Cambridgeshire (two pretty cities and river punts!)
Cambridgeshire is a beautiful county in the East of England. It’s inland, but is home to The Fens, one of the most important wetlands that provides home for birds and wildlife, and fertile land for much of our organic food.
Always follow the Countryside Code to keep all creatures safe. Keep dogs away from steep banks, mushrooms (and toxic plants/trees) and on leads near birds, barnyard friends and wild ponies.
Cambridge’s River Cam is one of England’s beautiful rivers, this one being particularly shallow, so ideal for people who like punting (quite complicated apparently, so get instructions).
Historically called the Granta, this river winds through Cambridge University, with half a million people visiting each year. It is said to include a hidden Ice Age channel below. It’s still known as the Granta (above) and the Cam (below).
The name change was due to the university, and the best-known stretch of the river is called ‘The Backs’, where it flows behind many university colleges. Other parts are suitable wild swimming.
This river is not always tidal, as there are locks (Jesus Lock and Baits Bite Lock) that prevent saltwater from the Fens reaching Cambridge. Power boating is restricted, leaving the area beautiful to enjoy engine-free punts and rowing boats.
The Ancient University City of Cambridge
Cambridge is arguably a ‘prettier city’ than Oxford, although both are known for their ancient universities. Cambridge is situated on the River Cam, and is home to 31 colleges, a few hidden behind old walls. The 33 acres of land at Jesus College alone, is home to muntjac deer, sparrowhawks and endangered water voles.
Some of the best known are King’s College (known for its beautiful chapel and choir who perform Christmas carols on TV each year) and Trinity College (this is like a small town with huge courtyards, and holds the personal notebooks of Isaac Newton, a studied who discovered the laws of gravitation).
Other well-known Cambridge University graduates include A.A. Milne (creator of Winnie the Pooh), Bill Oddie (former Goodie and lover of wild birds) and national treasure Sir David Attenborough.
Indie Cambridge (empowering local businesses)
Indie Cambridge is a membership organisation designed to connect and support independent businesses and shops across the beautiful county of Cambridgeshire in East Anglia. It brings together businesses and customers, by reaching hundreds of local customers via the app.
Run an indie shop? Many seeds, flowers, plants (and plantable cards) are toxic to pets, so learn what not to sell to households with pets.
Membership (at around £45 a month) has many benefits. Your business will be listed on the app (far less than paying for an add) to targeted customers who like supporting indie customers, so of course you can also use this opportunity to offer special deals and new offers. Or even promote your own discount card.
You also appear on the website and may be mentioned in the popular monthly e-newsletter that is sent to 1000s of people. You also get to connect with other indie businesses, for mutual support.
There are also regular get-togethers with others, to network (so you don’t feel like an island, in a sea of chain stores and supermarkets).
You’ll even on membership be introduced to everyone they know, and be featured in the 36-page colour magazine, which is distributed free (over 5000 copies) in local shops twice yearly.
Indie Cambridge can even arrange an interview (for a fee) with a local journalist to write your unique store, and take a professional photo-shoot to use for your marketing.
And if you’re not ready to sign up just yet, you can still sign up, for a free basic listing.
Why Support Cambridge independent shops?
For a start, to help shops in Cambridge, which is one of the most cloned towns in England (more chain stores and less independent shops). For every £5 or £10 you spend each week at an independent shop, this brings collectively billions back into the local economy over a year.
This is because local businesses use local suppliers, pay local taxes, use local signwriters, and tend to eat and drink locally too. Plus ‘top profits’ go the retail shop owner, rather out-of-county to shareholders and companies abroad.
Cambridge’s Bridge of Sighs (no need to go to Venice!)
The Bridge of Sighs is a covered stone bridge in the city of Cambridge, with a Gothic style, believed to be the favourite spot of Queen Victoria. Located at St John’s College (the only one in the university to have two bridges)
Many people walk or cycle along the city’s bridges (half of all Cambridge residents ride a bicycle at least once a week!)
Now Grade-II listed, it was built back in 1831, designed by Henry Hutchinson. It was indeed inspired by the famous Venetian bridge, although architecturally it is quite different.
Built to connect older and newer parts of the college, access is restricted to college students, or those having walking or punting tours.
The legend of its name is that poet Lord Byron named it, to translate from the Italian phrase ‘ponte dei sospiri’, after prisoners would sign at their final view of Venice through the window, before being taken down to their cells. Same with Cambridge, some were even seeing the city for the last time before death.
There are over 20 more bridges on the River Cam, including:
- Clare Bridge is the oldest (built from 1639 to 1640) and has 14 stone balls, with a wedge missing from one.
- Magdalene Bridge (1823) is made from cast iron, on the site of a Roman crossing. It is now Grade II listed, and was historically vital for trade routes.
- Garret Hostel Bridge (1832) was originally built to walk over, and connects Trinity and Garret Hostel Lane.
Cambridge’s Curved Mathematical Bridge (built with straight wood?!)
The Mathematical Bridge at Queen’s College (Cambridge) is an amazing piece of engineering. In that although it’s curved, it’s built from straight planks of wood!
Most of Cambridge’s bridges sit on the River Cam, which is over 120,000 years old, shaped into its present form by a flood 14,000 years ago. It’s home to unusual wildlife like elaborately coloured mandarin ducks and sea shags (like small green versions of cormorants).
Many people walk or cycle along the city’s bridges (half of all Cambridge residents ride a bicycle at least once a week!)
Built in 1749, it was designed by William Etheridge and built by James Essex, using a self-supporting tangent and radial trussing design, that acts under gravity to build a very stable structure.
The wooden timbers act under compression (so the bridge is strong, without bending). The unique design also means that the bridge is easily repaired and maintained. Individual parts are easy to replace, without having to take the entire bridge apart.
Having said that, the bridge has been rebuilt twice (in 1866 and 1905) but both to the original design. There was actually a twin bridge designed by the same architecture, though it no longer stands.
There are over 20 more bridges on the River Cam, including:
- Clare Bridge is the oldest (built from 1639 to 1640) and has 14 stone balls, with a wedge missing from one.
- Magdalene Bridge (1823) is made from cast iron, on the site of a Roman crossing. It is now Grade II listed, and was historically vital for trade routes.
- Garret Hostel Bridge (1832) was originally built to walk over, and connects Trinity and Garret Hostel Lane.
St Etheldreda of Ely (and a very long cathedral)
Cambridge may get all the headlines, but the city of Ely is equally as beautiful. And known for having one of the longest cathedrals in England (known as ‘the ship of the Fens’).
The cathedral stands on a site that used to house a monastery, founded by Saint Etheldreda (called ‘Audrey for short!), a 7th century princess who gave up royal comfort, a life of faith.
King Edgar the Peaceful (!) also played an important role in the city’s history, ruling in the 10th century. After many years of turmoil, he gave land and money to Audrey to help rebuild her abbey.
This turned the area into a place of power and wealth, which brought new money to build more majestic buildings. Thank you Audrey and Edgar!
The Ely and Littleport riots
Not all of Ely’s history comes from royalty and saints. In 1816, local riots (due to unemployment, falling wages and high food prices) led to many people living on little more than gruel and water. While the Prince Regent (George V) was spending lavishly on multi-course banquets and spending hundreds of thousands of pounds, on redecorating Brighton Pavilion.
Things turned ugly with rioters even ransacking homes of innocent farmers, and magistrates promised a cap on the price of wheat, if things turned down. However, some riots continued, and some were publicly hanged (and buried in unmarked graves).
The King was known for his selfish lavish lifestyle, named by English Heritage as ‘Britain’s most useless monarch’. He amassed massive debts at the public’s expense, including remodelling Buckingham Palace and rebuilding Windsor Castle.
He also had many mistresses, and fathered several children outside his marriage. Nevertheless, despite always preferring ‘a girl and a bottle to politics and a sermon’, he repented his ways when dying. And actually became very devout, asking his subjects for forgiveness, for wasting his good fortune.
The Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race (its history)
The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race began in 1829, covering a 4.2 mile stretch of the Thames, from Putney and Mortlake in London. Each boat has 8 rowers and a coxswain, who steers the boat and sets the race plan.
Over the years, there have been dead heats. In 1877, the only only dead heat occurred (there were rumours however that the judge had fallen asleep!) As of today, Cambridge leads the winnings for both the men’s and women’s races.
One former rower was Hugh Laurie, in the race when his team (Cambridge) lost, after clashing oars! Other well-known people who have participated are TV presenter Dan Snow (for Oxford, now an ambassador for electoral reform).
And James Cracknell (for Cambridge). He suffered severe injuries in a cycling accident, but later recovered and age 46, became the oldest person to help win his team’s boat race in 2019.
How many times have boats sunk?
In 1912 (strangely the same year the Titanic also sank) , both boats sank as they filled with water during poor weather. In 1978, Cambridge’s boat sank and again in 1984 (after hitting a barge before the race had even started).
