Geo-Trips :: The Backs on Boxing Day
Cambridge
A walk from Midsummer Common, Sun, 26 Dec 2010 by Alan Murray-Rust
This was a leisurely walk from Chesterton to the Granta public house in the Newnham area of Cambridge where a lunch to celebrate my nephew's birthday had been organised. The walk across the snowbound Commons and then past the famous backs is a surefire choice for some interesting locations, and inevitably my curiosity took me into a few backwaters as well as the better known locations such as the view of King's College.
Unexpected highlights were the appearance of the steam lorry on Queens Road, and the kingfisher at Newnham Mill.
On the map below, the grey line is the GPS track from this trip. Click the blue circles to see a photograph taken from that spot and read further information about the location. The blue lines indicate the direction of view. There is also a slideshow of this trip. ( )
↓ Scroll down here ↓
On Jesus Green
The weather conditions have rather diluted the colour!.
The Fort St George
Riverside public house on Midsummer Common. The building dates back to the C16 as... more
Victoria Bridge Commemorative plaque (1)
There are three plaques on the bridge. This one commemorates the foundation stone... more
Victoria Bridge
The original arch beams would almost certainly have been cast, matching the... more
On Victoria Bridge
Looking north towards Chesterton Road. On the left is Christ's College boathouse.
View from Victoria Bridge
Looking east on a freezing Boxing Day - the River Cam was entirely frozen over.
Victoria Bridge Commemorative plaque (2)
The most recent of the three plaques on the bridge... more
Chesterton Road with postbox
This is the Chesterton Road Post Office box, (ref CB4 142), a large E II R pillar... more
The Portland Arms
1930s pub at the junction of Chesterton Road and Milton Road.
Jesus Green Lock
Looking through the footbridge to the upper level of the river. Footbridge and... more
Jesus Green Lock
The bottom gates seen on a freezing Boxing Day 2010.
Jesus Green Lock and footbridge
Seen from the west on a freezing Boxing Day 2010 with the River Cam virtually... more
Magdalene College grounds
Seen from the boardwalk footway along the river between Jesus Green and Great Bridge.
Punts in the snow (1)
On the river to the east of Great Bridge.
Punts in the snow (2)
On the river to the east of Great Bridge.
Magdalene College - South Range
Part of the group of ranges surrounding First Court, built in the late C15 but... more
Alley between 21 and 22 Magdalene Street
These buildings date back to C16, with C18 remodelling, but this aspect is... more
Magdalene College Gates
These are part of the rebuilding of the College in 1873 by F C Penrose - Listed Grade II.
St Giles' Church
The exterior view belies the fact that this church retains elements of the... more
Chesterton Lane
Looking east from the junction with Magdalene Street. This was the only road... more
Cambridge Folk Museum
Very suitably housed within a traditional timber-framed building which dates back... more
Honey Hill and St. Peter's Church
Honey Hill is a development of sheltered accommodation. Of St Peter's Church, only... more
St John's Chop House
Now a restaurant, the building originated as almshouses founded in 1692 by Edward... more
The Punter
Gastro-pub on the corner of Northampton Street and Pound Hill
St John's Chop House
Now a restaurant, the building originated as almshouses founded in 1692 by Edward... more
Westminster College
This is a theological college established by the Presbyterian Church and now run... more
Postbox CB3 141 Northampton Street
E II R pillar box outside the gates of Westminster College... more
Trinity gates and King's chapel
The gates were erected in 1733 (although themselves earlier than this) and are... more
King's College Chapel
Seen across the grounds of Trinity College.
King's College Chapel
The lack of leaves and the snowy ground make for an unusual view of this well... more
The Avenue
Private access from Trinity College to Queens Road.
King's College
The Chapel and Fellows' Building (1724-31 by James Gibbs) seen across a snow... more
Clare and King's
The chapel of King's College is well known. The buildings to the left are the... more
Boxing Day outing
This fine 3/4 scale replica of a Beyer Peacock Steam Lorry was simply being used... more
Clare and King's
The chapel of King's College is well known. The buildings to the left are the... more
Fisher Court
Part of the modern development of Queens' College to the west of the River Cam.
Queens' College
Part of the river frontage seen from Silver Street.
Mathematical Bridge, Queens' College
Detail of the east abutment.
The Anchor
A popular watering hole and restaurant alongside Small Bridge.
Mathematical Bridge, Queens' College
Detail of the west abutment.
Queens' Lane
The Webb's Court gateway to King's College is at the far end.
Postbox CB3 118 Queens' College
VR wallbox on Queens' Lane near the entrance to the College.
King's College Gateway, Queens' Lane
Not a particularly old building, being erected in 1908-9 to the design of Sir... more
St Botolph's Church
Looking east along Silver Street.
Laundress Lane
Looking down from Silver Street. On the right is the back of The Anchor public... more
Pattern of punts
Lined up in the pool below the mill weir above Silver Street.
The Mill
This pub is a reminder that there used to be a mill next door. Dating from the... more
Postbox CB3 117 Newnham Corner
GR wallbox in the wall on the corner of Queen's Road and Sidgwick Avenue... more
Newnham Corner
Road junction where Queen's Road, Silver Street, Sidgwick Avenue and Newnham Road meet.
Ridley Hall
Looking along Sidgwick Avenue. This is a theological college founded in 1881 to... more
Newnham Terrace
Victorian houses at the north end of Newnham Road.
Newnham Mill
Former mid C19 watermill now converted to a restaurant. The flow of water through... more
The Granta
Riverside pub next to the former Newnham Mill.
Newnham Road
Looking towards Lammas Land. Most of the former retail premises have been... more
The Academy of Ancient Music
This well known specialist British orchestra is based (administratively!) in these... more
Perse Almshouses
A group of six dating from 1861, although the foundation dates back to the C17;... more
Causewayside
A terrace of flats alongside The Fen Causeway, dating from the 1930s or 40s.
Lammas Land pavilion
Now in use as a centre for cycle hire.
Lammas Land
Former common land enclosed in 1922 to become a recreation ground.
Bowling white
The term green is hardly appropriate in these conditions.
Fen Causeway
Constructed in 1922 to ease traffic on Silver Street, it crosses the River Cam to... more
Broken willow
On Sheep's Green, looking east from the footpath along the leat to Newnham Mill.
Newnham Mill
To the left is the leat feeding the old mill wheel.
Newnham Mill tail pond
This is the pond below the mill, looking across to The Granta public house. The... more
Looking east across Sheep's Green
The buildings with the chimney are the laboratories of the University Engineering... more
Waiting for better weather
Upturned punts stored alongside the Coe Fen reach of the River Cam.
River Cam by Coe Fen
This is the canalised section providing the head for the former mill near Silver... more
Sheep's Green
Looking west from the river towards Newnham Mill.
Kingfisher at Newnham Mill
This kingfisher was taking advantage of a small stretch of unfrozen water below... more
The Old Granary
Originally part of Newnham Grange, now incorporated into Darwin College. The... more
Laundress Lane
Originally access to Laundress Green, where the University laundresses... more
Penfold pillar box outside King's College
An alternative view of this box. This is a genuine Penfold, not one of the late... more
King's College window
A 'false' window through the perimeter wall of King's College on King's Parade... more
Unmatched pair
Usually pairs of pillar boxes like these are from the same reign, but for whatever... more
All images © Alan Murray-Rust and available under a
Creative Commons licence 
.
