Cambridge

We took the fast train to Cambridge with John who was visiting one of his Supervisors at the Maths Department.  The train station at Cambridge is about 20 minutes walk from the city centre and this was deliberate as the Colleges did not want students easily travelling to London to fraternize with the opposite sex and vice versa.





In a brisk walking tour of the city we learned how it developed since the 12th Century as a training centre for religious life - not always with the support of the locals who rioted against the students times during the 14th century.  The town was a puritan centre during the reign of Elizabeth 1st and suffered during the puritan rebellion with many of the Catholic colleges being damaged.  The birthplace of Oliver Cromwell was nearby so Cambridge aligned with the Parliamentary forces against the Royalists during the Civil War of the 1640's.  The rivalry between Oxford and Cambridge can perhaps be traced to this period as the Charles 1 and the Royalists were holed up in Oxford before their defeat.  The rivalry continues in the annual boat race and in academic prowess with Cambridge now boasting its 100th Nobel Laureate.  We passed some of the famous colleges in the town: Kings College, Queens' College, St John's , Trinity, Corpus Christi etc.  Most are restricted to members only and have very strict rules of conduct including not walking on the grass!

 There are now 38 colleges in all with the first women's one being allowed  a 'safe' 4 km from town in 1869. Cambridge allowed co-educational colleges only from 1972.  
Looking towards oak screen
King College Chapel
 After a Lebanese lunch with John we ventured to the famous Kings College Chapel (each College has one but none so grand) started in 1446 by Henry VI and extended by Richard III, Henry VII and Henry VIII.  The beautiful stained glass windows reminded us of Sainte Chappelle in Paris on which the building was partially based.  Similar to Hampton Court, the huge carved oak screen to support the organ in the middle of the space had a single H&A emblem symbolizing Henry VIIIs first wife Anne Boleyn.  This was designed by Henry and Anne and has a whole history that you can read here.  As you look up the fan vaulting in the ceiling of the Nave makes the whole space look like a lace veil has been draped inside the towering walls.
Outside Kings College Chapel





Before the journey back to London we graced the famous Eagle Hotel where Watson and Crick (discoverers of DNA) regularly dined and reputedly first announced the 'secret of life' .  The pub was also famous as a RAF haunt during WWII, including the Battle of Britain.as many airfields were stationed close by and the airmen would find respite here during their leave or after a mission.  

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