Downing Site

In 1895, a marshy area known as Pembroke Leys transformed. The University of Cambridge purchased this land, north of Downing College. This marked the birth of the Downing Site. The university sought a dedicated space for the sciences. This purchase signaled their commitment to scientific advancement. The Downing Site quickly became a hub for research and discovery. Originally intended to alleviate overcrowding at the New Museums Site, it soon housed numerous departments. These included Biochemistry, Earth Sciences, Psychology, Genetics, Geography, Pathology, Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, Plant Sciences, Veterinary Anatomy, Archaeology, and Anthropology. It also became home to the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, the Molteno Laboratory, the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, the Physiological Laboratory, and the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences, as well as the Zoology Laboratory. The Downing Site’s history is intertwined with significant advancements. The botanists’ early work on British and European flora took place here. Frederick Blackman’s groundbreaking research on photosynthesis unfolded within these walls. The sequencing of the insulin protein by Frederick Sanger, a feat that paved the way for DNA sequencing, also happened at Downing Site. Even Bob Edwards’ early work on In-Vitro Fertilization has roots in this very location. The Downing Site’s red brick buildings stand as a testament to the pursuit of knowledge. They hold the echoes of groundbreaking research. They also bear the names of those who dedicated their lives to unraveling the secrets of the natural world.