Cambridge: Its University and its Colleges
Authors: G. M. Humphry
Journal: BMJ (1864)

TILE following sketch of the Town, University, and Colleges of Cambridge, is offered to the members of the Association, in the hope of imparting additional interest to the approaching Annual Meeting, as well as of diffusing information respecting the University and Colleges; which, though closely resembling the University and Colleges of Oxford, are unlike any other institutions in the world, and are really very little understood, except by those who have been educated in them.Their history is so interwoven with much that is interesting in the history of our people and the habits of former times, that I have been led somewhat more into detail than I intended.Further information may be sought in the New Cambridge Guide, which visitors will do well to purchase, in the Student's Guide to the University of Cambridge, and the Cambridge Year-Book, in Fuller's History of the University of Camnbridge, in Cooper's Annals of Cambridge, and his Alemorials of Cantbridge, from all of which I have derived much, and which I have not scrupled freely to quote.Cambridge, July lst, 1864.G. M. HUMPHRY.1gjc 9Atn.CAMBRIDGE, containing a population of between 26,000 and 27,000, is situated in a large plain which, towards the north-east-that is, in the direction of the river-is continued, with but little alteration of level, to the sea, the chief break being caused by the high ground of the Isle of Ely.In other directions, the plain is skirted by low ranges of hills.Two offsets, or spurs, from these-the Gog-Magog Hills on the south, and the Castle Hill on the north-approach the town.The latter, indeed, runs into the town, and is near the river.The Gog-Magogs are about three miles distant.The Mound upon the Castle Hill, on the north of the town, is the " foundation-stone" of the place.Its base, composed of chalk, is natural.Its upper part is artificial, and is attributed to British hands.It was probably not for sepulchral purposes, but as a look-out or place of defence, like the great mound at Marlborough and, perhaps, also, Silbury Hill, near Marlborough, which is the largest of the kind, and which is said to be altogether artificial.Enduring "still in defiance of the teeth of time, as the most greedy glutton must leave those bones, not for man- ners, buit necessity, which are too hard for him to de- vour", the Castle Mound gives a good view of the surrounding country, including the Isle and Ca- thedral of Ely; and from its base are seen running out, towards the north and east, two bastions, with a curtain between them, erected for the cannon of Cromwell.*The high ground on the north of Cambridge, prolonged into the tongue upon which this mound stands, slopes agreeably to the river, facing the south and sheltered from the north, furnishing an attractive site, under the name of " Cair-Graunth", for the residence of the primitive architects of the mound; and on the opposite, or southern side of the river, a slightly raised ridge of gravel led, through the * Cambridge was for some time held by the parliamentary forces, who were very offensive to the members of the University, though the town favoured them, and elected Cromwell high steward.He * The raised part leading up to, and turninig the corner by, Storey's almshouses, is on the site of the Roman wall, and the hollow adjoining it was the ditch.The southern wall was close by St. Giles' Church, and forms the terrace in the grounds of Magdalene College.Tbe remains of a wooden causeway oD the south side of the river, .underBridge Street, were found in making the sewer some years ago.