List of bridges in Cambridge

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The following is a list and brief history of the bridges in Cambridge, England, principally those over the River Cam of which there are 26 (as of 2021).

Contents

The River Cam enters Cambridge from the south west of the city and heads north past many of the historic colleges of the University of Cambridge along the open area known as The Backs. After passing St John's College, it turns sharply and runs east, passing the weir at Jesus Green and the boathouses alongside Midsummer Common. Passing Chesterton, it turns north again and leaves the city, running a further 12 mi (19 km) before merging with the Great Ouse at Pope's Corner to the south of Ely.

Bridges over the River Cam (south to north)

Upper River (upstream of mill pond weir)

Trumpington Bridge (1790)

The most upstream bridge in Cambridge (UK Parliament constituency) lies along Grantchester Road between Grantchester and Trumpington. [1] Also known as Brasel Bridge, this 1790 brick bridge replaced a wooden bridge at the site of a ford. [2]

Sheep's Green Bridge (1910)

Deck of Sheep's Green Bridge The bridge in 2023.jpg
Deck of Sheep's Green Bridge

Footbridge linking Coe Fen behind The Leys School over a second small bridge to Lammas Land, near the area known as Hobson's Paradise. Closed in the second quarter of 2006 to replace the steps with ramps to make it easier for cyclists and prams to cross. The bridge decking was also replaced. map 1

Fen Causeway Bridge (1926)

Fen Causeway Bridge Fen Causeway crossing the Cam - geograph.org.uk - 787581.jpg
Fen Causeway Bridge

The first road bridge that is reached as the river enters the city. The road was formally opened on 9 December 1926. [3] map 2

Crusoe Bridge (1898–99)

Crusoe Bridge Crusoe Footbridge - geograph.org.uk - 648258.jpg
Crusoe Bridge

A steel footbridge with timber deck and supported on four cast-iron columns, [4] linking Sheep's Green and Coe Fen, and the final bridge on the 'Upper River' before it reaches the small weir at the mill pond. map 3

Middle River (between mill pond weir and Jesus Green weir)

Darwin College Bridges

Two wooden bridges within the college grounds connecting the main site with the college's two islands. map 4

Silver Street Bridge (1958)

Silver Street Bridge Bridge over the Cam - geograph.org.uk - 1335156.jpg
Silver Street Bridge

The site of bridges back to the 14th century, a cast iron bridge was built in 1843 but increasing heavy traffic led to a 1913 survey that determined the need for a new bridge. Repairs, however, allowed the bridge to last for a further 40 years. The present wide bridge, clad in Portland stone was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1932 and built in 1958–9. [5] map 5

Mathematical Bridge, Queens' College (1902)

Mathematical Bridge Cambridge uni math bridge.JPG
Mathematical Bridge
Mathematical Bridge Cambridge University, Mathematical Bridge, Queen's College.jpg
Mathematical Bridge

This is the third version of the design, first built in 1749. map 6

King's College Bridge (1819)

King's College Bridge King's College Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 1757977.jpg
King's College Bridge

The first bridge on the site was built in the 15th century, but situated around 20 metres to the north, and was rebuilt several times before moving to the present incarnation in 1819, designed by William Wilkins and built by Francis Braidwood. map 7

Clare College Bridge (1640)

Clare College Bridge Clare Bridge 2003.jpg
Clare College Bridge
Clare College Bridge Cambridge University, Bridge, Clare College.jpg
Clare College Bridge

The oldest of Cambridge's current bridges, this bridge in classical style was built in 1639–40 by Thomas Grumbold (d.1659) [6] . Many different stories are told to explain the missing section of the globe second from the left on the south side of the bridge. One rumour is that the builder of the bridge received (what he considered to be) insufficient payment, and in his anger, removed a segment of the globe; another is that complete bridges were subject to a tax at the time it was built, and the missing segment made the bridge incomplete and hence untaxed. map 8

Garret Hostel Bridge (1960)

Garret Hostel Bridge 2018-04-28 River Cam in Cambridge.jpg
Garret Hostel Bridge

At least the eighth bridge on this site on Garret Hostel Lane between the colleges of Trinity and Trinity Hall. The current design is by Timothy Guy Morgan, who at the time was an undergraduate student at Jesus College, after an open competition. Morgan died in 1960, before the bridge was completed. It was one of the first post-tensioned concrete bridges in the country. map 9 Known to students locally as “orgasm bridge”. [7]

Trinity College Bridge (1764)

Trinity College Bridge Cambridge University, Bridge, Trinity College.jpg
Trinity College Bridge

Designed by James Essex, it replaced a stone bridge built in 1651, which in turn replaced a stone bridge pulled down in 1643 by Cromwellian soldiers as a defence during the English Civil War. map 10 It is a Grade I listed building. [8]

