CambridgeLocal
Queen's Road

Queen's Road

A major road west of the centre running along the Backs, with the site of early Newnham College on it.

pin_drop Open on map

From Madingley Road / Northampton Street To Sidgwick Avenue / Silver Street City Centre 0 places listed

Queen's Road, the A1134, is a major road on the west side of the centre. Madingley Road and Northampton Street join it at the north, and at the south it is met by Newnham Road, Sidgwick Avenue and Silver Street. St John's College Sports Ground lies to the west at the north end. At the south end, Darwin College is across the junction to the east, and the back of Queens' College faces the road as well.

The Backs

On the east side the road runs along the Backs, a string of views across the Cam to some of the oldest and largest colleges: St John's, Trinity, Trinity Hall, Clare, King's and Queens'. West Road leaves it opposite King's.

Newnham's beginnings

The story begins in 1871, when a group that included a Fellow of Trinity bought a house at 74 Regent Street as lodgings for five women who wanted to go to lectures but lived too far away. The household moved in 1872 to Merton House, built about 1800, on Queen's Road. In 1875 the first purpose-built college building went up on the present Newnham College site on Sidgwick Avenue, next to Queen's Road.

The name

It is unclear whether the road honours Queens' College or Queen Victoria's visits. The city council's apostrophe placement suggests the second.

Sources: Wikipedia: Queen's Road · Wikidata: Queen's Road (Q7270093)