Pocket Britain
Map
Nearby
Postcard
Britain > East Anglia > Cambridge > Corpus Christi College

Founded by the people of Cambridge and containing one of the best medieval courts in the city
Listen to this article

Highlights
Old Court
Chapel
Nosey Parker Statue
Parker Library
The full name of this college is:  The College of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary, yet for obvious reasons it is often shortened to simply Corpus! It is the second smallest college and interestingly is the only College founded by the Cambridge townspeople, in 1352.

The College of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary, Established 1352
Source WikiMedia (PD)

College Motto

May the old house flourish

Corpus New Court, completed in 1827
The college is also famous for its library – the Parker Library, which holds the Canterbury Gospels, alongside many other medieval manuscripts. The Canterbury Gospels is one of the oldest surviving European books. The like of such a manuscripts collection as at Corpus, is not matched almost anywhere in the world.

Nosey Parker statue, outside the Parker Library which contains one of the most important collections of medieval manuscripts including the Canterbury Gospels
The beautiful Old Court is one of Corpus’ most stunning features and one of the most impressive courts in the city.  The Old Court, built in the 1350’s is one of Cambridge’s oldest buildings and is arguably the oldest, continually inhabited courtyard in the country.

The beautiful Old Court (1350's) is one of Corpus’ most stunning features and one of the most impressive courts in the city

A window in the Old Court
The College also owns the nearby Eagle Pub, famous for being the claimed location where Watson and Crick met to chat over the structure of DNA. Why not call in for a drink and see what revolutionary ideas come to your mind….

Corpus sun dial
Corpus College is a stunning and history filled College and well worth a visit. One word of warning though…..be aware of the resident Ghost. The spectra often appears on M staircase in the Old Court and is said to be either the ghost of a 17th Century Master who hung himself, or a student who was accidentally asphyxiated by his friends……….ooooohhhhh

Did You Know?

It is thought that the terrifying ghost is that of Henry Butts, hero of the plague of 1630, who hanged himself with his garters in the Master's Lodge on Easter Sunday, 1632. Three students took matters into their own hands in 1904 and attempted an unsuccessful exorcism of Butts' ghost!

The College Dining Hall
Source WikiMedia (PD)
Visitor Information
The college is open to visitors daily, 2pm to 4pm (except mid April to mid June). Entrance is FREE. Tel: 01223 338 000

Back ~ Top ~ Home ~ Index

Pocket Britain is optimised for use on a smartphone or tablet with internet access. All content is subject to copyright. All reasonable methods have been used to ensure information supplied is accurate at the time of publication. However, it is advisable to check information before relying on it. Privacy Policy