Lucky students, indeed. I love seeing them going into Trinity or King's or St John's any College, with a carrier bag from the supermarket, stocking up for their daily life there. I hope that they are aware of their surroundings :-)
Wonderful! So much history and story of a world and time, in this short piece. Amazing to think that as a woman one was subject to that much risk just walking through a university town.
It makes me wonder if the universities there still had their own separate criminal judicial systems for students and faculty as late as that? I vaguely remember hearing (I think that it was at a house museum, so quite random, maybe not accurate) that the Swedish universities had that, even though they were never ecclesiastical institutions I don't think.
What a super rich read ! I was stunned by how Cambridge University locked up women in its private prison, and later enthralled by Charlotte Mew’s ‘The Farmer’s Bride.’ Thank you, Ann.
Not at all, Christina! You know, I just picked the ones I mentioned from the top of my head... and because I was keen to hear others' suggestions. Yours are great, and I'll confess I hadn't heard of any of their memoir-writing.
Thank you so much for again bringing an astonishing and shocking bit of Cambridge University's history to wider notice: like most reading, I had no idea! There's quite a bit about Cambridge University that sometimes feels almost like remnants of feudalism, but I'm also reminded of US universities which still have their own police forces - something that always struck me as odd and disturbing. Taking such core functions of the state as law enforcement/justice and handing them over to universities, whether 19th century Cambridge or 20th and 21st century America, seems a fundamentally odd thing to do.
There is actually an episode of The Good Wife (that wonderful Chicago set series!) which revolves around university police, and whether the crime was committed on the univerisity's territory (therefore under their jurisdiction) or in the city of Chicago. So universities as law-enforcers is not just of historical interest!
Thank you Emma, and I hadn't thought of that connection to modern US universities. It's definitely a remnant of feudalism I think. Gosh, I don't remember that episode of The Good Wife, will have to track it down (not wishing to sound too much like a law-enforcer myself).
Thank you Anne, and that's a lovely piece. Anthony is a great local historian, a diligent researcher into Cambridge's forgotten histories and very generous with his time. That bookshop is an atmospheric place to have such a fascinating encounter!
Thank you for such an interesting essay. Despite living in the Cambridge area for over 30 years I had never heard of the spinning house before. Fascinating!
It is shocking, isn't it - and I think Daisy had to fight her case in three separate courts before the university finally gave in. A very impressive young woman.
One of my favourite memoirs is Fierce Attachments, by Vivian Gornick - a ferocious account of a mother/daughter relationship. Other favourites: Paula Fox's Borrowed Finery, Viv Albertine's To Throw Away Unopened (which contains the most blackly comic deathbed scene I have ever read), Mikal Gilmore's extraordinary Shot In The Heart, Edmund Gosse's Father And Son...
It shows how up to date I am by the fact that Father and Son is the only one I've read (loved it so much). Thanks for a great list, and I've been meaning to read Gornick's for ages since reading the 2020 New Yorker piece:
Thanks for sharing this Ann - I had no idea about any of this! Seems so alien to my modern mind that it continued right up until the century I was born in (just!), especially as I was privileged enough to go to Cambridge to study. Mad to think my forebears were arrested for even approaching male students!
Yes, it's such a weird legacy from the days when young men had to be 'protected' from the charms of women and that weird upper-middle-class-male subculture. I think part of the legacy remains in the male drinking clubs at Oxford and Cambridge, & upper echelons of the Conservative party !
Yes, I’m sure you’re onto something with the drinking clubs at Oxbridge. They are very much part of the legacy of those male-dominated days - and not a pretty legacy either. I’m glad things are changing but it seems wild to me that there are still hangovers from that time: like that there were still male-only colleges when you attended Cambridge! I’m so proud to have attended two female-only colleges (at the time of their foundation, though not when I was there) at Oxford and Cambridge, as I know they were doing so much to challenge the status quo.
Many thanks Jeffrey. It's interesting that it was only when it was reported in the national press that the university authorities were sufficiently shamed into ceasing the practice. A #MeToo moment!
Thank you Sarah and it's bleakly comical, isn't it, that townswomen were subjected to such treatment - all in the name of 'protecting' the young gentlemen (or rather making sure their parents still paid to send them here). Women students were also seen as a danger, and the chaperoning system continued much longer in Cambridge than other places.
Good grief. I had no idea about the Spinning House. How shocking.
Thanks Anna, it is hard to believe, isn't it. You can see why townspeople hated the university.
Lucky students, indeed. I love seeing them going into Trinity or King's or St John's any College, with a carrier bag from the supermarket, stocking up for their daily life there. I hope that they are aware of their surroundings :-)
Thanks Christina - it is a great opportunity - sometimes most appreciated from a distance!
