Schmap Cambridge Historical Background

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Cambridge - Historical Background
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Schmap Cambridge guide and map

Chapels, colleges, alleyways, laboratories, libraries; all have a tale to tell. If only the stones could speak – and they do! Henry VIII clutching a chair leg; the grave of Captain Cook's wife, so far from her husband; Christopher Wren's first building; the Washington family's coat-of-arms (which inspired the Stars and Stripes). All can be found if you know where to look.

Roman Cambridge

Coming out of the railway station, you join Hills Road. Taking this northward, you follow in the footsteps of Roman legions marching from Colchester. They continued their path till they reached the river, which was forded and later bridged. The crossing point (now Magdalene Street Bridge) with nearby hill (Castle Hill) proved an ideal place to settle, and the town of Durolipons was born.

After the Romans, others came and went: Vikings, Anglo-Saxons and Normans, all remembered in the local parish names (St Clement, St Bene’t and St Giles reflect three different Christian cultures, and the Anglo-Saxon tower of St Bene't's is now the oldest surviving building in the city). The centre of the town moved south to the current market area. With an 11th-century population of some 1,600, Cambridge was one of eastern England's largest towns.

Medieval Cambridge

Growth continued into the 13th century. In 1209, King John declared Cambridge a royal borough; a merchant's guild was established, and regular fairs were held on Midsummer Common. Many goods were transported by boat, and Cambridge's wharf trade boomed. Though already an important market town, simultaneous developments were about to change the city's destiny forever.

In the early 13th century, riots in Oxford – and later Paris – caused many of these cities' scholars to flee, fearing for their lives. For reasons unknown, many headed to Cambridge. These students – most of them young men in their early teens – would gather in groups for lessons in grammar, rhetoric and logic, all taught in Latin. The education lacked formality or ceremony; indeed the learners were an unruly lot, but this indiscipline soon prompted teachers and townsfolk to impose some form of order. Students were gathered in hostels, and rules established.

In 1284, the Bishop of Ely, Hugh de Balsham, founded Peterhouse to house a Master and six Fellows. This was the first of the Cambridge colleges. Over the next 70 years, seven more followed. The Old Court of Corpus Christi College is the oldest surviving university building, and gives the visitor an idea of the style of colleges at this time. The town and its nascent university survived plague, peasant uprisings and fire, and in the 15th century, more colleges were founded. The founders live on today, immortalized in the college names and heraldry.

The English Reformation

Cambridge was at the centre of the English Reformation; in the early days it was even dubbed “Little Germany”. Hugh Latimer, who preached Lutheranism from the pulpits of St Edward's Church and Great St Mary's, would later be burnt at the stake in Oxford. Just as these two churches remain, so does much else from the era – a 1574 map has much in common with the street plan of today.

“Students do not wear clerical clothes, but new fashioned gowns of blue, green, red or mixed colours; they have fair roses upon their shoes, wear long, frizzled hair upon the head … and long Merchants' Ruffs about the neck, with fair feminine cuffs at the wrist.” Such was the damning disapprobation of Puritanism!

In 1640, Cambridge returned Oliver Cromwell to Parliament. Though staunchly on the Parliamentarian side in the English Civil War, the town was never a battleground.

The University

The year 1667 saw a 27 year-old take the chair of Lucasian Professor of Mathematics – Isaac Newton still is, arguably, the university's greatest mind to date. The following century, however, saw a curriculum too heavily dependent on mathematics, resulting in dwindling student numbers. This was reversed only in the 19th century: in 1800, 150 freshers “came up” (began studies); by 1870, this figure had risen to 800.

The change was not solely quantitative. A series of reforms changed the university into the one we see now. For the first time, centralized university faculties rather than the colleges took responsibility for teaching. This brought a wave of new faculty buildings, such as the Cavendish Laboratories. In the 1820s, rowing, cricket and other sports became student pursuits. And – most controversial of all – Girton College, the first college for women, was founded in 1869 (though kept three miles from the city centre). Women didn't achieve full university membership until 1947, however, and all-male colleges only began admitting them in the 70s. Today, there are two all-women undergraduate colleges, the rest being co-educational.

The railway arrived, resisted by the university authorities, and this spelt the end for the riverside wharves. The river empty, punting became and remains a popular afternoon pastime. And in the late 19th century, the University finally relinquished many of its municipal powers, such as licensing, to the council.

Modern Cambridge

Over the 20th century, town and gown have learned to live and work together. In 1951, King George VI granted Cambridge city status, something it already was in all but name. Its suburbs sprawled out to the villages of Trumpington, Girton and Cherry Hinton, and the M11 motorway linked it to London. The university now has 35 colleges, the newest being Robinson, founded in 1977. Future historians will look back at 20th-century Cambridge and see an era of enormous scientific discovery – over 50 Nobel Prize winners come from the university, most of them scientists. Industry has harnessed this genius with the arrival of hi-tech companies, such as Phillips, Arm and Microsoft, to the area, reflected in a programme of confident modern architecture.

