Cambridge University[1] shares with that of Oxford the first place among
such institutions in the British empire. It is the dominating factor in
the modern importance of the town, and it is therefore necessary to
outline the historical conditions which led to its establishment. The
geographical situation of Cambridge, in its present appearance
possessing little attraction or advantage, calls nevertheless for first
consideration. Cambridge, in fact, owed its growth to its position on a
natural line of communication between the east and the midlands of
England, flanked on the one hand by the deep forests which covered the
uplands, on the other by the unreclaimed fens, then desolate and in
great part impenetrable. The importance of this highway may be judged
from the number of early earthworks in the vicinity of Cambridge; and
the Castle Hill, at the north side of the present town (near the west
bank of the river), is perhaps a British work. Roman remains discovered
in the same locality give evidence of the existence of a small town or
village at the junction of roads; the name of _Camboritum_ is usually
attached to it, but without certainty. The modern name of Cambridge has
no connexion with this. The present form of the name has usually been
derived from a corruption of the original name Grantebrycge or
Grantabridge (Skeat); but Mr Arthur Gray points out that there is no
documentary evidence for this corruption in the shape of such probable
intermediate forms as Grantebrig or Crantebrig. On the other hand, he
brings evidence to show that the name Cantebrig, though not applied to
the whole town, was very early given to that quarter of it near the
Cante brig, i.e. the bridge over the Cante (the ward beyond the Great
Bridge was called "Parcelle of Cambridge" as late as 1340); in this
quarter, close to the bridge, Cambridge castle was built by the
Conqueror, and from the castle and the castle-quarter the name spread
within sixty years to the whole town, the similarity between the names
Grantebrig and Cantebrig playing some part in this extension (_The Dual
Origin of the Town of Cambridge_, p. 31). Granta is the earlier and
still an alternative name of the river Cam, this more common modern form
having been adopted in sympathy with the modern name of the town.
Cambridge had a further importance from its position at the head of
river navigation, and a charter of Henry I., in which the town is
already referred to as a borough, grants it exclusive rights as a
river-port, and regulates traffic and tolls. The wharves lay principally
along that part of the river where are now the celebrated "backs" of
some of the colleges, whose exquisite grounds slope down to the water.
The great Sturbridge or Stourbridge Fair at Barnwell, formerly one of
the most important in England, is a further illustration of the ancient
commercial importance of Cambridge; the oldest known charter concerning
it dates from the opening of the 13th century, though its initiation may
perhaps be placed a century before.
Concerning the early municipal history of Cambridge little is known, but
at the time of the Domesday survey its citizens felt themselves strong
enough to protest against the exactions of the Norman sheriff, Roger
Picot; and the town had attained a considerable degree of importance
when, in 1068, William the Conqueror built a castle on the site known as
Castle Hill, and used it as a base of operations against Hereward the
Wake and the insurgents of the fenland. Cambridge, however, has
practically no further military history. From the 14th century onward
materials were taken from the castle by the builders of colleges, while
the gatehouse, the last surviving portion, was removed in 1842.
The medieval spirit of emulation between the universities of Cambridge
and Oxford resulted in a series of remarkable fables to account for the
foundation of both. That of Cambridge was assigned to a Spanish prince,
Cantaber, in the 4321st year after the Creation. A charter from King
Arthur dated 531, and the transference of students from Cambridge to
Oxford by King Alfred, were also claimed as historical facts. The true
germ of the university is to be sought in the religious foundations in
the town. The earliest to be noticed is the Augustinian house of St
Giles, founded by Hugoline, wife of Roger Picot the sheriff, in 1092;
this was removed in 1112 to Barnwell, where the chapel dedicated to St
Andrew the Less is practically the sole remnant of its buildings. In
1224 the Franciscans came to Cambridge, and later in the same century a
number of other religious orders settled here, such as the Dominicans,
the Gilbertines and the Carmelites, who had before been established at
Newnham. Students were gradually attracted to these several religious
houses, and Cambridge was already recognized as a centre of learning
when, in 1231, Henry III. issued a writ for its governance as such,
among other provisions conferring certain disciplinary powers on the
bishop of Ely. It soon became evident that the influence of the
religious orders on those who came to them for instruction was too
narrow. This was recognized elsewhere, for it was in order to counteract
that influence that Walter de Merton drew up the statute of governance
for his foundation of Merton College, Oxford, a statute which was soon
afterwards used as a model by Hugh de Balsham, bishop of Ely, when, in
1281-1284 he founded the first Cambridge college, Peterhouse.
