̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge - Open Cambridge

Historic landmarks and rare gems to be showcased during Open Cambridge

zs332 — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 09:41:26 +0000

Open Cambridge kicks off next Friday 8th September. ̽��ֱ��hugely popular 10-day annual event offers over 80 FREE events across the city and county.

Free drop-in events at Open Cambridge next month

zs332 — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 13:16:51 +0000

Open Cambridge, one of the region’s largest festivals of history and culture, kicks off on Friday 8th September. ̽��ֱ��annual event boasts over 30 drop-in events and a further 70 bookable events. ̽��ֱ��full programme is now available online and bookings have opened.

̽��ֱ��Americans in Cambridge

zs332 — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 08:54:56 +0000

Remembering those who came to fight for freedom.

Cows, sheep and a robot milking maid

zs332 — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 07:06:43 +0000

From milking robots to setting the standard for sustainability, the farm that is putting animals and biodiversity at its heart and putting an impressive sustainability plan into action.

Building Entopia

zs332 — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 12:02:15 +0000

An inside look at the new headquarters of the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership with Open Cambridge

Curiouser and curiouser: Exhibitions and displays during Open Cambridge 2018

pbh25 — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 12:23:18 +0000

A mechanical picture book, live head casts for the practice of phrenology, stories of the supernatural… this year’s Open Cambridge 2018 becomes curiouser and curiouser.

Forming a variety of events held across Cambridge on the 14 and 15 September, these themes and many more besides are explored in exhibitions open to the public. Libraries across Cambridge are opening their doors to visitors and showcasing many items which are not usually on display.

Homerton College Library has a fascinating collection of over 10,000 children’s books which collectively span 200 years. In particular, their Victorian mechanical book will enthrall attendees. Published in 1893, the book reproduces the voices of the donkey, lamb, cow, cuckoo, goat, and even the baby, along with coloured illustrations. A Dog’s Dinner Party (1855) is also on display so the public can see a moveable book where the dogs tip their hat to their canine guests across the table. And who wouldn’t want to discover the mystery of the camelopard, a cross between a camel and a leopard as depicted in an early children’s picture book? ( ̽��ֱ��mystery is solved, thanks to the illustration, as the creature can be identified as…a giraffe).

This exhibition celebrates the close tie to education which Homerton College holds, with the college initially concentrating on the study of education and teacher training in its early years, through to the present day, where children’s literature is a subject worthy of study in its own right. Deputy Librarian, Jess Taylor, describes the exhibition as “a heritage snapshot which can be enjoyed by younger visitors as well as those wanting to take a trip down memory lane to their own childhood books.” Curated to be enjoyed visually, the display includes works from the ‘Golden Age’ of illustrators alongside illustrated poetry such as Jabberwocky, interactive books, scary and creepy works, as well as award winners.

Some fascinations developed during childhood never leave us, and Christ’s College Library are holding an exhibition to explore the strange world of the supernatural. Five cases focus on witches, ghosts, fairies, monsters, and mythical beasts. Visitors are treated to an array of works including a 1640 edition of Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Edward Topsell’s Historie of Foure-Footed Beasts (1607), a first edition copy of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and a fourth folio edition of Shakespeare’s works, opened on the witches of Macbeth. People will even hear of the Christ’s College ghost who has been seen wandering morosely around the College gardens.

Another curious practice of our past is phrenology, and the Whipple Library’s event Mind your head promises to both educate and entertain on this curious pseudo-medicine. ̽��ֱ��library has around 350 items relating to phrenology, most of which were donated by the British Phrenological Society. Along with a range of items including advertising materials, books, flyers, pamphlets, there are live casts of heads on show. These fascinating objects show how the shape of the skull (and therefore brain) was believed to determine certain characteristics. One example was the ultimate French romantic villain, Francois Lacenaire, whose enlarged area above his left ear was believed to indicate a ‘particularly destructive trait’.

