Cambridgeshire
medival walks
 St. Bene't's Church:
The oldest building in Cambridgeshire is St Bene't's and is believed to have been built about 1025, in the reign of King Cnut. Although the church has been considerably altered since Saxon times the massive tower has virtually been unchanged.
King's Parade:
Once the main street of Cambridge, the Parade displays (on the east side) a number of interesting 18th and 19th century buildings, most of these have been converted into retail shops, and typical Cambridge style pubs and bars and of course bed breakfast Cambridge style are close at hand. A fine row of Victorian town houses leads up to Corpus Christi College. Next door stands St. Botolph's Church, dedicated to the patron saint of wayfarers and near the site is one of the old
Cambridgeshire town gates.
Trumpington Street:
Beyond St. Botolph's, King's Parade becomes Trumpington Street. At the junction with Pembroke Street, notice the wide gutter, usually filled with water. This is part of a 17th century scheme designed to clean the city ditch which then formed the southern and eastern town boundary.
The chapel of Pembroke College, nearby, was designed by Christopher Wren and was the first of his designs to be completed; it was built in 1663-6. Diagonally opposite, Peterhouse is Cambridgeshire's oldest college,
founded in 1284 by the Bishop of Ely.
Fitzwilliam Museum:
Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiquities, oriental porcelain and ceramics, armour, coins, medals, manuscripts and European paintings are all gathered together in Cambridgeshire's magnificent 19th century building.
Little St. Mary's Church:
The original church on this site was dedicated to St. Peter, and gave its name to Peterhouse College, which it served as a chapel. In 1350, however, the church collapsed, and when it was rebuilt in 1352 it was dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
Queen's College:
Queens' College was founded by two queens. The first patroness was Margaret of Anjou, wife of Henry VI, who wished to emulate his foundation of King's College, and took over a small, medieval college for the purpose.
Later, it was refounded by Elizabeth Woodville, wife of Edward IV. Beyond the main court, with its charming 17th century sundial, lies the delightful Cloister Court, built at the end of the 15th century. This was the first court with cloistered walks to be built in Cambridge.
The Mathematical Bridge:
This wooden-bridge is one of the great curiosities of Cambridge. It was built for the Queens' in 1749 on geometric principles, no nails were used in it's construction. When it was dismantled in 1867, it proved impossible to reassemble without bolts. Another point of interest is the
Cambridge museum, ideal for the whole family.
The Backs:
These green lawns bordering the River Cam provide a perfect setting for the college architecture. The land was once a common, on which the townspeople pastured their animals, but from the 16th century onwards it was gradually bought up by the colleges that backed on to the river to make gardens and pleasant walks for their scholars.
King's College Chapel:
 One of the finest Gothic churches in England, the chapel was built in three stages, from 1446 to 1515. To this last phase belongs the magnificent fan-vaulted ceiling. The intricately carved screen and choir stalls and fine examples of Renaissance craftsmanship date from about the mid 16th century. The stained glass forms the most complete set of Renaissance windows to survive in any church in the country.
Trinity College:
The largest of all Cambridgeshire's colleges, Trinity was created by Henry VIII from three medieval establishments, King's Hall, founded by Edward III, Michaelhouse, and Physwick Hostel. However, by the time of Henry's death only the imposing Great Gate had been completed, and the Great Court, with its spectacular domed fountain, was not built until the reign of Elizabeth I. Trinity's finest building, the classical library, was the work of Sir Christopher Wren.
Kettle's Yard Art Gallery:
This fascinating private collection was given to the university in 1960. On display are works by many important modern painters and there are also temporary exhibitions.
The Folk Museum:
The exhibits of local craft and industry feature domestic equipment, tools, farm implements, furniture and children's toys and other Cambridge museums.
Magdalene College:
The showpiece of Magdalene is the Pepys Library. Samuel Pepys studied here from 1650 to 1653, and the bookcases and desk were part of his personal library. The famous shorthand diaries in which he recorded daily events are on display here. You might like to find some great guest houses - Cambridgeshire's B&B's abound here as the city has a good selection.
Church of the Holy Sepulchre:
Only four round churches remain in England, and nearly all, like this one, founded in 1130 by the Knights Templars, had connections with the Crusades. The shape is based on that of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem, but during the 14th century a square chancel and north aisle were added to the Norman church.
Great St. Mary's:
The university church, St. Mary's is a fine example of the Perpendicular style, with slender, soaring columns supporting a vaulted roof with massive, carved bosses. From the top of the tower, which was completed in the 17th century, there is a splendid view across the rooftops of the city.
How to get to Cambridgeshire from London:
There are a couple of ways to get to the county of Cambridgeshire from London.. If you prefer to take the train, go to Liverpool Street Mainline Station in East London. If you prefer bus or coach, I recommend the National Express Bus Line from London's Victoria Coach Station.
These links have fares and timetables to help you plan your trip. On the other hand, you may want to rent your own vehicle and take in the sites and sounds of these picturesque towns and villages. I have had very good experiences with Autoeurope and I absolutley recommend them.
Leave Cambridgeshire and return to London Short Trips
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