Myths and legends at Cambridge

I'm applying to Cambridge and I was wondering if you knew of any really obscure legends/myths/traditions at the university? Things like the curse on the middle gate at Clare's, Trinity not having a 'J' staircase because of its rivalry with St John's, and St Catherine's having a 3-sided court because it ran out of money to build the fourth wall with.

(edited 3 years ago)

Reply 1

Thucydides96

A few myths/interesting facts related to St John's:

- Fellows of St John's are the only persons outside the Royal Family who are legally allowed to hunt and eat unmarked mute swans. Allegedly swan was served at Fellows' dinners sometimes until the late 20th century, but the practice of hunting them on the Cam has ceased.

- New Court, the 19th century Gothic Revival extension to St John's College, is perfectly symmetrical - so much that it is rumoured that people were not allowed to open their windows unless the counterpart on the other side of the building was opened too. There is, however, one exception: the eagle over the main entrance turns its head away from Trinity and to St John's.

- The tower of New Court has four blank faces but no clocks. The clock of Trinity college strikes twice every hour, once for Trinity and once for St John's. There are various legends to explain this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_John%27s_College,_Cambridge#New_Court.27s_Clock_Tower

- On the bowling Green of Trinity College, there is a little cannon pointing at St John's.

- Oh and St John's College's rowing team allegedly stabbed a competitor to death with a sword attached to the bow of their boat once (which, as I have to point out as a future Johnian, is not true :rolleyes:

).

And another one about the notoriously dirty Cam: When Queen Victoria visited the university and stood on the Mathematical Bridge, she saw a piece of toilet paper floating beneath her. Curious, she asked a university official what it was. He proved to be rather eloquent and replied that it was a "Do not swim in the river!" notice :biggrin:

Reply 2

Doones

"Christ's is one of the only Colleges in Cambridge where the students do not rise when the Fellows enter and leave the Dining Hall. This is said to be the result of a historical conflict between the Students and Fellows at Christ's, who were on opposite sides during the English Civil War."

(Wikipedia)

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