This cohabitation of science and enterprise is embraced by both city and university and, at the dawn of the 21st century, Cambridge is well-placed to face future unknowns, as it has done so often before...

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Cambridge Railway Station

Getting to and from the city

Station Rd
Cambridge CB1 2JW
United Kingdom
+44 0845 600 7245
http://nationalrail.co.uk

Cambridge Railway Station is a 25-minute walk from the city centre and is the main terminus for West Anglia Great Northern services to London and East Anglia. The number 3 bus service will take you there and departs every 10 minutes from Drummer Street.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Cambridge Railway Station photo by Fabio Artuso

Photo: Fabio Artuso

Cambridge Railway Station photo by Robert M Talks

Photo: Robert M Talks

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Photo: deeptrivia

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Photo: Ruan Kendall

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Photo: GeoBlogs

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Photo: Marika Uustare

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Photo: Jorine Kooijman

Cambridge Railway Station photo by Ameecher

Photo: Ameecher

Cambridge Railway Station photo by mark ellis

Photo: mark ellis

Cambridge Railway Station photo by Douglas Hall

Photo: Douglas Hall

Cambridge Railway Station photo by John Keane

Photo: John Keane

Castle Hill

A mound with a view Castle Street
Cambridge CB3 0AJ
United Kingdom
+44 1223 32 2640 The River Cam was first bridged at what is now Magdalene College. The early town settlement relied on nearby Castle Hill as a defensive position. The Normans reinforced this in their famed motte and bailey style. The mound remains to this day, providing a splendid view across the city rooftops, spires and towers, and surrounding countryside. The site was restored by Oliver Cromwell's forces during the English Civil War (1642), and appropriately, at the foot of the mound lies Shire Hall, headquarters of Cambridgeshire County Council.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Corpus Christi College

The oldest college court in Oxbridge Trumpington Street
Cambridge CB2 1RH
United Kingdom
+44 1223 33 8000
http://www.corpus.cam.ac.uk/ Corpus Christi College was founded in 1352 by two citizen guilds in Cambridge, something of an anomaly given the wealthy patrons of most other colleges. The college crest, a pelican plucking her breast and feeding the blood to her young, is a popular symbol of Jesus Christ's sacrifice. Entering New Court, the visitor will see, to the right, the Parker Library, established by Elizabeth I's Archbishop of Canterbury, Matthew Parker. His interfering disposition gave English the term "nosy parker". A passageway to the left leads to Old Court, the oldest surviving college court in all of Cambridge (and Oxford). Famous alumni include Christopher Marlowe and Christopher Isherwood. Wheelchair users should note that there are some steps. The college has unpredictable opening hours. Admission: free

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Cromwell Museum

The life of the English Civil War leader Grammar School Walk
Cambridge PE29 3LF
United Kingdom
+44 (0)1480 37 5830
http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.... Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658) was born in Huntingdon and went on to study at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. He represented Huntingdon in Charles I's parliament. Cromwell later led the Parliamentarians against the Crown in the English Civil War, becoming Lord Protector (Head of State) after victory. Cromwell first studied at Huntingdon Grammar School, now the Cromwell Museum. Displays explaining his life and legacy stand alongside possessions, portraits and contemporary objects. Samuel Pepys, the famed diarist who studied at Magdalene College, Cambridge, also went to school here.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Girton College

First women's college Huntingdon Road
Cambridge CB3 0JG
United Kingdom
+44 1223 33 8999
http://www.girton.cam.ac.uk/ The education reformer Emily Davis set up a women's college – the first Oxbridge women's college – in 1869. This institution was housed in Hitchin, a town some 25 miles south-west of Cambridge. Even when the college was permitted a site in Cambridge, this was two and a half miles outside the city centre, at a deliberate distance from the male students. The college went co-educational in the 70s. Its gardens and late-Victorian buildings provide the backdrop to open-air Shakespeare plays in the summer months. Famous alumni include HM Queen Margerethe of Denmark and Baroness Warnock.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Great St Mary's Church (Church of England)

Overlooking the market place St Mary's Passage
Cambridge CB2 3PQ
United Kingdom
+44 1223 74 1716
http://www.ely.anglican.org/pa... Great St. Mary's, which overlooks the market place, plays an important role in university and civic life, in addition to its duties as a parish church. Building began in 1478 and Henry VII himself gave 100 oak trees to construct its roof. The upper galleries were added in the 18th century, with 123 steps leading to the top of the bell tower, which offers an excellent view of the city.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Market Square

