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Timeline of Cambridge facts for kids

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Welcome to the exciting history of Cambridge, a famous city in England! Cambridge is known worldwide for its amazing university, beautiful buildings, and rich past. It's a place where many important discoveries have been made and where history comes alive. Let's explore the timeline of how this incredible city grew and changed over hundreds of years.

Early Cambridge History

The Middle Ages: Foundations of a City and University

  • 973 – Cambridge was already a busy place with a market where people bought and sold goods.
  • c. 1000–50 – St Bene't's Church, one of the oldest buildings in Cambridge, was built.
  • 1068 – Cambridge Castle was built, likely by William the Conqueror, to help control the area.
  • 1101 – The town of Cambridge officially became a self-governing community.
  • c. 1130 – The unique round church, Holy Sepulchre, was built.
  • 1144 – Cambridge faced a tough time when it was attacked by Geoffrey de Mandeville, 1st Earl of Essex's forces.
  • 1154 – The Cambridge fair was a popular event, bringing people from all over.
  • 1200 – Cambridge was granted a special document called a charter, giving it more rights.
  • 1209 – A very important event happened: the University of Cambridge was started by scholars who came from Oxford.
  • 1211 – The Stourbridge fair, one of the biggest fairs in Europe, was first recorded.
  • 1213 – Hervey FitzEustace became the first recorded mayor of Cambridge.
  • c. 1215 – Richard of Wetheringsett was the first leader, or Chancellor, of the University of Cambridge.
  • 1231 – King Henry III officially recognized the University, giving it authority over its students.
  • 1233 – Pope Gregory IX also granted special rights to the University's scholars.
  • 1261 – Some Cambridge academics tried to start another university in Northampton, but the King stopped it in 1265.
  • 1266 – The town was raided by Barons who had lost their lands after a big battle.
  • 1275 – The Jewish community in Cambridge left the town, ordered by Queen Dowager Eleanor of Provence.
  • 1284 – The University's first college, Peterhouse, was founded.
  • 1326 – Clare College was founded.
  • 1347 – Pembroke College was founded.
  • 1348 – Gonville and Caius College was founded.
  • 1350 – Trinity Hall college was founded.
  • 1352 – Corpus Christi College was founded.
  • 1381 – There was some unrest in Cambridge during the Peasants' Revolt, a big uprising across England.
  • 1416 – The University Library was already in existence by this time.
  • 1441 – King's College was founded.
  • 1446 – The first stone was laid for the famous King's College Chapel.
  • 1448 – Queens' College was founded.
  • 1473 – St. Catherine College was founded.
  • 1496 – Jesus College was founded.

Cambridge in the Early Modern Era

The 16th to 18th Centuries: Growth and New Ideas

Cambridge 1574 map
A map of Cambridge from 1574, showing how the city looked then.
Map of Cambridge by Loggan 1690 - merged
A detailed map of Cambridge from 1688.
  • 1505 – Christ's College was founded.
  • 1511 – St John's College was established.
  • 1515 – The amazing fan-shaped ceiling of King's College Chapel was finished.
  • 1521 – John Siberch became the first known printer to work in Cambridge.
  • 1525 – Robert Barnes gave a very early Protestant sermon in an English church, at St Edward King and Martyr.
  • 1534 – The University Press, which publishes books, was given a special royal permission.
  • 1542 – Magdalene College was founded.
  • 1546 – Trinity College, one of the largest and most famous colleges, was founded.
  • 1556 – John Hullier was executed for his Protestant beliefs on Jesus Green.
  • 1584 – Emmanuel College was founded.
  • 1595 – Sidney Sussex College was founded.
  • 1614 – Hobson's Conduit, a system that brought fresh water into the town, was completed.
  • 1615 – Perse School, a well-known school, was founded.
  • 1638 – The city of Cambridge, Massachusetts in America was named after Cambridge, England.
  • 1640
    • The beautiful Clare College Bridge was finished.
    • Oliver Cromwell, a famous English leader, was elected to represent Cambridge in Parliament.
  • 1643 – Some bridges in Cambridge were taken down by Cromwell's forces during the English Civil War.
  • 1667 – Eagle and Child pub, a historic place, was open for business.
  • 1695 – The Wren Library at Trinity College, designed by a famous architect, was completed.
  • 1730 – The University's Senate House, where important meetings are held, was completed.
  • 1744 – The Cambridge Journal and Weekly Flying Post newspaper started publishing.
  • 1747 – A new Shire-hall, a building for local government, was built.
  • 1749 – The first Mathematical Bridge at Queens' College, known for its unique design, was built.
  • 1762 – The Cambridge Chronicle newspaper began publishing.
  • 1766 – Addenbrooke's Hospital, a major hospital, was founded.
  • 1784 – The Society for Promoting Useful Knowledge was established.
  • 1793
    • The Cambridge Intelligencer newspaper began publishing.
    • The famous Cambridge Quarters tune was created for the new clock of the Church of St Mary the Great.