The friction between town and university, due in the main to the
conflict of their jurisdictions, the tradition of which, as in the
sister university, died hard in the annual efforts of some
undergraduates to revive the "town and gown" riots, culminated during
the rebellion of Wat Tyler (1381) in an episode which is alone worthy of
record and may serve to illustrate the whole. This was an attack by the
rabble, instigated, it is said, by the more reputable townspeople, on
the colleges, several of which were sacked. The attack was ultimately
defeated by the courage and resource of Henry Spenser or Le Dispencer,
bishop of Norwich. The relations of the university of Cambridge with the
crown were never so intimate as those of Oxford. Henry III. fortified
the town with two gates, but these were burnt by the rebellious barons;
and in much later times the two first of the Stuart kings, and the two
first of the Georges, cultivated friendly personal relations with the
university. During the civil war the colleges even melted down their
plate for the war chest of King Charles; but Cambridge showed little of
the stubborn royalism of Oxford, and submitted to the Commonwealth
without serious resistance.
Colleges.
The history of collegiate foundation in Cambridge after that of
Peterhouse may be followed through the ensuing description of the
colleges, but for ease of reference these are dealt with in alphabetical
order. The main street which traverses the town from south to north,
parallel to, and at a short distance from the river, is known
successively as Trumpington Street, King's Parade, Trinity Street, St
John's Street and Bridge Street. The majority of the colleges lie on
either side of this street, and chiefly between it and the river. Those
of St John's, Trinity, Trinity Hall, Clare, King's and Queens' present
the famous "backs" towards the river, which is crossed by a series of
picturesque bridges leading to the gardens and grounds on the opposite
bank.
_Christ's College_ is not among the group indicated above; it stands
farther to the east, in St Andrew's Street. It was founded in 1505 by
the Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII. It incorporated God's
House, which had been founded by William Bingham, a cleric of London, in
1439, had been removed when the site was required for part of King's
College, and had been refounded with the countenance of Henry VI. in
1448. This was a small house, but the Lady Margaret's endowment provided
for a master, twelve fellows and forty-seven scholars. Edward VI. added
another fellowship and three scholarships and the present number of
fellows is fifteen. There are certain exhibitions in election to which
preference is given to schools in the north of England--Giggleswick,
Kirkby Lonsdale, Skipton and Sedbergh. The buildings of Lady Margaret's
foundation were in great part faced in classical style in the 17th
century; a building east of the old quadrangle is also of this period,
and is ascribed to Inigo Jones. The rooms occupied by the foundress
herself are preserved, though in an altered condition, as are those of
the poet Milton, who was educated here, and with whom the college has
many associations. In the fine gardens is an ancient mulberry tree
believed to have been planted by him. Among illustrious names connected
with this college are John Leland the antiquary, Archdeacon Paley,
author of the _Evidences_, and Charles Darwin, while Henry More and
others of the school of Cambridge Platonists in the 17th century were
educated here.
_Clare College_ lies close to the river, south of Trinity Hall. In 1326
the university erected a hall, known as University Hall, to accommodate
a number of students, and in 1338 Elizabeth de Burgh, countess of
Clare, re-endowed the hall, which took the name of Clare Hall, and only
became known as college in 1856. There was a strong ecclesiastical
tendency in this foundation; six out of the twenty fellows were to be
priests when elected. The foundation now consists of a master and
fifteen fellows, besides scholars, of whom three receive emoluments from
the endowment of Lady Clare. The old college buildings were in great
part destroyed by fire in 1521; the present buildings date from 1638 to
1715, and are admirable examples of their period. They surround a very
beautiful quadrangle, and the back towards the river is also fine.
Unconfirmed tradition indicates the poet Chaucer as an _alumnus_ of this
college; other famous men associated with it were Hugh Latimer the
martyr, Ralph Cudworth, one of the "Platonists," and Archbishop
Tillotson.
_Corpus Christi College_ (commonly called Corpus) stands on the east
side of Trumpington Street. The influence of medieval gilds in
Cambridge, the character of which was primarily religious, was
exceedingly strong. About the beginning of the 14th century there is
first mentioned the gild of St Mary, which was connected with Great St
Mary's church. The gild was at this time prosperous, but about 1350,
when the idea of the foundation of a college by the gilds was matured,
the fraternity of St Mary lacked the means to proceed save by
amalgamating with another gild, that of Corpus Christi. The age of this
institution, whose church was St Benedict's or St Bene't's, is not
known. By the two gilds, therefore, the "House of Scholars of Corpus
Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary" was founded in 1352, the foundation
being the only instance of its kind. In early times it was commonly
known as St Bene't's from the church connected with the Corpus gild
which stands over against the college, and served as its chapel for
nearly three centuries. The foundation consists of a master and twelve
fellows, with scholars of the old and later foundations. The ancient
small quadrangle remains, and is of historical rather than architectural
interest. The great quadrangle dates from 1823-1825. The library
contains the famous collection of MSS. bequeathed by Archbishop Matthew
Parker, _alumnus_ of the college, in the 16th century.
_Downing College_ is in the southern part of the town, to the east of
Trumpington Street. Sir George Downing, baronet, of Gamlingay Park, who
died in 1749, left estates to various relations, who died without issue.
