Bridge of Sighs (Cambridge)
The Bridge of Sighs in Cambridge, England is a covered bridge at St John's College, Cambridge University. It was built in 1831 and crosses the River Cam between the college's Third Court and New Court. The architect was Henry Hutchinson.[2][3] It is named after the Bridge of Sighs in Venice,[4] although they have little architecturally in common beyond the fact that they are both covered. The bridge, a Grade I listed building,[3] is one of Cambridge's main tourist attractions and Queen Victoria is said to have loved it more than any other spot in the city.[5]
Bridge of Sighs | |
|---|---|
 View of the bridge, taken from the Kitchen Bridge, 2014 | |
| Coordinates | 52°12′30.33″N 000°06′56.76″E |
| Crosses | River Cam |
| Locale | St John's College, Cambridge |
| Official name | St. John's College New Bridge |
| Preceded by | Kitchen Bridge |
| Followed by | Magdalene Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Covered arch bridge |
| Material | Stone |
| No. of spans | One |
| History | |
| Architect | Henry Hutchinson |
| Construction end | 1831[1] |
| Location | |
| |
History
Until the early 19th century, all Cambridge colleges were located in the east side of the River Cam. St. Johns college (rapidly expanding at the time) became the first to add accommodation on the west side, an area known as the Backs, with the construction of the New Court. The new buildings and the bridge linking them with the original college buildings, were designed in 1827 by Henry Hutchinson in the fashionable Gothic Revival style. Construction was completed in 1831, shortly before his death.[1]
On two separate occasions, students have pulled the prank of dangling a car under the bridge. In the first incident (in June 1963), a 1928 Austin 7 was punted down the river using four punts that had been lashed together, then hoisted up under the bridge using ropes.[6] The second incident (in 1968) a Bond or Reliant Regal three-wheeler car was dangled under the bridge. In neither case was the bridge damaged.
The bridge was apparently a favourite spot of former Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, having photos taken there when he was a student, in 1974 and 2000.[7][8]
The bridge was a filming location for Elizabeth: The Golden Age in 2007 and The Theory of Everything in 2014.[1]
References
- "The Bridge of Sighs". www.joh.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
- "Cambridge Tourist Information". About Britain. Retrieved 23 June 2008.
The famous Bridge of Sighs built in 1831 by Henry Hutchinson spans the River Cam...
- Historic England. "St John's College, New Bridge (Grade I) (1326664)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
- "The Bridge of Sighs - St John's College, Cambridge". St John.
- "New Court". St. John's College. Retrieved 27 September 2008.
- "Plans to recreate Austin 7 Cambridge student stunt racing ahead". Cambridge News. Archived from the original on 19 January 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
- migration (26 March 2015). "PM Lee shares old pictures of parents at Cambridge's Bridge of Sighs".
- "Lee Hsien Loong". www.facebook.com.
