Letters from England (No. 2)

Victoria Station @ wikipedia.org

By Barbara Wittman, Archivist, Rotch-Wales Collection, Massillon Public Library
Visiting Scholar, Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge

Leaving southwest England from Poole by coach took a good deal of Thursday, January 12 (far too long due to road work in London ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games) to reach Cambridge in East Anglia northeast of London. After arriving at Victoria Station, in the City center, the coach making its way across town in heavy traffic passed by the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park along the Thames River, Parliament and Westminster Cathedral, Number 10 Downing Street, and St Paul’s Cathedral built between 1675 and 1710 by Christopher Wren after the Great Fire that destroyed a section of London including the Cathedral in the 1660s. The weather was mild, the town full of visitors and joggers, we passed the Bank of England and The Stock Exchange and at last turned on to the M11 motorway to the northeast and Cambridge which takes its name from the river Cam that runs through the town.

At the corner of Sydney Street, Cambridge

Once delivered at Parker’s Piece, a large green park, visitors take a taxi to deposit themselves and their luggage before seeing this very ancient place which never ceases to amaze regardless of the time of the year you arrive. The population of the modern city is around 110,000 people, many of whom work for the University and its 38 colleges, while other people are employed in the service industry, in shops and the local market. The town is tightly packed, and laid out historically around the colleges, the earliest of which was founded in the 13th after Oxford scholars took refuge in Cambridge in 1209. Peterhouse is the oldest Cambridge college, followed by the foundation of Clare College (1326), King’s College (1441), Queens’ College (1446), St Catherine’s College (1473), Jesus College (1496), Christ’s College (1505)[Darwin’s College], St. John’s (1511), Trinity College (1546)[Isaac Newton’s College], Emmanuel College (1584) and Sidney Sussex College in 1594. The Town abounds in narrow streets and ancient buildings. I provide you with a link to have a look yourself. I should also point out that an ancient ordinance states that horses, but not wagons could be brought into the Old St Mary’s Church town square. The bells of this church ring out beautifully on Saturdays at midday.

http://www.cambridge2000.com/cambridge2000/html/other/notable_buildings.html
 

Lucy Cavendish (1841-1925)

An important nineteenth century development was the establishment of two Colleges for women, Girton in 1869 and Newnham in 1872, like most of the older colleges, very prestigious and wealthy, and thus able to support the best applicants in these harsh economic times. It was not until 1947 that women were permitted to take degrees from this university. My college, Lucy Cavendish, was founded in the 1960s, originally for women over 25 who were returning to university to pursue further studies or change careers. Lucy Cavendish has attracted women doing history, archeology and anthropology, literature, law and human and veterinary medicine.

Entrance to Cambridge is competitive. Of 15,344 undergraduates who applied in 2010, 3879 were admitted, about 15% of these were overseas students. There are many students here from the Far East and India, while students from Arab countries are more numerous at Oxford, largely because of its proximity to Muslim communities in London. I have seen a few women from Africa around and I am anxious to meet them. University fees are set to triple under the new Conservative government from Pounds 3000/year to 9000/year plus college fees which includes room and board. One pound equals around $1.50 at present. Thus far demand for places at Oxford and Cambridge seem to have been relatively unaffected, but this may change. What this means is that "Oxbridge" schools could remain elitist as fewer monies are available to support less advantages and deserving students.

The grading system works thusly: exams happen at the end of the year in May and June. This is a 2-3 day affair, written and oral. You can pass with a first which is outstanding, a 2.1 which is just great, 2.2 which is ok, 2.3 which is just made it through or a 3. Today if you get a 3 in your exams, you are given one chance to shape up and pass or leave as there are other people waiting for your spot. When I was here in the 70s,(everyone in my archeology and anthropology group received a 2.1 after 2 ½ days of a grueling exam) if you received a 3, you were given a 10 pence piece to call your mother to come and collect you, meaning that you obviously did nothing all year long. Hence the interview process: the University wants to make sure you are focused and ready to work and complete the degree from the get go.