The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England.
Cambridge is well known as the home of the University of Cambridge. The university includes the renowned Cavendish Laboratory, King's College Chapel, and the Cambridge University Library. The Cambridge skyline is dominated by the last two buildings, along with the chimney of Addenbrooke's Hospital in the far south of the city and St John's College Chapel tower in the north.
There are a number of popular myths associated with Cambridge University and its history, some of which should be taken less seriously than others.
One famous myth relates to Queens' College's so-called Mathematical Bridge (pictured right), which was supposedly constructed by Sir Isaac Newton to hold itself together without any bolts or screws. It was also supposedly taken apart by inquisitive students who were then unable to reassemble it without the use of bolts. The story is false, as the bridge was erected 22 years after Newton's death. It is thought that this myth arises from the fact that earlier versions of the bridge used iron pins and screws at the joints, whereas the current bridge uses nuts and bolts, which are more visible.
Another famous myth involves the Clare Bridge of Clare College, which is endorned with spherical stone ornaments. One of these has a cut in the back of it where about a quarter of the sphere is missing. This is a feature pointed out on almost all tours over the bridge. Legend has it that the bridge's builder was not paid in full due to the college being dissatisfied with the bridge. He thus took revenge and committed a small act of petty vandalism. No one has been able to prove this story, but it is commonly accepted.
A true legend is that of the wooden spoon, which was the 'prize' awarded to the student with the lowest passing grade in the final examinations of the Mathematical Tripos. The last of many spoons was awarded in 1909 to Cuthbert Lempriere Holthouse, an oarsman of the Lady Margaret Boat Club of St John's College. It was over one metre in length, with an oar blade for a handle. From 1910, results were published alphabetically within class as opposed to score order, which made it harder to ascertain who the winner of the spoon was (unless there was only one person in the third class), and so the practice was abandoned.
One famous myth relates to Queens' College's so-called Mathematical Bridge (pictured right), which was supposedly constructed by Sir Isaac Newton to hold itself together without any bolts or screws. It was also supposedly taken apart by inquisitive students who were then unable to reassemble it without the use of bolts. The story is false, as the bridge was erected 22 years after Newton's death. It is thought that this myth arises from the fact that earlier versions of the bridge used iron pins and screws at the joints, whereas the current bridge uses nuts and bolts, which are more visible.
Another famous myth involves the Clare Bridge of Clare College, which is endorned with spherical stone ornaments. One of these has a cut in the back of it where about a quarter of the sphere is missing. This is a feature pointed out on almost all tours over the bridge. Legend has it that the bridge's builder was not paid in full due to the college being dissatisfied with the bridge. He thus took revenge and committed a small act of petty vandalism. No one has been able to prove this story, but it is commonly accepted.
A true legend is that of the wooden spoon, which was the 'prize' awarded to the student with the lowest passing grade in the final examinations of the Mathematical Tripos. The last of many spoons was awarded in 1909 to Cuthbert Lempriere Holthouse, an oarsman of the Lady Margaret Boat Club of St John's College. It was over one metre in length, with an oar blade for a handle. From 1910, results were published alphabetically within class as opposed to score order, which made it harder to ascertain who the winner of the spoon was (unless there was only one person in the third class), and so the practice was abandoned.
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