In this event, Downing's will provided for the foundation of a college,
but the heirs contested the will with the university, and in spite of a
decision against them in 1769, continued to hold the estates for many
years, so that it was not until 1800 that the charter for the college
was obtained. The foundation-stone was laid in 1807, and the two ranges
of buildings, in classical style, represent all that was completed of an
intended quadrangle. The foundation consists of a master, professors of
English law and of medicine, six fellows and six scholars.
_Emmanuel College_ overlooks St Andrew's Street. It was founded in 1584
by Sir Walter Mildmay (_c_. 1520-1589), chancellor of the exchequer and
privy councillor under Queen Elizabeth. The foundation, considerably
enlarged from the original, consists of a master, sixteen fellows and
thirty scholars. There are further scholarships on other foundations
which are awarded by preference to pupils of Uppingham and other schools
in the midlands. Emmanuel was noted from the outset as a stronghold of
Puritanism; it is indeed recorded that Elizabeth rallied the founder on
his intention that this should be so. Mildmay assuredly had the welfare
of the church primarily at heart, and he attempted to provide against
the life residence of fellows, which he considered an unhealthy feature
in some colleges. The site of Emmanuel was previously occupied by a
Dominican friary, and some of its buildings were adapted to collegiate
uses. There is only a little of the earliest building remaining; the
greater part of the present college dates from the second half of the
18th century. The chapel, however, is by Sir Christopher Wren (1677).
Richard Holdsworth, Gresham professor, and William Sancroft, archbishop
of Canterbury, were masters of this college; Bishops Joseph Hall and
Thomas Percy were among its _alumni_, as was John Harvard, principal
founder of the great American college which bears his name.
_Gonville and Caius College_ (commonly called Caius, pronounced Kees),
stands mainly on the west side of Trinity Street. It arose out of an
earlier foundation. In 1348 Edmund Gonvile or Gonevill founded the hall
of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin, which was commonly called
Gonville Hall, for the education of twenty scholars in dialectic and
other sciences, with endowment for a master and three fellows. This hall
stood on part of the present site of Corpus, but on the death of its
founder in 1351 it was moved to the north-west corner of the site of the
present Caius, by William Bateman, bishop of Norwich and founder of
Trinity Hall. The famous physician John Caius (q.v.), who was educated
at this small institution, later conceived the idea of refounding and
enlarging it, obtained a charter to do so in 1557, and became master of
the new foundation of Gonville and Caius College. The foundation
consists of a master and not less than twenty-two fellows, exclusive of
the provision under the will of William Henry Drosier (d. 1889), doctor
of medicine and fellow of the college, for the endowment of seven
additional fellowships. Since its refoundation by Caius, the college has
had a peculiar connexion with the study of medicine, while, besides many
eminent physicians, Sir Thomas Gresham, Judge Jeffreys, Robert Hare,
Jeremy Taylor, Henry Wharton and Lord Thurlow are among its noted names.
Three sides of the main quadrangle, Tree Court, including the frontage
towards Trinity Street, are modern (1870). The interior of this court is
picturesque, and the design of the smaller Caius Court was inspired by
Caius himself. He also designed the gates of Honour, Virtue and
Humility, of which the two first stand _in situ_; the gate of Honour is
a peculiarly good example of early Renaissance work. Caius is buried in
the chapel.
_Jesus College_ lies apart from and to the north-east of the majority of
the colleges. It was founded in 1406 by John Alcock, bishop of Ely. The
site was previously occupied by a Benedictine nunnery dedicated to St
Radigund, which was already in existence in the first half of the 12th
century and was claimed by Alcock to have been founded from Ely, to the
bishops of which it certainly owed much. The name given to Alcock's
college was that of "the most Blessed Virgin Mary, St John the
Evangelist, and the glorious Virgin Saint Radigund," but it appears that
the founder himself intended the name to be Jesus College. He provided
for a master and six fellows, but the foundation now consists of a
master and sixteen fellows, with twenty scholars or more. There are
several further scholarships confined to the sons of clergymen of the
Church of England. Architecturally Jesus is one of the most interesting
colleges in Cambridge, for Alcock retained, and there still remains, a
considerable part of the old buildings of the nunnery. The most
important of these is the church, which Alcock, by removing most of the
nave and other portions, converted into the usual form of a college
chapel. The tower, however, is retained. The bulk of the building is an
admirable example of Early English work, but there are traces of Norman;
and Alcock added certain Perpendicular features. Of the rest of the
college buildings, the hall is Alcock's work, the brick gatehouse is a
fine structure of the close of the 15th century, while the cloister is a
little later, and stands on the site of the nuns' cloister. Another
court dates from the 17th and early 18th centuries, and there is a
considerable amount of modern building. The most famous name connected
with Jesus College is that of Cranmer. Among many others are Sir Thomas
Elyot, John Bale, John Pearson, bishop of Chester, Hugh Peters, Gilbert
Wakefield, Thomas Malthus, Laurence Sterne and Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
_King's College_ has its fine frontage upon the western side of King's
Parade. It was founded by King Henry VI. in 1441. The first site was
small and circumscribed, and in 1443 the existing site was with
difficulty cleared of dwellings. The king designed a close connexion
between this college and his other foundation at Eton; he provided for a
provost and for seventy scholars, all of whom should be Etonians. In
1861 open scholarships were instituted, and the foundation now consists
of a provost, forty-six fellows and forty-eight scholars. Half the
scholarships are still appropriated to Eton. An administrative
arrangement peculiar to King's College is that by which the provost has
absolute authority within its walls, to the exclusion of officers of the
University. The chief architectural ornament of the college, and one of
the most notable in the town, is the magnificent Perpendicular chapel,
comparable with those of St George at Windsor and Henry VII. at
Westminster Abbey. The building was begun in 1446, and extended (apart
from the interior fittings) over nearly seventy years. Within, the most
splendid features are the fan-vaulting which extends throughout the
chapel, the noble range of stained-glass windows, which date for the
most part from the early part of the 16th century, and the wooden organ
screen, which, with part of the stalls, is of the time of Henry VIII.
