St John's College, Cambridge

The Bridge of Sighs is an iconic feature of St John’s College, and one of the most recognisable pieces of architecture in Cambridge. Built nearly 200 years ago, it is the only covered bridge to cross the River Cam, and the only College bridge built in the Victorian Gothic style. Since its construction in 1831 it has featured in thousands of photographs and artistic projects. It has even had a car suspended from its arches, not once but twice, thanks to the ingenuity of student pranksters. Luckily on neither occasion was the bridge (a grade I listed building) damaged. St John’s is one of the only Cambridge Colleges to feature two bridges on its main site. The second bridge is the ‘Wren Bridge’ (also known as ‘Kitchen Bridge’), which runs parallel to the Bridge of Sighs. The Wren Bridge was constructed more than a century earlier than the Bridge of Sighs, to replace a pre-existing wooden bridge. There had been a wooden bridge in this location since the early days of the medieval Hospital of St John the Evangelist, which preceded the College on the same site. Christopher Wren had submitted designs to St John’s for a stone bridge in the 1690s, but building work did not commence until 1709. The Wren Bridge was completed in 1713. Its construction was overseen by Robert Grumbold, a local master stonemason and architect who was also responsible for building the Wren Library at Trinity College. The bridge reflects Wren's design, although in his original drawings he had suggested urns and pyramids, which were never added. Enjoying the serenity of a punt along the river Cam is an excellent way to take in the two bridges in all their glory. The architectural brilliance of St John's college buildings is quite astounding also. (Reflecting on visit to Cambridge in 2015)
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