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Thursday, 23 January 2014

A Pembroke Portfolio

Pembroke College may not be top of most visitors' itinerary but it is a very old college, it's in central Cambridge, it has a wide range of buildings in different styles, it has some lovely picturesque corners and it always seems a very friendly place. This is by no means an exhaustive account, just a few pictures I took on a day of bright, low-angled sunshine which made some shots impossible but enhanced others.

Statue of William Pitt The Younger,
youngest ever British Prime Minister 
when he was elected in 1783 at the age of 24.
He was educated at Pembroke.
(Yes, roses blooming in January!)


Ridley's Walk

A picturesque path leading between college buildings.








All the above photos were taken in the vicinity of Ridley's Walk, surely one of the most beautiful short strolls in Cambridge; even in mid-winter. It was named after Bishop Nicholas Ridley, former scholar at Pembroke, who was martyred in 1555, but there's also a plaque to Sir Harold Ridley, the eye-surgeon who pioneered lens implants after treating a fighter pilot who had been severely injured by Perspex splinters from the cockpit when his plane was shot down. Ridley operated on the man 19 times and restored the sight to one eye. But he also noticed that Perspex was not rejected by the body's immune system which led him to his breakthrough. 


Modern Architecture - Foundress Court




That crazy, slanting sunlight really lifted these shots.


Three Windows





...and a staircase straight out of Hogwarts.



The Chapel


A close-up of the old Bible on the lectern


And the interior of the Chapel,
a very early work of the great architect
Sir Christopher Wren
in the 1660s.

We will be back sometime to show you more, including the outside of the Chapel and the gardens in the spring or summer. Until then.....

Take care.


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13 comments:

  1. Carole M.24 January 2014 at 13:40

    a beautiful stately college building on Ridley's Walk. The final photo with SUCH green lawns; so much history. Thanks for sharing John

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  2. LONDONLULU24 January 2014 at 14:54

    Wow, those slanting sunlight shots look like beautiful abstracts! Another marvelous stroll, and I enjoyed learning the Perspex story - so many tales and history imbued in these images.

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  3. Rune Eide24 January 2014 at 17:30

    You are a msster in presenting your town and its values - from old to new. I especially liked the first photo of the modern architecture.

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  4. John @ Beans and I on the Loose24 January 2014 at 18:21

    What a neat place. I enjoy looking at the photos you take of places like this that I'll never see for myself.

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  5. Mairéad24 January 2014 at 20:23

    It's hard to believe those photos were taken in mid-winter, there's so much foliage and even flowers in the pictures. Those old buildings are certainly full of character.

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  6. Rowan24 January 2014 at 21:35

    Ridley 's Walk looks very attractive, that's a beautiful Garrya elliptica with its silky tassels shining in the sun. A really interesting story about the origin of lens implants too.

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  7. Rosie24 January 2014 at 21:53

    I'd love to wander down Ridley's Walk. I love your sixth photo down of the arch with the window behind and the sunlight and shadows in your first Foundress court photo - beautiful:)

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  8. Jenny24 January 2014 at 22:36

    So many wonderful views. Especially like pics 2,6, & 9. And roses in January -how cool is that.

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  9. Louise24 January 2014 at 22:37

    A beautiful collection of photos and architecture - some lovely scenes.

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  10. Jack25 January 2014 at 03:19

    The modern stuff is dreadful, but the walk down Ridley's Walk showed many lovely buildings and views. It bears some resemblance to Yale.

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  11. Folkways Note Book25 January 2014 at 22:20

    These photos are magnificent. Ridley's walk is lovely with is architectural detail plus the plants along the walkway. Your entire post was a delight -- barbara

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  12. stardust29 January 2014 at 13:56

    Beauty in everywhere, indeed! This is one of the most enchanting and comfortable walks you took us along. The capture of the slanting light is terrific.

    Yoko

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  13. Morning's Minion20 February 2014 at 23:47

    An interesting tour. I glimpsed these briefly several weeks ago and meant to return to comment.

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Thanks for taking the time to comment. I'll try to answer any questions via a comment or e-mail within the next day or two (no hard questions, please!).