Peterhouse

Peterhouse

Highlights The first court of Peterhouse is small but neat and bright, with window sills adorned with flower beds. On the right is the 17th-century chapel built in various styles, featuring famous 19th-century stained glass. The hall on the left is a restored late 13th-century building. This courtyard extends all the way to the courtyard of the Fitzwilliam Museum. Introduction Peterhouse is the oldest college of the University of Cambridge, founded in 1284. It was the first and smallest college in Cambridge, connected by a corridor to Little St Mary’s Church (formerly known as St Peter’s Church), from which the college gets its name.

St Peter’s Church was built in the 12th century and rebuilt in the 14th century, then renamed Little St Mary’s Church. To the left of the church is the memorial to Godfrey Washington, a former fellow and chaplain of Peterhouse. He was also the great-uncle of the famous first President of the United States, George Washington. Look closely at the Washington family crest engraved on the monument—legend has it that the star-spangled pattern of the American flag originated from here.

Over its centuries of history, Peterhouse has nurtured many scholars and notable figures, along with plenty of interesting anecdotes. The famous Graveyard Poet, Thomas Gray, was extremely sensitive to fire and constantly worried about potential blazes. To this day, visitors can still see iron supports installed outside the window of his former room at Peterhouse. It is said he had them specially installed to escape fires. In case of a fire, he would tie a rope to the supports and slide down to safety. One night, the fire alarm suddenly went off. Swift as lightning, Gray hurriedly grabbed a rope and tied it to the supports outside his window, then quickly slid down—only to land in a large tub of water, completely soaked. As it turned out, there was no fire at all; his students had played a prank by filling a bathtub with water, placing it on the ground outside his window, and then pulling the fire alarm. Transport Located to the west of Trumpington Street.

Cambridge, UK