Cambridge Bridges

The Cam's college bridges and crossings, from the 1639-40 Clare Bridge to the 1959 Silver Street Bridge, gathered from the place pages.

This guide gathers the pages about crossings of the river Cam in the city centre. The Backs page describes the riverside lawns and bridges behind the colleges, and the bridges run in date order where a page gives a date: Clare Bridge of 1639-40, Trinity College Bridge of 1764-65, and St John's covered Bridge of Sighs, completed in 1831. Jesus Lock, built in 1836, has a Victorian footbridge alongside, and Silver Street Bridge dates from 1959.

The Mathematical Bridge at Queens' College is a timber footbridge, and Garret Hostel Bridge is a public foot and cycle bridge, one of three that link the centre to the Backs. See also the Colleges and the Backs walk. The one-line descriptions below are taken from each place's own page.

The bridges

Clare Bridge Landmark

A three-arched stone bridge of 1639-40 at Clare College, often named the oldest bridge still in use in Cambridge.

Trinity College Bridge Landmark

A triple-arched stone bridge of 1764-65 carrying Trinity's Avenue across the Cam to the Fellows' Garden.

Bridge of Sighs Landmark

St John's covered Gothic Revival bridge over the Cam, completed in 1831.

Jesus Lock Landmark

The only lock within the city, built in 1836, with a Victorian footbridge alongside.

Silver Street Bridge Landmark

A 1959 concrete river crossing designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, which replaced a cast-iron predecessor.

Mathematical Bridge Landmark

A timber footbridge at Queens' College that looks like an arch but is built entirely from straight beams.

Garret Hostel Bridge Landmark

A public foot and cycle bridge at the end of Garret Hostel Lane, one of three that link the centre to the Backs.

The Backs Landmark

The riverside college lawns and bridges behind the Cambridge colleges, listed as a Grade I historic park.