The college services are celebrated for the beauty of their music. The
bulk of the other collegiate buildings are of the 18th century or
modern. The old court of King's College is occupied by the modern
university library, north of the chapel; the gateway, a good example
(1444), is preserved. John Frith the Martyr, Richard Croke, Giles
Fletcher, Richard Mulcaster, Sir William Temple, William Oughtred, the
poet Waller, and Horace Walpole and others of his family are among many
illustrious _alumni_ of the college.
_Magdalene College_ (pronounced Maudlin) stands on the west bank of the
Cam, near the Great Bridge. In 1428 the Benedictines of Crowland Abbey
founded a home for student monks on this site, and in 1519 Edward, duke
of Buckingham, partly secularized this institution by founding
Buckingham College in connexion with it. After the dissolution of the
monastery, Thomas, Baron Audley of Walden, erected Magdalene in place of
the former house in 1542. The foundation consists of a master and seven
fellows, besides scholars. There are some valuable exhibitions
appropriated to Wisbech school. The appointment of the master is
peculiar, the office being in the gift of the occupant of Audley End, an
estate near Saffron Walden, Essex. Some parts of the original building
are preserved, but the most notable portion of the college is the
Pepysian library, dating _c_. 1700. It contains the very valuable
collection of books bequeathed by Samuel Pepys to the college, at which
he was a student. Buckingham College had Archbishop Cranmer as a
lecturer; Charles Kingsley and Charles Stewart Parnell were educated at
Magdalene.
_Pembroke College_ stands to the east of Trumpington Street. It was
founded in 1347 by Mary de St Paul, widow of Aylmer de Valence, earl of
Pembroke. Henry VI. made notable benefactions to it. The foundation
consists of a master and thirteen fellows, and there are six
scholarships on the original foundation, besides others of later
institution. The older existing buildings are mainly of the 18th
century, but much of the original fabric was removed and rebuilt in
1874. The chapel is of the middle of the 17th century, and is ascribed
to Sir Christopher Wren. The poets Spenser and Gray, Nicholas Ridley the
martyr, Archbishop Whitgift and William Pitt were associated with this
college; and from the number of bishops whose names are associated with
it the college has obtained the style of _collegium episcopale_.
_Peterhouse_ or St Peter's College is on the west side of Trumpington
Street, almost opposite Pembroke. It has already been indicated as the
oldest Cambridge college (1284). Hugh de Balsham, the founder, had
settled some secular scholars in the ancient Augustinian Hospital of St
John in 1280, but the experiment was not a success. Nor did he carry out
his full intentions as regards Peterhouse, the foundation of which
followed on the failure of the fusion of his scholars with the hospital;
but Simon Montagu, his successor in the bishopric of Ely, carried on his
work, and in 1344 gave the college a code of statutes in which the
influence of the Merton code is plainly visible. A master and fourteen
fellows formed the original foundation, but the present consists of a
master, and not less than eleven fellows and twenty-three scholars. The
hall retains some original work; it was first built out of a legacy from
the founder. The library building (_c_. 1590) is due to a legacy from Dr
Andrew Perne (master 1554-1580); and Dr Matthew Wren (master
1625-1634), uncle of the famous architect Sir Christopher Wren, directed
the building of the chapel and cloisters. The most famous name connected
with the college is that of Cardinal Beaufort.
_Queens' College_ stands at the south of the riverside group, and one of
its ranges of buildings rises immediately from the river. A college of
St Bernard had been established in 1445 by Andrew Docket or Dokett,
rector of St Botolph's church, who had also been principal of a hostel,
or students' lodge, of St Bernard. He sought and obtained the patronage
of Margaret of Anjou, wife of Henry VI., who undertook the foundation of
a new house on another site in 1448, to bear the name of Queens'. Docket
became the first master. In 1465 Elizabeth Woodville, wife of Edward
IV., became the college's second foundress. The foundation consists of a
president and eleven fellows. The buildings are exceedingly picturesque.