Cambridge in the 19th Century

Victorian Era Innovations and Growth

  • 1800 – Downing College was founded.
  • 1815 – The Cambridge Union, a student debating society, was founded.
  • 1816 – The Fitzwilliam Museum, a large art and antiquities museum, was founded.
  • 1817 – The Cambridge Town Club (a cricket club) was formed.
  • 1828
    • Bull Hotel was open for business.
    • The Cambridge University Boat Club was founded.
  • 1829 – The famous The Boat Race against Oxford began (it became an annual event from 1856).
  • 1831 – The beautiful Bridge of Sighs was built over the River Cam at St John's College.
  • 1833 – The Pitt Building was built to honor William Pitt the Younger, a former student and Prime Minister. It housed the printing offices of Cambridge University Press.
  • 1833 – An anatomy theatre was attacked by a crowd.
  • 1839 – The Cambridge Advertiser newspaper began publishing.
  • 1840 – The Cambridge Antiquarian Society, which studies local history, was founded.
  • 1841 – Cambridge's first Roman Catholic church since the Reformation, St Andrew's Church, opened.
  • 1845 – The Eastern Counties Railway started operating, bringing trains to Cambridge railway station.
  • 1848 – Mill Road Cemetery was established.
  • 1853 – The Cambridge Water Company was given permission to provide piped water.
  • 1855–6 – After the new water supply, the Hobson's Conduit fountain was moved to become a memorial.
  • 1858 – The Cambridge School of Art was founded.
  • 1869 – Girton College, one of the first colleges for women, was founded.
  • 1871
    • Newnham College, another college for women, was founded.
    • The Universities Tests Act removed rules that only allowed members of the Church of England to attend the ancient universities.
  • 1874 – The Cavendish Laboratory, a famous physics laboratory, was completed.
  • 1876 – W. Heffer bookseller started business.
  • 1880
    • Cambridge Street Tramways began operating, making travel easier.
    • The St Radegund pub was built.
  • 1881 – Ridley Hall and Westcott House, two theological colleges, were founded.
  • 1883 – Footlights, a famous student comedy club, was founded.
  • 1884 – The Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology was founded.
  • 1888 – The Cambridge Daily News began publishing.
  • 1890
  • 1894 – Homerton College, a teacher training college, moved to Cambridge.
  • 1895 – Roman Catholics were allowed to attend the ancient universities.
  • 1896
    • St Edmund's House was set up for Catholic students.
    • Pye Ltd, a company making scientific instruments, was established by W. G. Pye.
  • 1897 – Cambridge celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.
  • 1899 – Westminster College, a Presbyterian theological college, moved to Cambridge.

Cambridge in the 20th Century

Modern Developments and University Expansion

  • 1901 – The population of Cambridge was 38,379 people.
  • 1908 – Cambridge Town F.C., a football club, was formed.
  • 1912
  • 1914 – The Cambridge Street Tramways stopped operating.
  • 1918 – The first Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols was held at King's College.
  • c 1921 – Fitzbillies bakery, a famous local spot, opened.
  • 1922 – A War Memorial was unveiled to remember those who died in wars.
  • 1923 – Jesus Green Swimming Pool opened, a popular outdoor pool.
  • 1926 – The Fen Causeway, a road bridge, was officially opened.
  • 1928 – The Cambridge Preservation Society was founded to protect the city's heritage.
  • 1934 – The new University Library building was completed.
  • 1938 – Cambridge Airport opened.
  • 1939 – During World War II, many educational institutions from London were moved to Cambridge for safety.
  • 1948 – For the first time, women were allowed to study for full academic degrees at the University.
  • 1949
  • 1951 – Cambridge was officially granted city status.
  • 1954 – Murray Edwards College for women was founded as New Hall.
  • 1956 – Kettle's Yard, an art gallery and house, was established.
  • 1957 – Cambridge became twinned with Heidelberg in Germany.
  • 1958 – Churchill College was established.
  • 1958–9 – Silver Street Bridge was built.
  • 1960
    • Garret Hostel Bridge was built.
    • Cambridge Consultants, a technology company, was founded.
  • 1962 – Addenbrooke's Hospital began moving to its new, larger site in south Cambridge.
  • 1964
    • Darwin College for graduate students was founded.
    • The Cambridge Folk Festival, a popular music event, began.
  • 1965
  • 1966
  • 1970
    • February: There was a protest known as the Garden House riot.
    • Heffer's opened a large new bookshop in Trinity Street.
  • 1971 – The Elizabeth Way Bridge was opened.
  • 1972
    • Three previously all-male colleges of the University started admitting women undergraduates.
    • The Cambridge Theological Federation was formed.
  • 1974
    • The first Strawberry Fair was held.
    • The first Cambridge Beer Festival was held.
  • 1975 – The University's Cambridge Science Park, a hub for science and technology companies, was founded.
  • 1976
    • Sancton Wood School was founded.
    • The first Andy's Records music store opened.
  • 1977 – Robinson College was founded.
  • 1984 – Addenbrooke's Hospital treated its last patient at its old Trumpington Street site.
  • 1986 – St Edmund's House was renamed St Edmund's College.
  • 1989 – The Cambridge Fun Run (a footrace) began.
  • 1990
  • 1992 – Anglia Ruskin University was established as a public university.
  • 1998
    • Abcam, a biotechnology company, was established.
    • St Edmund's College was granted a royal charter, confirming its full college status.

Cambridge in the 21st Century

Cambridge Today: Innovation and Development

  • 2003 – The University's Centre for Mathematical Sciences was completed.
  • 2006
    • The Local Plan 2006 for town planning was adopted.
    • Cambridge International School was established.
  • 2007 – The Centre for Computing History was established.
  • 2008
  • 2009 – Anne Jarvis became the first woman University Librarian of the University of Cambridge.
  • 2010 – Homerton College became a full college of the University of Cambridge.
  • 2011 – The first part of the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway opened.
  • 2013 – Plans were made for the North West Cambridge development, a new area of the city.
  • 2016 – A new global headquarters for AstraZeneca, a big pharmaceutical company, was planned for the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.
  • 2017 – Cambridge North railway station opened, providing another train station for the city.
  • 2019
    • Sonita Alleyne became the first black woman elected as head of an Oxbridge college, Master of Jesus.
    • The Royal Papworth Hospital moved to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.
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