St Catharine's College
An open three-sided court on Trumpington Street, and the stables behind 'Hobson's choice'.
St Catharine's, known as "Catz", faces Trumpington Street opposite Corpus Christi and just south of King's College. Its layout is unusual: instead of a closed quadrangle it has a court that opens onto the street. The college was founded in 1473 as Lady Katharine Hall by Robert Woodlark, the Provost of King's, who scaled his plans down to just three fellows when his own money ran short. It received its royal charter in 1475 and took the name St Catharine's in 1860.
What to look for
- The open court. Between 1675 and 1757 the site was rebuilt as a large court with three sides, one of only six such courts at Oxford and Cambridge. The other Cambridge examples are at Sidney Sussex, Jesus and Downing.
- The Catharine wheel. The saint's wheel of martyrdom appears on the college arms; the foundation date was fixed on her feast day, 25 November 1473.
- Hobson's choice. In 1637 the college acquired the George Inn on Trumpington Street. Its stables had belonged to Thomas Hobson, who made every customer take the horse that had been standing longest, and so gave English the phrase "Hobson's choice".
- The 1960s rebuilding. Under Professor E. E. Rich, a new hall, kitchens and an accommodation block shared with King's were created.
Music and societies
The college organ was built by the Cambridge organ-builder William Johnson and completed in 1979. St Catharine's also has a girls' choir for ages 8 to 14 drawn from local schools, which it describes as the first of its kind in a UK university. The Shirley Society, the college literary society, is described as the oldest in Cambridge.
The Central Spaces project
Between September 2020 and August 2022 the Trumpington Street site was renovated in the Central Spaces project. A tent-like temporary hall went up on the main court and was nicknamed "Catzebo", combining "Catz" and "gazebo". The newly built areas opened officially in October 2022 at a stated cost of around 16 million pounds. During the 2020 pandemic the college also housed women and children escaping domestic abuse, in partnership with Cambridge Women's Aid, for a combined 1,456 nights.
Practical notes
Public opening times are not published here. Check at the Porters' Lodge or on the website before you go; do not assume the court is open to casual visitors.
Nearby
Within a few minutes' walk
