More Cambridge Colleges and Other Sights, Cambridge, England

Against my will, in the course of my travels, the belief that everything worth knowing was known at Cambridge gradually wore off. In this respect my travels were very useful to me.

I’m not sure the above is an argument against studying at Cambridge or in favour of travelling. I prefer to think of it as the latter!

From Kings we walked past the Old Schools which house the Cambridge University offices and formerly housed the Cambridge University Library. My photos below are of the entrance gate on the west side. This building was designed by George Gilbert Scott, who was also responsible for the Midland Grand Hotel at St Pancras Station and the Albert Memorial, among many others.

We walked through Senate Passage and emerged on to Kings Parade by Senate House. This is where all the university degree ceremonies are held. It was designed and built by James Gibbs in 1722-1730, in a neo-classical style using Portland stone.

We passed, but didn’t go into, Gonville and Caius College, named for its two founders. Gonville, Rector of Terrington St Clement in Norfolk, first founded the College as Gonville Hall in 1348. When it went into decline in the 16th century a former student and Fellow, John Keys, who also spelled his name as the Latin Caius, came to the rescue and re-founded his old College of Gonville Hall as ‘Gonville and Caius College’. My assumption is that the two stone figures above the Great Gate which show men holding buildings must be Gonville and Caius. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).