Market Hill, Cambridge facts for kids
Market Hill, also known as the Market Square, is a lively spot in the heart of Cambridge, England. For hundreds of years, since Saxon times, it has been a busy marketplace. Even today, you can find a daily outdoor market there with many stalls.
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Exploring Market Square
Market Square is right in the middle of Cambridge. Many streets lead to it, making it a central hub. Some of these streets are just for walking, like Rose Crescent and Petty Cury.
Important buildings surround the square:
- On the west side is Great St Mary's, the Cambridge University Church. Its tall tower stands proudly on King's Parade.
- The Cambridge Guildhall is on the south side of the square. This building was constructed in the 1930s.
- To the southeast, you'll find two large shopping centers: the Grand Arcade and Lion Yard.
The Market Square wasn't always so open. Many buildings stood there until a big fire in 1849 cleared the space.
Streets Around the Market
Here are some of the streets that connect to Market Hill:
- Rose Crescent (for walkers only) leads north towards Trinity Street.
- Market Street goes east towards Sidney Street.
- Petty Cury (for walkers only) also heads east towards Sidney Street and St Andrew's Street.
- Guildhall Street goes south towards Guildhall Place and Wheeler Street.
- Peas Hill (partially for walkers) leads south towards Wheeler Street and Bene't Street.
- St Mary's Passage (for walkers only) goes west towards King's Parade.
- St Mary's Street also heads west towards King's Parade.
Hobson's Conduit and Fresh Water
Imagine getting fresh water to a town before modern pipes! That's what Hobson's Conduit did. A special part of it, called the Market Place branch, was finished in 1614. It brought clean water to a fountain right in the center of Market Place.
After the big fire in 1849, the square was rebuilt. In 1855, a new, fancy fountain was put up. The original old structure of Hobson's Conduit was moved to a different part of Cambridge in 1856. Most of this new fountain was taken down in 1953.
Sadly, the water flow to this part of the conduit was stopped in 1960. This happened during the building of the Lion Yard shopping center. The water has not flowed there since.
The Peasants' Revolt in Cambridge
In 1381, a big event called the Peasants' Revolt happened in England. During this time, a group of people in Cambridge, led by the Mayor, came to Market Square. On June 16, they destroyed important books and records belonging to the university. One person, Margery Starre, even led the crowd in a dance! Their rallying cry was "Away with the learning of clerks, away with it!" This meant they wanted to get rid of the scholars' knowledge.
