[1] Bourn has a Church of England primary school, a doctors' surgery, the Church of St Mary & St Helena, a golf club, a former Royal Air Force bomber airfield (RAF Station Bourn 1940–1945), today used for light aircraft, and an old windmill.

Bourn Hall Clinic, the centre for infertility treatment founded in 1980 by IVF pioneers Patrick Steptoe and Professor Robert Edwards, who were responsible for the conception in 1978 of Louise Brown, the world's first IVF or test-tube baby, is also located here.

A small stream called Bourn Brook runs through the village, eventually joining the River Cam.

The name Bourn is derived from the Old English burna or Old Scandinavian brunnr, meaning '(place at) the spring(s) or stream(s)'.

The farming system of common grazing land and six large fields managed in a three-course rotation lasted until the Bourn Inclosure Act 1809 (49 Geo.

By the 14th century Bourn's population had dropped to 299 because of factors including the plague, high taxes, poor weather, the emergence of the yeoman farmer and the decrease in serfdom.

This fell to 587 in 1931, during the Great Depression, but after World War II a large influx of squatters from London came to live on the disused airfield and the population was 1,053 in 1951.

Now the Rural Flying Corps uses part of the runway for light aircraft; small industrial developments occupy other areas of the site.

[11] Bourn parish ranges from 32 to 72 metres above sea level[2] and the soil is clay with a gault subsoil.

The other pair were fitted with 'automatic spring shutters' which opened releasing wind pressure when it blew too hard.

[17] The present Bourn Hall is built on the site of a wooden castle that was burnt down during the Peasants' Revolt.

A timber-framed house built early in the 16th century was added to in 1602 by the Hagar family in the form of a three-sided courtyard hall.

During this period, the house was visited by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert while they were staying at Wimpole Hall.

The last family connection with the village was Lady Mary, daughter of the 7th Earl De La Warr and wife of Major Griffin, who bought the house in 1921 and lived there until 1957.

Wysing Arts operates a year-round programme of public exhibitions, events, schools and family activities, alongside artistic residencies and retreats.

From 1819 boys were taught in the church tower and girls received a more limited education in a nearby cottage.

John Collett, farmer, of Bourn Manor was the husband of Susannah, sister to Erasmus and Nicholas, who were frequent visitors to the parish, where the family took refuge from the plague.