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The Myths, Legends and Tradition of the University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge has a couple of myths, and one in particular concerns the Queens’ College, which is also called the Mathematical Bridge. The bridge was supposedly constructed by Sir Isaac Newton. It is said that the bridge held itself together without the help of screws and bolts. The legend goes that students took the bridge apart and were unsuccessful when trying to reassemble it without bolts and screws. 22 years after Newton’s death the bridge was erected. Earlier versions of the mathematical bridge used screws and pins where the current bridge uses bolts and nuts that are more visible.

Clare Bridge, the oldest bridge, has another myth. Spherical stones adorn the bridge, which is joined with Clare College, and there is a sphere wedged shape stone that was removed. There are various myths going around concerning the missing sphere.

There was a tradition called the wooden spoon, and this was a prize that was awarded to a student that obtained the lowest marks in the final examination of Mathematics. The tradition however is discontinued, and the last spoon was awarded to Cuthbert Holthouse in 1909. Cuthbert was an oarsman of the Boat Club. The spoon was a meter long and the handle was an oar blade. Since the last spoon was awarded, all results thereafter were published alphabetically in class order.

Another myth that had people thinking was the Austin 7, and later it was discovered that the Austin 7 was no myth at all. The Austin 7 was the delivery van that unbelievably ended up on Senate House’s apex. The website, Caius College, explains in vivid detail how the delivery van got people looking up.