This year the University of Cambridge is celebrating its 800th birthday: founded in 1209. That's almost 570 years before the American Revolutionary War, 380 years before Shakespeare, 250 years before Gutenberg's printing press, and 6 years before the Magna Carta. I think it's official...this place is old.
The University of Cambridge is made up of 31 independent colleges--not colleges like in the States (e.g. College of Engineering or Medicine) but communities where the students live and eat. Each college is financially independent, has its own grounds complete with dining hall, library, and chapel (to take care of students' physical, mental, and spiritual needs).
Some of the older colleges are incredibly wealthy and have totally elaborate buildings and grounds. The picture above is of St. John's College, founded in 1511. Nice, eh?
Cambridge students have a rich tradition of prank pulling. This is a statue of Henry VIII above the main gate to Trinity College. Originally, Henry was holding a golden orb in his left hand and a golden scepter in his right. In the 1800s an anonymous student decided to replace the scepter with a wooden chair leg, leaving the scepter on the ground for the Porter to find in the morning. As expected, the Porter put the scepter back in Henry's hand only to wake up the next morning to see Henry clutching a chair leg once again. This cycle continued until the Porter finally gave up. So, for the past 200 years Henry has overseen the goings on at Trinity College proudly bearing his royal chair leg.
There is so much history in this town. I'm sure over the next few months we'll get into more detail, but we think it's pretty cool to be walking the same streets and living the same life that students have done for 800 years.
The University of Cambridge is made up of 31 independent colleges--not colleges like in the States (e.g. College of Engineering or Medicine) but communities where the students live and eat. Each college is financially independent, has its own grounds complete with dining hall, library, and chapel (to take care of students' physical, mental, and spiritual needs).
Some of the older colleges are incredibly wealthy and have totally elaborate buildings and grounds. The picture above is of St. John's College, founded in 1511. Nice, eh?
Cambridge students have a rich tradition of prank pulling. This is a statue of Henry VIII above the main gate to Trinity College. Originally, Henry was holding a golden orb in his left hand and a golden scepter in his right. In the 1800s an anonymous student decided to replace the scepter with a wooden chair leg, leaving the scepter on the ground for the Porter to find in the morning. As expected, the Porter put the scepter back in Henry's hand only to wake up the next morning to see Henry clutching a chair leg once again. This cycle continued until the Porter finally gave up. So, for the past 200 years Henry has overseen the goings on at Trinity College proudly bearing his royal chair leg.
There is so much history in this town. I'm sure over the next few months we'll get into more detail, but we think it's pretty cool to be walking the same streets and living the same life that students have done for 800 years.
6 comments:
The pictures are amazing! Makes me want to visit. :-)
as a history major (and as your sister/-in law), I need to officially confirm the fact that I would love to be with you right now!!!! We love and miss you guys!
You are just a little fountain of knowledge! Gosh how do you learn all this stuff? You must have a good travel book or something!
We are getting so excited and can't wait to see this beautiful place in person. Teairsa's passport arrived yesterday so now we just need Mark's to get here and we are good to go and can hardly wait!
What college is Rob part of? Are there the same "majors" in every college? How does it all work?
Everything is so beautiful! I love the red ivy coming down that building! We are jealous of Mark and Aup right now!
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