The main quadrangle, of red brick, was completed very soon after the
foundation. The smaller cloister court, towards the river, retains
building of the same period, and the beautiful wooden gallery of the
president's lodge deserves notice. Another court is called Erasmus's;
the rooms which he is said to have occupied remain, and a walk in the
college garden across the river bears his name.
_St Catharine's College_, on the west side of Trumpington Street, was
founded by Dr Robert Woodlark or Wodelarke, chancellor of the university
and (1452) provost of King's College. It was opened in 1473, but the
charter of incorporation dates from 1475. The foundation provided for a
master (Woodlark being the first) and three fellows; there are now six
fellows, and twenty-six scholars. The principal buildings, surrounding a
court on three sides, date mainly from a complete reconstruction of the
college at the close of the 17th century.
_St John's College_, at the north of the riverside group of colleges,
was founded in 1511 by the Lady Margaret Beaufort, also foundress of
Christ's College. It replaced the Hospital of St John, which dated from
the early years of the 13th century, and has been mentioned already in
connexion with Peterhouse. The Lady Margaret died before the college was
firmly established, and her designs were not carried out without many
difficulties, which were overcome chiefly by the exertions of John
Fisher, bishop of Rochester, one of her executors. Thirty-two
fellowships were endowed, but subsequent endowments allowed extension,
and the foundation now consists of a master, fifty-six fellows, sixty
scholars and nine sizars. A large number of exhibitions are appropriated
to special schools. Of the four courts of St John's, the easternmost is
the original, and has a very fine Tudor gateway of brick. The chapel is
modern (1863-1869), an ornate example of the work of Sir Gilbert Scott.
The second court, practically unaltered, dates from 1508-1602. In this
there is a beautiful Masters' gallery, panelled, with a richly-moulded
ceiling; it is now used as a combination room or fellows' common-room.
The third court, which contains the library (1624), backs on to the
river, and the fourth, which is on the opposite bank, was built _c_.
1830. A covered bridge connects the two, and is commonly called the
Bridge of Sighs from a certain resemblance to the bridge of that name at
Venice. Among the notable names connected with this college are Cecil,
Lord Burghley, Thomas Cartwright, Wentworth, earl of Strafford, Roger
Ascham, Richard Bentley, John Cleveland, the satirist, Thomas Baker, the
historian, Lord Palmerston, Professor Adams, Sir John Herschel, Bishop
Colenso, Dr Benjamin Kennedy, Dean Merivale, Horne Tooke, Samuel Parr
and William Wilberforce, and the poets Herrick (afterwards of Trinity
Hall) and Wordsworth.
_Selwyn College_, standing west of the river (Sidgwick Avenue), was
founded in 1882 by public subscription in memory of George Augustus
Selwyn, bishop of New Zealand and afterwards of Lichfield, for the
purpose of giving university education with economy "combined,"
according to the charter, "with Christian training, based upon the
principles of the Church of England."
_Sidney Sussex College_ faces Sidney Street. It was founded under the
will (1588) of the Lady Frances Sidney, dowager countess of Sussex (d.
1589), and received its charter in 1596. The foundress provided for a
master, ten fellows and twenty scholars, but thirty-six scholarships
are now provided. The original buildings were of brick, but they were
plastered over and greatly altered by Wyatville about 1830. The Grey
Friars had occupied the site, and part of their buildings remained in
the chapel until 1777. A beautiful block of new buildings, with a
cloister, was erected in 1890. The most famous name associated with the
college is that of Oliver Cromwell, who was a fellow commoner, as also
was Thomas Fuller, author of the _Worthies of England_.
_Trinity College_, the front of which is on Trinity Street, is the
largest collegiate foundation in Cambridge, and larger than any in
Oxford. It was founded in 1546 by King Henry VIII. and absorbed several
earlier institutions--King's Hall (founded by Edward III. in 1336), St
Michael's or Michaelhouse (founded by Hervey de Stanton, chancellor of
the exchequer under Edward II., in 1323), Fyswick or Physick's Hostel,
belonging to Gonville Hall, and other hostels. Henry's original
foundation was for a master and sixty fellows and scholars, but Queen
Mary and other later benefactors enabled extensions to be made, and the
foundation now consists of a master (appointed by the crown), at least
sixty fellows, seventy-four scholars and sixteen sizars, with minor
scholars, chaplains librarian and the regius professors of Divinity,
Hebrew and Greek. Major scholarships are open to undergraduates, not
being of standing to take the degree of bachelor of arts, as well as to
non-members of the university under nineteen years of age, while minor
scholarships and exhibitions are open only to the latter. There are
valuable exhibitions appropriated to certain schools, of which the most
important are those confined to Westminster school. Trinity College is
entered from Trinity Street by the King's Gateway (1518-1535) preserved
from King's Hall, but subsequently altered. The principal or Great Court
is the largest in Cambridge and very fine. Its buildings are of
different dates. In the centre is a picturesque fountain, erected by
Thomas Neville, master (1593-1615), under whose direction much of the
building was carried out. The chapel on the north side of the court was
begun in the reign of Mary. The carved oak fittings within date from the
mastership of Richard Bentley (1700-1742). The organ is particularly
fine. A statue of Sir Isaac Newton by Roubiliac stands in the
antechapel, and Richard Porson and William Whewell are buried here. The
hall on the west of the court is Neville's work (1605), and very
beautiful. The second court is also his foundation and bears his name.
