The American Cyclopædia (1879)/Cambridge (England)

CAMBRIDGE, the county town of Cambridgeshire, England, and seat of a famous university, situated on the river Cam, 49 m. N. of London; pop. in 1871, 30,074. The town is in the centre of an agricultural district, and has an excellent market. The principal buildings besides the colleges are the guildhall, a handsome modern structure; several churches, including St. Sepulchre, built in imitation of the church of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem, and consecrated in 1101; and Addenbrooke's hospital. A school of art was established here in August, 1858. King John gave Cambridge a guild, and the privilege of being governed by a provost of its own choosing, an office for which Henry III. substituted a mayor and four bailiffs. The borough of Cambridge is governed by 10 aldermen and 30 councillors, one of whom is mayor, and it returns two members to the house of commons, besides the two sent by the university. There are places of worship for Wesleyans and Primitive Methodists, for Baptists and Independents; a free grammar school for 100 scholars; and various charitable, educational, and literary institutions, including an industrial school, a mechanics' institute, and the Philo union.