Cambridge: The Hidden History

by Alison Taylor

A history of Cambridge

176 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1999

Reviews

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a history of the town, from its earliest known traces, in ten chapters, looking at archaeological evidence and historic sources. It is not a history of the university and its colleges although of course the circumstances of its founding and the social and economic impact on the town are a part of the story. There are some glancing references to the fenland hinterland too. Social history and historical geography combined, with old maps and pictures. Apparently despite the fame of Cambridge there has been very little which looks primarily at the town rather than the university, so this is one for you if you are connected to the university and want to look beyond it, or if like me you have an interest in the area or in urban history generally.

[Rostislav Tkachenko · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting overview of the history of Cambridge that connects archeology, topography, and—somewhat surprisingly—historical research. I enjoyed reading it and trying to compare the older maps with the current layout of the city.