The library on the west side is the work of Sir Christopher Wren. Its
interior is excellent, and besides busts of some of the vast number of
famous men connected with Trinity, it contains a statue of Lord Byron by
the Danish sculptor Thorvaldsen. The New Court, Gothic in style, was
begun in 1823. The beautiful grounds and walks of the college extend
down to and beyond the river. The college has extended its buildings to
the opposite side of Trinity Street, where the two courts known as
Whewell's Hostel were built (c. 1860) at the charge of Dr William
Whewell during his mastership. The eminent _alumni_ of this great
college are too numerous to admit of selection.
_Trinity Hall_, which lies near the river, south of Trinity, was founded
by William Bateman, bishop of Norwich, in 1350. On the site there had
been, for about twenty years before the foundation, a house of monastic
students from Ely. The present college is alone in preserving the term
Hall in its title. The foundation consists of a master and thirteen
fellows, and the study of law, which the founder had especially in mind,
is provided for by lectureships, and not less than three studentships
tenable by graduates of the college. The buildings are for the most part
modern or modernized, but the interior of the library well preserves its
character of the early part of the 17th century.
University buildings.
Of the churches of Cambridge one has long been recognized as the church
of the university, namely Great St Mary's, which stands in the centre of
the town, between King's Parade and Market Hill. It is a fine
Perpendicular structure, founded in 1478; but the tower was not
completed until 1608. Some Decorated details are preserved from a former
building. The university preachers deliver their sermons in this
church, but it was formerly the meeting-place of the university for the
transaction of business, for learned disputations and for secular
festivals. The "Cambridge chimes" struck by the clock are famous, and a
curfew is rung each evening on the great bell. The Senate House,
standing opposite Great St Mary's, dates from 1730 and is classical in
style. The buildings of the university library, in the immediate
vicinity, enclose two quadrangles, and in part occupy the site of the
old court of King's College. One of the quadrangles was formerly
occupied by the schools or lecture rooms, but as the library grew it
usurped their place. Important modern additions date from 1842, 1864 and
1888. The facade of the old schools is an excellent work of 1758. The
library is one of those which is entitled to receive, under the
Copyright Act, a copy of every book published in the United Kingdom. The
Fitzwilliam Museum, a massive classical building, was begun in 1837 to
contain the bibliographical and art collection bequeathed by Richard,
Viscount Fitzwilliam, in 1816. The museum of archaeology (classical,
general and local, 1884), is connected with the Fitzwilliam Museum. The
Pitt Press (1833), housing the university printing establishment, was
begun out of the residue of a fund for erecting the statues of William
Pitt in Hanover Square, London, and Westminster Abbey. It stands near
Pembroke, Pitt's college. The Selwyn Divinity School (1879), opposite St
John's College, was built largely at the charge of Dr William Selwyn,
Lady Margaret professor of divinity. The museums and lecture rooms
(begun in 1863) are extensive buildings on each side of Downing Street.
Included in these are the museum of zoology, which had its origin in
collections made by Sir Busick Harwood, professor of anatomy in
1785-1814, and contains the collection of fishes made by Charles Darwin
in the ship "Beagle"; the medical school, botanical museum and
herbarium, mineralogical museum, engineering laboratory (1894), optical
and astronomical lecture room, chemical laboratory (1887), and the
Cavendish laboratory for physical research (1874), the gift of William
Cavendish, 7th duke of Devonshire and chancellor of the university. The
Sedgwick Geological Museum, opened by King Edward VII. in 1904,
commemorates Adam Sedgwick, Woodwardian professor of geology, and
originated in the collections of Dr John Woodward (d. 1728). Adjoining
this building, in Downing Street is the law library, founded on a
bequest from Miss Rebecca Flower Squire (d. 1898) with the law school.
The observatory (1824) is on the outskirts of the town in Madingley
Road, and the botanic garden (founded 1762, and removed to its present
site in 1831) borders Trumpington Road. The club-rooms and debating hall
of the Cambridge Union Society are adjacent to the Holy Sepulchre
church.