Kitchen Bridge, St John's College (1709–11)

Kitchen Bridge, St John's College Cambridge. St. John's College, Old Bridge (3610830271).jpg
Kitchen Bridge, St John's College

Also known as St John's Old Bridge. [9] The second oldest of Cambridge's remaining bridges, built by Robert Grumbold (1639–1720) according to designs by Sir Christopher Wren. The bridge was crafted from a single block of limestone, carved to give the appearance of masonry. map 11

Bridge of Sighs, St John's College (1831)

Bridge of Sighs, St John's College Bridge of Sighs, Cambridge.JPG
Bridge of Sighs, St John's College

Also known as New Court Bridge, [9] it is probably Cambridge's best-known bridge, designed by Henry Hutchinson and based on a similarly named bridge in Venice, although the only real similarity between them is that they are both covered bridges over waterways. map 12 . (A bridge in Oxford, also nicknamed "The Bridge of Sighs" but more reminiscent of the Rialto Bridge, links two sites of Hertford College, but it bridges New College Lane rather than a waterway.)

Magdalene Bridge (1823)

Magdalene Bridge viewed from the boardwalk near Quayside, with the tower of St John's College New Court in the background Cambridge Quayside Magdalene Bridge.jpg
Magdalene Bridge viewed from the boardwalk near Quayside, with the tower of St John's College New Court in the background

Named after Magdalene College, which stands nearby. It is very close to the location of the Roman ford (around 50 AD), and the location of the first Roman bridge in Cambridge (probably re-built by Offa in the 8th century). map 13 The current bridge was designed by Arthur Browne in Gothic revival style and was rebuilt in the same style in 1982.

Lower River (downstream of Jesus Green weir)

Jesus Lock footbridge (1892)

Jesus Lock footbridge Footbridge over The Cam at Jesus Green Lock - geograph.org.uk - 3989382.jpg
Jesus Lock footbridge

An iron bridge over the weir that divides the 'Middle River' from the 'Lower River', where punting gives way to rowing. map 14

Victoria Bridge (1890)

Victoria Bridge Victoria Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 3490826.jpg
Victoria Bridge

Allowed the residents of Chesterton easy access to the city for the first time. The foundation stone was laid by Frederic Wace, mayor of Cambridge, on 4 November 1889 and the bridge was officially opened by Wace on 11 December 1890. [3] The bridge was rebuilt for strengthening in 1992. map 15

Fort St George footbridge, Midsummer Common (1927)

Named after the Fort St George pub near its southern end, the site was previously home to a ferry that was "probably the busiest of all the river crossings, running from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m". [10] The bridge was built in 1927, and is now open for use by cyclists. map 16

Cutter Ferry Bridge (2005)

Cutter Ferry Bridge Footbridge, Midsummer Common, Cambridge.jpg
Cutter Ferry Bridge

A pedestrian and cycle bridge that links Cutter Ferry Lane with Midsummer Common. The original footbridge was closed in 2003 after over 75 years of service, and removed during December 2004. The replacement, over which cyclists may legally cycle, was opened on 20 May 2005. map 17 Also known by Cambridge residents as Pye's Bridge because of the one-time nearby Pye electronics factory, and by student rowers as Emma Bridge because of its proximity to Emmanuel College Boathouse.

Elizabeth Way Bridge (1971)

Elizabeth Way Bridge Elizabeth Way Bridge, Cambridge.jpg
Elizabeth Way Bridge

A plain four-lane concrete road bridge, opened by Lord Butler in his capacity as High Steward of Cambridge on 13 July 1971, [3] this is Cambridge's most recent road bridge. The opening caused a few minutes of embarrassment when Lord Butler's golden scissors failed to cut the ribbon across the road. map 18 The bridge forms part of Elizabeth Way (A1134).

Equiano Bridge (formerly Riverside Bridge) (2008)

Equiano Bridge Cambridge Riverside Bridge.jpg
Equiano Bridge

This foot and cycle bridge connects Chesterton and Riverside near the Museum of Technology. [11] Construction work began in April 2007, and the bridge opened to the public on 5 June 2008. [12] It cost £3.1 million and was partially funded by Tesco to provide increased access to its Newmarket Road store. [13] In 2022 it was renamed to honour writer and abolitionist Olaudah Equiano who had links to the Cambridge area. [14] map 18a

Green Dragon bridge, Stourbridge Common (1935)

Named after the Green Dragon pub opposite its northern end, the iron-arch bridge was built in 1935, causing the closure of the nearby Horse Grind and Pike & Eel ferries. [15] Also known to student rowers as 'Chesterton Footbridge' as it crosses over what they know as 'Chesterton Corner'. map 19

