Picture this. You are standing on Magdalene Bridge in Cambridge. Feel the cool river breeze. The River Cam flows beneath your feet. This isn’t just any bridge. It’s the bridge that gave Cambridge its name.
Magdalene Bridge carries Magdalene Street across the River Cam. It’s named after Magdalene College one of Cambridge’s oldest colleges. This spot holds incredible history. It marks the original crossing of a Roman road. This road the Via Devana still forms Cambridge’s main axis.
For centuries bridges spanned this very spot. The Romans likely built one here. A wooden bridge stood here in Anglo-Saxon times. The town was then called Grantanbrycg. This translates to Granta Bridge. The Granta is an older name for the River Cam. This is the very bridge that named the county Cambridgeshire. It’s the only bridge in Britain with a county named after it.
In 1754 James Essex built the first stone bridge here. Then in 1823 Arthur Browne replaced it with the current cast iron structure. This beautiful bridge is a single span of cast iron. It’s topped with an iron railing and ashlar piers. This stunning bridge is a Grade II listed building. It was repaired and strengthened in 1982.
Magdalene College and St John’s College stand on either side of Magdalene Bridge. The bridge has witnessed centuries of history unfold. Students scholars and tourists have all crossed this significant bridge. Imagine the countless stories it could tell.
So next time you cross Magdalene Bridge remember this. You are walking on history. You are walking across a place that gave its name to a city a county and more. This is not just a bridge. It’s a legacy.