Yet these casts also show the darker and less understanding side of phrenology. ̽��ֱ��‘Idiot of Amsterdam’ cast most likely captures someone with learning difficulties, and the cast of a substantially enlarged skull probably shows somebody who experienced excess brain fluid – a condition both dangerous and painful. Although phrenology is now largely discredited, it did allow for the development of psychology, and visitors to the Whipple event will be able to get involved with their own diagnostic kit, including a ‘brain hat’.

Don’t miss the hidden treasures at Cambridge Central Library event, where you can watch the book sorter in action and find out what the library in Lion Yard has to offer. Come and listen to Professor Morag Styles speak on picture books, which perfectly complements the Homerton College picture book exhibition (see above). And don’t forget the chance to visit ̽��ֱ�� libraries, such as the Squire Law library and Queens’ College Old Library.

Open Cambridge takes place 14-15 September and offers the public a chance to visit a range of stunning buildings and hidden curiosities. There are more than 80 events in this year’s programme, with over 20 events as part of Open Eddington.

Published in 1893, the book reproduces the voices of the donkey, lamb, cow, cuckoo, goat, and even the baby, along with coloured illustrations.

More information

A copy of the full programme can be downloaded at https://www.opencambridge.cam.ac.uk/system/files/open_cambridge_programm....

Open Cambridge is a busy weekend and many of the events require pre-booking in advance.

Bookings are open and can be made online at www.opencambridge.cam.ac.uk or by calling 01223 766 766.

̽��ֱ��phone-line is open between 11am – 3pm, Monday to Friday. There are also plenty of drop-in events for people to enjoy.

Open Cambridge is part of the national Heritage Open Days scheme. Designed to offer special access to places that are normally closed to the public or charge admission, the initiative provides an annual opportunity for people to discover the local history and heritage of their community. For more information please visit: www.heritageopendays.org.uk.

̽��ֱ��text in this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Images, including our videos, are Copyright © ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge and licensors/contributors as identified. All rights reserved. We make our image and video content available in a number of ways – as here, on our main website under its Terms and conditions, and on a range of channels including social media that permit your use and sharing of our content under their respective Terms.

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Town and gown working together to make Open Cambridge 2017 the biggest yet

pbh25 — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 07:41:36 +0000

What do an 800-year old charter, a ballistic separator, and a mosaic of WWII aircraft all have in common?

You can see them all, and much more besides, as part of the Open Cambridge festival this September.

An incredibly diverse range of organisations in the city of Cambridge are opening their doors to the public as part of this year’s Open Cambridge festival. ̽��ֱ��festival is a collaborative effort between the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge and over 20 local organisations, including the Cambridge Mosque, the City Council, and Anglia Ruskin ̽��ֱ��. It takes place on Friday 8 and Saturday 9 September this year.

̽��ֱ��City Council’s Sergeant-at-Mace will be showing off some of the City’s ancient treasures in a special talk at the Guildhall on city charters and maces. ̽��ֱ��town of Cambridge was given its first charter by King John in 1207 – that makes it eight years older than Magna Carta! That charter will be on show along with one from the reign of Queen Elizabeth I that granted Cambridge its distinctive coat of arms. ̽��ֱ��city also has an incredibly rare ceremonial mace from the reign of King Charles I. Most of these were destroyed after the King was executed, but the Cambridge example survived - although its crown was knocked off by angry Cambridge residents who supported the Parliamentarian side in the Civil War.

At the American Cemetery, visitors can discover the personal stories of some of the nearly 4,000 American service personnel who are buried there. Many Americans fought in the Battle of the Atlantic during World War Two and were lost at sea: their names are recorded on the Wall of the Missing at the cemetery, the longest such wall in Europe. ̽��ֱ��wall also bears the names of American airmen who were lost while flying missions over Europe. ̽��ֱ��mosaic roof of the cemetery’s chapel, made by artist Francis Scott Bradford, shows angels in heaven waiting to receive the souls of the lost airmen, but with an emotive twist: the souls are pictured in the form of the different models of aircraft that were used by the American air force in the European theatre of the war.

̽��ֱ��Cambridge Mosque is holding an Open Day on Saturday 9 September. They warmly invite the public to visit them and learn more about the mosque, about Islam, and about the life of the Muslim community in Cambridge. There will be guided tours of the building and a chance to watch Muslim prayers. Members of the clergy and the congregation will be on hand all day to chat to visitors and answer questions about Islam. They will also be demonstrating Islamic calligraphy and henna art, and sharing sweet treats home-made by members of the congregation.

Amey Waste Management Park is offering tours of its impressive and sophisticated facility at Milton, which handles the household waste and recycling from all five district councils in Cambridgeshire. After a short introduction to the park’s work, visitors will be given a chance to try sorting rubbish themselves in a hands-on recycling exercise. On a tour of the site, they will see the advanced machines that sort rubbish, including the ballistic separator, and also the park’s composting facility, which takes 65,000 tonnes of garden and food waste from Cambridge homes and restaurants every year and, in just eight weeks, turns it into a rich, clean compost suitable for home and agricultural use.

Other events by city partners include an open day at the Cambridge fire station, several guided walks looking at aspects of Cambridge’s history, and a talk at Anglia Ruskin ̽��ֱ�� looking at its development from an art college into ‘the Tech’ and then a full-blown ̽��ֱ��.

There are over 97 events in this year’s Open Cambridge festival, including a special series of events, India Unboxed, celebrating the UK-India Year of Culture 2017. Over 25 events are part of Open Eddington, offering a chance to learn about the innovative and sustainable design of the ̽��ֱ��’s new district in North-West Cambridge. ̽��ֱ��majority of events are free and many are drop-in.

From the fire station to the mosque, lots of city organisations are opening their doors to the public

Details of the events mentioned in this article:

̽��ֱ��history of the mayoralty: city charters and insignia, 11am-noon, Saturday 9 September. Booking required.

Stories of the Americans in Britain during World War Two, Various times, Friday 8 and Saturday 9 September. Booking required.

Cambridge Mosque open day, 10am-5pm, Saturday 9 September. Drop-in.

Cambridge fire station open day, 11am-4pm, Friday 8 and Saturday 9 September. Drop-in.

ARU since 1858, 10:45-11:45am, Saturday 9 September. Booking required.

Cambridge and the Russian Revolution, 12-1pm, Saturday 9 September. Booking required.

Tour of Amey Waste Management Park, various times, Friday 8 September. Booking required.

For events that require pre-booking, bookings can be made online at http://www.opencambridge.cam.ac.uk/ or by calling 01223 766766. ̽��ֱ��phone lines are open 11am-3pm, Monday to Friday.

̽��ֱ��text in this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. For image use please see separate credits above.

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College Breweries: when drinking ale at ̽��ֱ�� was safer than sipping tap water

hmw38 — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 09:45:42 +0000

Ever had a three-week-long hangover? Or wanted to drink beer because water could poison you? Well – you can see how Cambridge ̽��ֱ�� staff and students experienced life and booze in the past thanks to a fascinating new exhibition at Sidney Sussex College library.

Like many Colleges, Sidney Sussex had its own brewery until the late nineteenth century, making weak (known as ‘small’) beer for the daily consumption of students and staff at a time when water was frequently unsafe to drink. ̽��ֱ��brewery operated from around 1596, when the College was founded and was probably located in the southern part of the College, next to the stables. It closed in 1890, when safe tap water had come to Cambridge, and a modernizing Master sold off the brewing equipment.

Stronger beer was, of course, available outside the College in public houses, and the exhibition features several examples of students who came back from the alehouses ‘distempered with drink’, as well as a cook who got a three-week long hangover from a drinking spree. William Beale was ticked off in July 1674 for ‘misbehaving himselfe at ye paper mill Inne, so yt he was faint to keepe in about three weekes and neglect ye Coll. Service’. ̽��ֱ��same William Beale got into trouble again several years later ‘for his intolerable extravagancies’.

In the eighteenth century, tea began to be promoted as a more virtuous alternative to alcohol. ̽��ֱ��exhibition features an early pamphlet on the health-giving properties of tea that describes it as an ‘innocent, lovely liquor’ that can ‘change a beast into a man.’

̽��ֱ��exhibition also reveals the College’s links with a famous tea dynasty. On show are some letters from Thomas Twining, a Fellow of Sidney who was related to the famous Twining family of tea importers and who was an early advocate of drinking tea in the afternoon.

̽��ֱ��Parker Library at Corpus Christi College offers visitors the chance to see some of the oldest books in Cambridge and watch a demonstration of the traditional techniques conservators still use to look after them. An exhibition in the stunning wood-paneled library will showcase treasures from the library’s collection: manuscripts and books dating from the tenth to the eighteenth centuries, including several with full-page gilded illuminations. At the same time, conservators from the Cambridge Colleges’ Conservation Consortium will be displaying the materials and techniques used for making and restoring early books, and showing off some of their recent conservation projects. Members of the public will also be able to try their hands at book-making by sewing sections into a textblock on a traditional sewing frame.

From the most traditional to the most up-to-date technology for preserving books: the Cambridge ̽��ֱ�� Library is offering tours of its Digital Content Unit on Friday 8 September. Visitors will hear about the importance of digitisation and will be able to see the unit’s specialist equipment in action. Technicians there use hi-spec 80 megapixel cameras to photograph valuable items from the library’s collections and preserve them for future generations. They also make them accessible to the public and the worldwide academic community via the Digital Library. Not all the items they photograph are books, and the unit staff have developed their own ingenious solutions to challenging projects. To digitise a 4 meter-long Burmese map that had been used as a tablecloth, they had to build a huge flat bed and then program a camera to take 500 separate images that were later stitched together.

Other library events include an exhibition on Jane Austen at King’s College that includes the manuscript copy of her last, unfinished novel, Sanditon, and a polar animal trail in the library of the Scott Polar Research Institute that features artwork and photographs from Captain Scott’s last expedition.

Open Cambridge takes place 8-9 September and offers the public a chance to visit a range of stunning buildings and hidden curiosities. There are 97 events in this year’s programme, ranging from a backstage tour of the ADC theatre to the Cambridge fire station open day and a fine dining dinner at Corpus Christi College. Over 25 events are part of Open Eddington, showcasing the innovative architecture and sustainable design of the ̽��ֱ��’s new district in North-West Cambridge. A special series of events, India Unboxed, explores more than 150 years of close relationships between India and Cambridge.

From a College brewery to 3D photography, there’s lots to discover behind the scenes in Cambridge libraries in Open Cambridge 2017

Misbehaving himselfe at ye paper mill Inne, so yt he was faint to keepe in about three weekes and neglect ye Coll. Service.

Report on William Beale

̽��ֱ��libraries offering tours and exhibitions as part of Open Cambridge are:

Maitland Robinson Library, Downing College

Marshall Library of Economics

Christ’s College Library

Selwyn College Library

Wren Library, Trinity College

King’s College Library

Sidney Sussex Library

̽��ֱ�� Library

̽��ֱ��Library of the Scott Polar Research Institute

Rosemary Murray Library, Murray Edwards College

̽��ֱ��Old Library, St John’s College

Newnham College Library

Pepys Library, Magdalene College

̽��ֱ��Old Library, Queens’ College

̽��ֱ��Parker Library, Corpus Christi College

Booking opens at 11am on Monday, 14 August. For details, see www.opencambridge.cam.ac.uk or call 01223 766766.

For events in College libraries that are open to the public at other times of the year, see: http://libguides.cam.ac.uk/collegeexhibitions

̽��ֱ��text in this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. For image use please see separate credits above.

Yes