[3] A large Anglo-Saxon settlement was discovered on land between Brook Street and Fordham Road, next to Roman remains in the old Fisky's Hill area and former allotment site in 2013 and onwards.

During the establishment of the Fordham Road cemetery, in the late 1800s, burial remains were also found with several high-status grave goods, including a girdle hanger, beads and jewellery.

Further Bronze and Iron Age settlements and related activity has also been noted in the north of the town during recent development on the sites.

An extensive ditch system, not visible via aerial photography, has also been identified, as well as a wooden trackway 800 m (870 yd) in length between Fordey Farm (Barway) and Little Thetford, with associated shards of later Bronze Age pottery (1935).

[4] According to an article published in Fenland Notes & Queries in 1899:[5] In the Domesday Survey the name of the parish is spelt 'Soeham,' or 'Seaham', and in more modern works 'Seham'.

'Soeg' is obviously the same as Swedish dialect 'sogg', wet, 'swampy', related to 'sagt', drenched; all from the root verb seen in Anglo-Saxon 'sigan', to sink, drain; whence also the Icelandic 'saggi', moisture, dampness...The names Eye Hill, Eau Fen, Soham Mere all point to the time when what is now cultivated land, was nothing more than a watery waste.

This tale was elaborated as an 'Old English Novelet' in 1844,[8] describing how King Cnut's nobles were concerned for his safety in crossing the Soham Mere ice.

One Brethner – an Ely fenner, named Budde or Pudding on account of his large size – elected to lead the king.

Luttingus, an Anglo-Saxon nobleman, built a cathedral and palace at Soham around 900 AD,[11] on the site of the present-day Church of St Andrew and adjacent land.

In 1102 Hubert de Burgh, Chief Justice of England, granted 'Ranulph' certain lands in trust for the Church of St Andrew.

[12] The first black British author and anti-slave activist, Olaudah Equiano, also known as Gustavus Vassa, married a local girl, Susannah Cullen, at St Andrew's Church, on 7 April 1792 and the couple lived in the town for several years.

The town was saved by the bravery of four railway staff, Benjamin Gimbert (driver), James Nightall (fireman), Frank Bridges (signalman) and Herbert Clarke (guard), who uncoupled the rest of the train and drove the engine and lead wagon clear of the town, where it exploded, killing Jim Nightall and Frank Bridges but causing no further deaths.

A permanent memorial was unveiled on 2 June 2007 by Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester followed by a service in St Andrew's Church.

The memorial is constructed of Portland stone with a bronze inlay depicting interpretive artwork of the damaged train and text detailing the incident.

[14] In December 2003, Ian Huntley, who had been employed as the caretaker at the local secondary school, Soham Village College, was convicted of their murders and sentenced to life in prison.