the brand is as American as apple pie, its DNA is strictly Cambridgeshire.
To celebrate that connection, a full-scale replica of a Harley-Davidson was commissioned. It’s a great-looking piece, and as you can see from the photo, it really stands out. To be fair, there isn’t a whole lot else going on in that sleepy little town, but it’s worth the trip anyway just to see the statue and reflect on the history.
I’d like to think they get a fair few Harley-Davidson enthusiasts visiting the village. There is something quite fun about the image of a group of those "Angels" wandering into a small, quiet Cambridgeshire village to pay homage to the roots of their founder.
The Map: