| Cambridge
Cambridge: the city of crocuses and daffodils on the Backs,
of green open spaces and cattle grazing only 500 yards from
the main market square.
In the first century BC an Iron Age Belgic tribe built a settlement
on what is now Castle Hill. Around AD40 the Romans took over
the site and it became the crossing point for the Via Devana
which linked Colchester with the legions in Lincoln and beyond.
The Saxons followed, then the Normans under William the Conqueror,
who raised a Castle on a steep hill as a base for fighting
the Saxon rebel, Hereward the Wake, deep in the Fens at Ely.
The motte of William's castle still stands and Ely Cathedral
is visible from the top on a clear day.
The story of Ely Cathedral begins in Saxon Times with the
life of its founder, St.Etheldreda., a Saxon princess, born
in AD630 at Exning near Newmarket. Well worth visiting.
The first scholars didn't arrive in Cambridge until 1209 and
another 75 years passed before Hugh de Balsham, Bishop of
Ely, founded Peterhouse, the first college. Clare (1326),
Pembroke (1347), Gonville and Caius (1348), Trinity Hall (1350)
and Corpus Christi (1352) were established in the first half
of the fourteenth century. Ten more colleges were founded
during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, including Christ's
(1505), King's (1441), Queens' (1448), Jesus (1496), St.John’s
(1511), Trinity (1546), and Emmanuel (1584).
There are 31 Universities in Cambridge.
To reach Cambridge from Central London would take a little
short of 2 hours.
This City is always bustling with people; there are many shops,
churches and, of course, Universities. The visitor will find
many places of interest in this University City.
There are various Cambridge Colleges to visit, two of which:
King’s college and Chapel and, if closed, there is St
John's College always open to tourists. The market, in the
heart of the city is a very colourful open market and should
be on the agenda or even pay a visit to the Sunday market
at All Saints Garden, where you can find an interesting variety
of stalls.
The Fitzwilliam Museum is the Art museum of the University
of Cambridge and it has been described as "one of the
greatest art collections of the nation and a monument of the
first importance". The collection includes works of art
and antiquities and among them, some from Ancient Egypt, Greece
and Rome together with paintings including masterpieces by
Domenico Veneziano, Titian, Veronese, Rubens, Van Dyck, Canaletto,
Hogarth, Gainsborough, Constable, Monet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne
and Picasso.
Corn Exchange: Live Entertainment Venue
Here is a brief history of the Corn Exchange Building in
Cambridge, which makes interesting reading and certainly a
well worthwhile visit, if at all practically possible, to
the visitor :
1868 : The council decides to build a new Corn Exchange to
replace the existing one on St Andrew's Hill, Downing Street,
built in 1842 and now too small. The site of the Black Bear
Inn and the adjacent building are purchased for £5,000.
The building would also be used as an entertainment centre.
1898 : The first motor show is held in the Corn Exchange.
1940’s : Hundreds of rifles are taken to the Corn Exchange
to be cleaned and repaired by local women.
1950 : The building becomes a popular venue for roller skating,
wrestling and boxing. It is also marked out with four badminton
courts and is used for county matches.
1965 : Trading in corn ceases after a new corn exchange is
built at the cattle market at a cost of £9,000. The
building is hardly used and hired out as a warehouse.
1970 : The building is used for pop concerts, one day sales
and exhibitions. In 1967 the hall can be hired for £10
10s a day (half price for locals).
1982 : The key is handed over to the builder to start the
first stage of the conversion. This cost £210,000 more
than estimated, due to unexpected problems.
1998 : The Corn Exchange is now described by the local media
as a priceless public asset, has increased audiences by 50%,
costs 30% less to run than in 1988, wins the Charter Mark
for excellence in public service for the second time, is regionally
and nationally renowned for its new music and contemporary
events programme, is regularly grant-aided by the Arts Council
of England, Eastern Arts Board, Eastern Orchestral Board &
New Audiences Fund.
We will do our best to show you around Cambridge and make
your visit enjoyable should you not choose to go around with
a Blue Badge Guide. Please note that our drivers are not official
guides and therefore their main aim is to take you to the
chosen venue but will do their best in showing you around
places of interest.
Because these are individual tours, (up to 16 persons), the
minibuses used for these is far more versatile than the usual
large and cumbersome coaches, so we can take you to see places
where otherwise many tourists undoubtedly miss out.
One other great advantage is that we can stop anywhere you
choose rather than the pre-arranged, obligatory stops tourists
have to do when in larger groups.
The tour will last approximately 8 and half hours departing
from your Hotel at 09.00 returning to the hotel by 17.30. |
