List of bridges in Cambridge
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The following is a list and brief history of the bridges in Cambridge, England, principally those over the River Cam.
The River Cam enters Cambridge from the south west of the city and heads north past many of the historic colleges of the University of Cambridge along the open area known as The Backs. After passing St John's College, it turns sharply and runs east, passing the weir at Jesus Green and the boathouses alongside Midsummer Common. Passing Chesterton, it turns north again and leaves the city, running a further 12 miles before merging with the Great Ouse.
[edit] Bridges over the River Cam (South to North)
[edit] Footbridge, Coe Fen
Links Coe Fen behind the Leys School over a second small bridge to Lammas Land, near the area known as Hobson's Paradise. Known to most serious punters as the easiest for bridge hopping.
Also known as Sheep's Green bridge, it was closed in the second quarter of 2006 to replace the steps with ramps to make it easier for cyclists and prams to cross. The bridge decking was also replaced.
[edit] Fen Causeway Bridge
The first road bridge that is reached as the river enters the city. The road was formally opened on 9 December 1926[1].
[edit] Crusoe Bridge
A footbridge linking Sheep's Green and Coe Fen, and the final bridge on the 'Upper River' before it reaches the small weir at the mill pond.
[edit] Darwin College Bridges
Two wooden bridges within the college grounds connecting the main site with the college's two islands.
[edit] Silver Street Bridge (1958)
The site of bridges back to the 14th century. This wide bridge was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens 1932.
[edit] Mathematical Bridge, Queens' College (1902)
This is the third version of the design, first built in 1749.
[edit] King's College Bridge (1819)
The first bridge on the site was built in the 15th century, and has been rebuilt several times before the current incarnation, designed by William Wilkins and built by Francis Braidwood.
[edit] Clare College Bridge (1640)
The oldest of Cambridge's current bridges, this bridge in classical style was built by Thomas Grumbold in 1639–40.[2] It survives as the oldest due to all its contemporaries being destroyed by the parliamentarian forces in the civil war, to make the town of Cambridge more defensible. Many different stories are told to explain the missing section of the globe second from the left on the south side of the bridge. One rumour is that the builder of the bridge received (what he considered to be) insufficient payment, and in his anger, removed a segment of the globe.
[edit] Garret Hostel Bridge (1960)
At least the eighth bridge on this site on Garret Hostel Lane between the colleges of Trinity and Trinity Hall. The current design is by T G Morgan.
Students of the University of Cambridge often refer to this bridge as Orgasm Bridge [3][4][5], with a possible explanation for the name: its relative steepness causes cyclists much effort to reach the top but this is usually followed by the pleasurable descent.
[edit] Trinity College Bridge (1764)
Designed by James Essex it replaced a stone bridge built in 1651.
[edit] Kitchen Bridge, St John's College (1709)
The second oldest of Cambridge's remaining bridges, built by Robert Grumbold.
[edit] Bridge of Sighs, St John's College (1831)
Probably Cambridge's best-known bridge, designed by Henry Hutchison and based on a similarly named bridge in Venice, named because it led to the prison cells.
[edit] Magdalene Bridge (1823)
Very close to the location of the Roman ford (around 40AD), and the location of the first bridge in Cambridge (probably built by Offa in the 8th Century AD).
The latest bridge was designed by Arthur Browne in Gothic revival style and was rebuilt in the same style in 1988.
[edit] Jesus Lock footbridge
An iron bridge over the weir that divides the 'Middle River' from the 'Lower River', where punts give way to rowing eights.
[edit] Victoria Avenue Bridge (1890)
Allowed the residents of Chesterton easy access to the city for the first time. The foundation stone was laid by Frederic Wace, mayor of Cambridge, on November 4 1889 and the bridge was officially opened by Wace on December 11 1890.[6] The bridge was rebuilt for strengthening in 1992.
[edit] Footbridge, Midsummer Common
Also known as the "Fort St. George" footbridge after the neighbouring public house. This bridge is now open for use by cyclists.
[edit] Cutter Ferry Bridge
A pedestrian and cycle bridge that links Cutter Ferry Lane with Midsummer Common. The original footbridge was closed in 2003 after over 75 years of service, and removed during December 2004. The replacement, over which cyclists may now legally cycle, was opened on 20th May 2005.
Also known by older residents as Pye's Bridge because of the one-time nearby Pye electronics factory, and by student rowers as Emma Bridge because of its proximity to Emmanuel College Boathouse.[7]
[edit] Elizabeth Way Bridge (1971)
A plain four-carriageway concrete bridge, opened by Lord Butler in his capacity as High Steward of Cambridge on July 13, 1971,[8] this is Cambridge's most recent road bridge. The opening caused a few minutes of embarrassment when Lord Butler's golden scissors failed to cut the ribbon across the road.
[edit] Riverside Bridge (2008)
Construction work began on a new foot and cycle bridge between Chesterton and Riverside in April 2007. It opened to the public on 5 June 2008.[9]
[edit] Footbridge, Stourbridge Common
Known to locals as the "Green Dragon Footbridge" after the pub opposite its northern end.
[edit] Railway Bridge
Crosses the river through east Chesterton, south of the A14 bridge. It's the 3rd railway bridge to be built on this site, replacing a plain plate girder bridge which stood on the site between 1870 and 1930, which itself replaced a wooden bridge built in 1846.
[edit] A14 Bridge
Known (incorrectly) to rowers and others as the "Motorway Bridge". Crosses the river just south of Baits Bite Lock. This bridge is also sometimes referred to as 'Bovis Bridge'
[edit] Footbridge over the weir, Baits Bite Lock
An elevated footbridge crosses Baits Bite Lock in Milton to a narrow islet. A concrete-arch footbridge then crosses the weir to the east bank near Horningsea.
[edit] Other bridges
- The Tony Carter bridge is a covered cycle bridge over the railway just north of the Railway Station opened in 1989. It was listed at the time in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's longest covered cycle bridge. It is named after a Labour councillor of the era.
- The Jane Coston bridge was opened over the A14 in 2004, allowing cyclists and pedestrians to cross from Cowley Road to Milton. It has a central span of 77 metres.[10]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Plaque on bridge
- ^ About Clare: History from Clare College's website, retrieved 25 June 2007
- ^ May Week 2004 Game News - Day 4
- ^ Cambridge at Night: A photo post. « An American Physics Student in England
- ^ Best Cambridge collge - Page 2 - The Student Room
- ^ Plaque on bridge
- ^ Image of Cutter Ferry Bridge
- ^ Plaque on bridge
- ^ Riverside foot and cycle bridge. Cambridgeshire County Council. Retrieved on 2008-06-05.
- ^ Jane Coston Cycle bridge : a model for managing vibration. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers (2006).
