Cambridge, UK

Most people know Cambridge for its university… founded in the early 1200s when a group of scholars left Oxford after violent rioting caused a shutdown of Oxford University. Long before this the Cambridgeshire area was a Roman village, settled in 40 AD. Centuries later it was taken over by Danes and then Saxons who used the town as a trading port. However, it wasn’t until 1068 with the arrival of the Normans that Cambridge really became a powerful trading centre.

The name Cambridge comes from a combination of the river that runs through the city (the River Cam) and the subsequent bridge. The river is a popular destination for people willing to try punting and rowing (below is one of the university teams practicing).

Below is the church in Chesterton where I am staying/working. Chesterton was once a large manner owned by the King (John) and was later given to the Church of England (and gobbled up by Cambridge). The original church was built in 1217 by Henry III and presented to the Cardinal Guala as a gift. The oldest parts of the church that still exist date from 1250.

The church graveyard is not as old. The oldest grave I found dated from the 1850s. However, one older famous grave — that of the daughter of Olaudah Equiano is known to be in the churchyard.

And, finally, housing just outside the old city…