Railway Bridge

Crosses the river through east Chesterton, south of the A14 bridge. It is the third railway bridge to be built on this site, replacing a plain plate girder bridge which stood on the site between 1870 and 1930, which itself replaced a wooden bridge built in 1846. map 20

Abbey-Chesterton Bridge (2021)

The Abbey-Chesterton foot and cycle bridge in front of the railway bridge Cmglee Cambridge Chisholm Trail bridge south.jpg
The Abbey-Chesterton foot and cycle bridge in front of the railway bridge

The Abbey-Chesterton Bridge was installed on 8 November 2020 [16] at Ditton Meadows, [17] [18] immediately downstream (east) of the railway girder bridge. This bridge carries the Chisholm Trail over the River Cam. Estimated cost is £4.5 million. The Abbey-Chesterton Bridge was opened by Jim Chisholm at 13:30 on 23 December 2021. [19] map 20a

A14 Bridge

A14 Bridge Road bridge over the river Cam - geograph.org.uk - 470923.jpg
A14 Bridge

Known (incorrectly) to rowers and others as the "Motorway Bridge". Built as part of the 'Cambridge northern bypass', which opened in 1977, [20] the bridge crosses the river just south of Baits Bite Lock. This bridge is also sometimes referred to as “Bovis Bridge” or "Newnham Bridge". map 21

Footbridge over the weir, Baits Bite Lock

Baits Bite Lock footbridges Baits Bite Lock - geograph.org.uk - 4864845.jpg
Baits Bite Lock footbridges

An elevated footbridge crosses Baits Bite Lock in Milton to a narrow islet. A concrete-arch footbridge then crosses the weir to the east bank near Horningsea. map 22

Other bridges

Deck of Tony Carter cycle bridge over railway Cambridge (37559878824).jpg
Deck of Tony Carter cycle bridge over railway
Deck of Jane Coston cycle bridge between Milton and Cambridge Jane Coston cycle bridge deck.jpg
Deck of Jane Coston cycle bridge between Milton and Cambridge
Approach to Cambridgeshire Guided Busway bridge at Addenbrooke's Busway bridge - geograph.org.uk - 3310727.jpg
Approach to Cambridgeshire Guided Busway bridge at Addenbrooke's

See also

Mapping

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References

  1. OpenStreetMap: Trumpington Ward
  2. S.P. Widnall, A History of Grantchester in the County of Cambridge, pages 23 and 120
  3. 1 2 3 Plaque on bridge
  4. Cambridge Historic Core Appraisal - June 2006 - Coe Fen / Sheep’s Green
  5. "Silver Street Bridge". Historic England.
  6. About Clare: History from Clare College's website, retrieved 25 June 2007
  7. Cox, Genevieve (24 September 2015). "How Cambridge got its name". Varsity Online. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  8. "Name: TRINITY COLLEGE, TRINITY BRIDGE List entry Number: 1331804". Historic England. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  9. 1 2 Ordnance Survey. OS Maps Online (Map). 1:25,000. Leisure. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  10. "Fort St George". Capturing Cambridge.
  11. People power is needed at bridge | Cambridge News | Latest News Headlines From Cambridge City & Cambridgeshire | National News | Cambridge News Archived 14 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  12. "Riverside foot and cycle bridge". Cambridgeshire County Council. Archived from the original on 18 April 2008. Retrieved 5 June 2008.
  13. "Tale of Two Bridges". Geoff Jones. 5 June 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  14. "City bridge to be renamed after writer and abolitionist Olaudah Equiano". Cambridge Independent. Cambridge. 27 October 2022. ISSN   2398-8959 . Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  15. Chris Howes (2021). The River Great Ouse and its tributaries. Imray, Laurie, Norie and Wilson Ltd.
  16. "Work begins on The Chisholm Trail & Abbey-Chesterton Bridge after contracts awarded". Greater Cambridge Partnership. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  17. "How the £13m Chisholm Trail will revolutionise Cambridge cycling". Archived from the original on 15 July 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  18. "Abbey-Chesterton Bridge on the Chisholm Trail" (PDF). Cambridge Cycling Campaign. January 2015.
  19. Gardner, Gemma (23 December 2021). "First stage of Chisholm Trail walking and cycling route across Cambridge opens". Cambridge Independent. Milton : Iliffe Media Ltd. ISSN   2398-8959. OCLC   1064919081 . Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  20. "Girton Interchange". Sabre Roads.
  21. "Jane Coston Cycle bridge : a model for managing vibration". Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers. 2006.
  22. "Jane Coston Cycle Bridge, Milton".
  23. "Newsletter 56". Cambridge Cycling Campaign.