The non-collegiate students of the university (i.e. those who receive
the university education and possess the same status as collegiate
students without belonging to any college) have lecture and other rooms
and a library in Fitzwilliam Hall. This body was created in 1869. The
students reside in lodgings. There are two women's colleges--Girton,
established in 1873 on the north-western outskirts of the town, having
been previously opened at Hitchin in 1869, and Newnham (1875),
originally (1873) a hall of residence for students attending special
lectures for women. Among other educational establishments mention must
be made of the Leys school, founded in 1875 by prominent Wesleyans for
non-sectarian education, and the Perse School, an ancient foundation
remodelled in 1902.
Non-university buildings.
Out of a number of ancient churches in Cambridge, two, besides Great St
Mary's, deserve special notice. In St Benedict's or Benet's, which has
been already mentioned in connexion with Corpus College, the tower is of
great interest, being the oldest surviving building in Cambridge, of
pre-Norman workmanship, having rude ornamentation on the exterior and
the tower arch within. The church of the Holy Sepulchre in Bridge Street
is one of the four ancient round churches in England. Its supposed date
is 1120-1140, but although it is doubtless to be associated with the
Knights Templars, the circumstances of its foundation are not known.
The chancel is practically a modern reconstruction, and an extensive
restoration, which has been adversely criticized, was applied by the
Cambridge Camden Society to the whole fabric in 1841. At several of the
villages neighbouring or suburban to Cambridge there are churches of
interest, as at Chesterton, Trumpington, Grantchester (where the name
indicates a Roman station, borne out by the discovery of remains), Fen
Ditton and Barnwell, near which is the Norman Sturbridge chapel. In
Cambridge itself there is a Norman house, much altered, which by a
tradition of unknown origin bears the name of the School of Pythagoras.
University constitution and administration.
The university is a corporate body, including all the colleges. These,
however, are also corporations in themselves, and have their own
statutes, but they are further subject to the paramount laws of the
university. The university statutes of Queen Elizabeth were only
replaced in 1858. The statutes as revised by a commission in that year
were soon found to require emendation; in 1872 another commission was
appointed, and in 1882 new statutes received the approval of the queen
in council. The head of the university is the chancellor. He is a member
of the university, of high rank and position, elected by the senate.
Being generally non-resident, he delegates his administrative duties to
the vice-chancellor, who is the head of a college, and is elected for
one year by the senate. The principal executive officers under the
vice-chancellor are as follows. The two proctors have as their main duty
that of disciplinary officers over the members of the university _in
statu pupillari_. In each year two colleges nominate one proctor each,
according to a fixed rotation which gives the larger colleges a more
frequent choice than the smaller. The proctors are assisted by four
pro-proctors. The public orator is the spokesman of the senate upon such
public occasions as the conferring of honorary degrees. The librarian
has charge of the university library. The registrary, with his
assistant, records the proceedings of the senate, &c., and has charge of
documents. The university returns two members to parliament, elected by
the members of the senate. The chancellor and _sex viri_ (elected by the
senate) form a court for offences against the university statutes by
members not _in statu pupillari_. The chancellor and six heads of
colleges, appointed by the senate, form a court of discipline for
members _in statu pupillari_.
Senate.
The senate in congregation is the legislative body. Those who have votes
in it are the chancellor, vice-chancellor, doctors of divinity, law,
medicine, science, letters and music, and masters of art, law, surgery
and music. The council of the senate, consisting of the chancellor,
vice-chancellor, four heads of colleges, four professors and eight other
members of the senate chosen by the vice-chancellor, brings all
proposals (called Graces) before the senate. The revenues of the
university are derived chiefly from fees at matriculation, for certain
examinations, and for degrees, from a tax upon all members of the
university, and from contributions by the colleges, together with the
profits of the University Press. A financial board, consisting of the
vice-chancellor _ex officio_ and certain elected members, administers
the finances of the university. There are boards for each of the various
faculties, and a General Board of Studies, with the vice-chancellor at
the head. There are university professors, readers or lecturers in a
large number of subjects. The oldest professorship is the Lady Margaret
professorship of divinity, instituted by the founders of Christ's and St
John's Colleges in 1502. In 1540 Henry VIII. founded the regius
professorships of divinity, civil law, physic, Hebrew and Greek.
College organization--undergraduates.
The head of a college generally bears the title of master, as indicated
above in the account of the several colleges. It has also seen that the
foundation of each college includes a certain number of fellows and
scholars. The affairs of the college are managed by the head and the
fellows, or a committee of fellows. The scholars and other members _in
statu pupillari_ are generally termed collectively undergraduates. Those
who receive no emoluments (and therefore pay the full fees) are
technically called pensioners, and form the bulk of the undergraduates.
Another group of students receiving emoluments are termed sizars; the
primary object of sizarships is to open the university course to men of
limited means. The title of fellow-commoners belongs to wealthy students
who pay special fees and have the right of dining at the fellows'
tables. This class has virtually ceased to exist. As regards his work,
the undergraduate in college is under the intimate direction of his
tutor; the disciplinary officer in college is the dean. Besides the
foundation scholarships in each college there are generally certain
scholarships and exhibitions founded by private or special benefactions;
these are frequently awarded for the encouragement of specific branches
of study, or are confined wholly, or by preference, to students from
certain schools.