Lively bargains Market Street
Cambridge CB2 3QJ
United Kingdom
+44 1223 45 7315
http://www.cambridgemarkets.co... On the north and east sides of Market Square you will find shops and college accommodations; to the west, there is Great St Mary's Church, and behind it, King's College Chapel, the Old Schools and the Senate House. The market place has been here for centuries, once taking up all the area between Great St Mary's Church (Church of England), St Edward's Church (Church of England), St Andrew the Great and Holy Trinity (Church of England) churches. From Monday to Saturday the stall holders sell their wares: fresh produce, cut flowers, second-hand books, clothing, soap and souvenirs. On Sundays the square features an art and craft market and local farmers' stalls.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Midsummer Common

Large park and fair venue Victoria Avenue
Cambridge CB4 1HA
United Kingdom
+44 (0)1223 36 9299 King John granted a fair here in 1211, in addition to one on neighbouring Stourbridge Common. For centuries the latter was more famous, with merchants coming from all over Europe, until its terminal decline in the early 20th century. Midsummer Fair, however, lives on. The Mayor of Cambridge proclaims it open and then throws pennies to the assembled children. A footpath east leads past the Museum of Technology and on, out of the city, towards Ely.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Peterhouse

Oldest Cambridge college Trumpington Street
Cambridge CB2 1RD
United Kingdom
+44 1223 33 8200
http://www.pet.cam.ac.uk/ In Cambridge University's early days, Hugh de Balsham, Bishop of Ely, set up a scholars' foundation at what is now St John's College. In 1284, this foundation moved south to a site beside St Peter's Church (now Little St Mary's Church) and Peterhouse was established: the first Cambridge college. The college buildings and grounds, stretching away from Trumpington Street, are attractive, yet the only visible trace of the original buildings is in the walls of the dining hall at the rear of Old Court. Back by the road, the mid-18th century Fellows Building housed poet Thomas Gray's bedroom. Famous alumni include Kingsley Amis, Lord Kelvin and Frank Whittle.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Robinson College

Newest Cambridge college Grange Road
Cambridge CB3 9AN
United Kingdom
+44 1223 33 9100
http://www.robinson.cam.ac.uk/ Robinson is the newest of the Cambridge colleges, founded in 1977 by local millionaire David Robinson, who went from working in a cycle shop to the ownership of a chain of TV rental stores. The college is built in red brick, with balconies looking inwards to a paved courtyard. The chapel has a striking stained-glass window designed by John Piper. The college has unpredictable opening hours. Admission: free

Review © 2007, Wcities

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St Bene't's Church (Church of England)

Oldest building in Cambridge Bene't's Street
Cambridge CB2 3PT
United Kingdom
+44 1223 35 3903
http://www.stbenets.com/ St. Bene't's (St Benedict's) Church predates the Norman conquest of England in 1066, and so the church stood long before the establishment of the university. The Anglo-Saxon tower remains, the semi-ruined sides noticeably more crude than the later Norman architecture. Inside there are colourful angels on the roof beams of the north transept, but more noteworthy is an arch and pair of lions dating from around 1000. Change-ringing (ringing bells to a tune), was first developed on these bells by Fabian Stedman. Call prior to visit for disabled access arrangements.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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St Edward's Church (Church of England)

Pick and mix architecture Peas Hill
Cambridge CB2 3PP
United Kingdom
+44 1223 35 9223
http://www.st-edwards-cam.org.uk/ St Edward's Church is dedicated to Edward the Confessor, King of England until his death in 1066. The building is an amalgam of styles: a 12th-century tower, 14th-century arches and a 15th-century chancel. Two side aisles were also added to serve as chapels to Clare College and Trinity Hall. The 16th-century wooden pulpit, however, usurps the importance of the stones. From here Hugh Latimer preached the radical new Protestant theology, though when Catholic Mary Tudor ascended to the throne, Latimer was burnt at the stake. Services: Sundays – 8a (Holy Communion), 11a (Parish Communion/Matins), 6:30p (Evensong), Fridays – 10:30a (Holy Communion), 5:30 p (Christian Meditation).

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Other Schmapplets in this city related to "Cambridge - Historical Background"
Cambridge
Cambridge - Neighborhood Guide
Cambridge - Where to Stay
Cambridge - Dining & Drinking
Cambridge - Art & Entertainment
Other nearby cities:
London (77 miles)
Oxford (100 miles)
Birmingham (132 miles)
Brighton (155 miles)
Sheffield (162 miles)
Southampton (177 miles)
Bath (186 miles)
Bristol (197 miles)
Leeds (205 miles)
Manchester (206 miles)

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