Residence and examinations.
The total number of students is about 3000. The colleges cannot
accommodate this number, so that a student commonly spends some part of
his residence in lodgings, which are licensed by, and under the control
of, the university authorities. Such residence implies no sacrifice of
membership of a college. There are three terms--Michaelmas (October),
Lent and Easter (summer). They include together not less than 227 days,
though the actual period of residence for undergraduates is about 24
weeks annually. Undergraduates usually begin residence in Michaelmas
term. An elementary examination or other evidence of qualification is
required for admission to a college. After nine terms' (three years')
residence an undergraduate can take the first degree, that of bachelor
of arts (B.A.). The examinations required for the ordinary B.A. degree
are--(1) Previous examination or Little-go (usually taken in the first
term of residence or at least in the first year), including classics,
mathematics and a gospel in Greek and Paley's _Evidences of
Christianity_, or an additional Greek or Latin classic and logic. (2)
General examination in classics and mathematics, with a portion of
English history, &c. (3) Special examination in a subject other than
classical or mathematical. Candidates for honours are required to pass
the Previous examination with certain additional subjects; they then
have only a "tripos" examination in one of the following
subjects--mathematics, classics, moral sciences, natural sciences,
theology, law, history, oriental languages, medieval and modern
languages, mechanical sciences, economics. The mathematical tripos is
divided into two parts, in the first of which, down to 1909, the
candidates were classed in the result as Wranglers, Senior Optimes and
Junior Optimes. There was also an individual order of merit, the most
proficient candidate being placed at the head of the list as Senior
Wrangler. But in 1906 a number of important reforms of this tripos were
proposed by the Mathematical Board, and among these the abolition of the
individual order of merit was recommended and passed by the senate. It
is not employed in any other tripos. The classical tripos is also in two
parts, to the second of which certain kindred subjects are added
(ancient philosophy, history, &c.). Individual order of merit is not
observed in either part, the candidates being grouped in classes. There
are a large number of university prizes and scholarships on special
foundations. Such are the Smith's prizes for mathematics and natural
philosophy, on the foundation (1768) of Robert Smith, master of Trinity,
awarded up to 1883 after examination, but since then for an essay on
some branch of each subject, and the Chancellor's medals, of which two
have been awarded annually in classics since the foundation of the
prizes in 1751 by Thomas Holles, duke of Newcastle.
Affiliated colleges.
The university may adopt as affiliated colleges institutions in the
United Kingdom or in any part of the British empire which fulfil certain
conditions as to the education of adult students. Attendance at these
institutions is counted as equivalent to a certain period of residence
at Cambridge University in the event of a student wishing to pursue his
work here. There are over twenty such affiliated colleges. There are
also, in England, certain "affiliated centres." These are towns in which
there is no affiliated college, but students who have there attended a
course of education managed in connexion with the university by a
committee may enter the university with privileges similar to those
enjoyed by students from affiliated colleges.
May week.
The principal social function of the university is the "May Week" at the
close of the Easter term. It actually takes place in June and lasts
longer than a week. There is a great influx of visitors into Cambridge
for this occasion. The first four days are occupied by the college
boat-races on the Cam, and on subsequent days there are college balls,
concerts, theatrical performances and other entertainments. On the
Tuesday after the races there is a Congregation, at which prize
exercises are recited, and usually, but not invariably, a number of
honorary degrees are conferred on eminent men by invitation. This final
period of the academic year is called Commencement, or in Latin _Comitia
Maxim_.
AUTHORITIES.--For details of the administration of the university and
colleges, regulations as to studies, prizes, scholarships, &c., see
the annual _Cambridge University Calendar_ and _The Students' Handbook
to the University and Colleges of Cambridge_; see also R. Willis and
J.W. Clark, _Architectural History of the University of Cambridge_ (3
vols., Cambridge, 1886); J. Bass Mullinger, _History of the University
of Cambridge from the Earliest Times to the Accession of Charles I._
(2 vols., 1873-1884; third vol., 1909); and smaller _History of
Cambridge_, in Longman's "Epoch" Series (1888); J.W. Clark,
_Cambridge, Historical and Picturesque_ (London, 1890); T.D. Atkinson,
_Cambridge Described and Illustrated_, with introduction by J.W. Clark
(London, 1897); F.W. Maitland, _Township and Borough_ (Cambridge,
1898); C.W. Stubbs, _Cambridge_, in "Mediaeval Towns" series (London,
1905); Arthur Gray, _The Dual Origin of the Town of Cambridge_
(publications of the Cambridge Antiquarian Soc., new ser. No. I,
Cambridge, 1908); J.W. Clark, _Liber memorandorum ecclesie de
Bernewelle_ (Cambridge, 1907), with an introduction by F.W. Maitland.
For the individual colleges, see the series of _College Histories_, by
various authors (London, 1899 et seq.).