I know that I was, back in the late 70s. Walking across the Bridge of Sighs every day.
It may have been one of the reasons I got into photography.
It's such a beautiful bridge, Jon. Very atmospheric at night.
Wonderful! So much history and story of a world and time, in this short piece. Amazing to think that as a woman one was subject to that much risk just walking through a university town.
Many thanks, Maria. It is chilling to think how vulnerable women must have felt - and ridiculous the university could wield so much power.
It makes me wonder if the universities there still had their own separate criminal judicial systems for students and faculty as late as that? I vaguely remember hearing (I think that it was at a house museum, so quite random, maybe not accurate) that the Swedish universities had that, even though they were never ecclesiastical institutions I don't think.
I'm updating my reading list!
Thanks Mimi!
What a super rich read ! I was stunned by how Cambridge University locked up women in its private prison, and later enthralled by Charlotte Mew’s ‘The Farmer’s Bride.’ Thank you, Ann.
It's a breathtaking poem, isn't it! Thank you Maureen.
May I suggest (3 men ) "I confess I have lived", by P Neruda
"Live to tell the tale", by G García Marquez
"La promesse de l'aube" by Romain Gary (there must be an English edition)
Colourful lives, indeed.
Thanks Christina, I will look into those.
sorry, Ann. I know that you are after women's memoirs...
Not at all, Christina! You know, I just picked the ones I mentioned from the top of my head... and because I was keen to hear others' suggestions. Yours are great, and I'll confess I hadn't heard of any of their memoir-writing.
Thank you for encouraging me to dust off and read "The Rector's Daughter", I am greatly looking forward to the discussion of it.
So pleased, Deborah, I think it should be a good discussion!
Thank you so much for again bringing an astonishing and shocking bit of Cambridge University's history to wider notice: like most reading, I had no idea! There's quite a bit about Cambridge University that sometimes feels almost like remnants of feudalism, but I'm also reminded of US universities which still have their own police forces - something that always struck me as odd and disturbing. Taking such core functions of the state as law enforcement/justice and handing them over to universities, whether 19th century Cambridge or 20th and 21st century America, seems a fundamentally odd thing to do.
There is actually an episode of The Good Wife (that wonderful Chicago set series!) which revolves around university police, and whether the crime was committed on the univerisity's territory (therefore under their jurisdiction) or in the city of Chicago. So universities as law-enforcers is not just of historical interest!
Thank you Emma, and I hadn't thought of that connection to modern US universities. It's definitely a remnant of feudalism I think. Gosh, I don't remember that episode of The Good Wife, will have to track it down (not wishing to sound too much like a law-enforcer myself).
I learned about this from my chance encounter with Antony Carpen (Cambridge historian) in G. David several years ago! I wrote it down here and it lines up perfectly. https://thecambridgeplacebook.com/g-david-bookseller/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CSurely%20you%E2%80%99ve%20heard,end%20to%20that.%E2%80%9D
Thank you Anne, and that's a lovely piece. Anthony is a great local historian, a diligent researcher into Cambridge's forgotten histories and very generous with his time. That bookshop is an atmospheric place to have such a fascinating encounter!
Yes it was! It’s good to see that he’s actively publishing on his blog!
Good to know about Caroline Biggs' book!
Thank you for such an interesting essay. Despite living in the Cambridge area for over 30 years I had never heard of the spinning house before. Fascinating!
Many thanks Gina, much appreciated. I think quite a few people who live here don't know the story!
Wow! This is really shocking to read about. I’m glad the higher courts could dispense justice.
It is shocking, isn't it - and I think Daisy had to fight her case in three separate courts before the university finally gave in. A very impressive young woman.
One of my favourite memoirs is Fierce Attachments, by Vivian Gornick - a ferocious account of a mother/daughter relationship. Other favourites: Paula Fox's Borrowed Finery, Viv Albertine's To Throw Away Unopened (which contains the most blackly comic deathbed scene I have ever read), Mikal Gilmore's extraordinary Shot In The Heart, Edmund Gosse's Father And Son...
It shows how up to date I am by the fact that Father and Son is the only one I've read (loved it so much). Thanks for a great list, and I've been meaning to read Gornick's for ages since reading the 2020 New Yorker piece:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/02/10/vivian-gornick-is-rereading-everyone-including-herself
Thanks for sharing this Ann - I had no idea about any of this! Seems so alien to my modern mind that it continued right up until the century I was born in (just!), especially as I was privileged enough to go to Cambridge to study. Mad to think my forebears were arrested for even approaching male students!
Yes, it's such a weird legacy from the days when young men had to be 'protected' from the charms of women and that weird upper-middle-class-male subculture. I think part of the legacy remains in the male drinking clubs at Oxford and Cambridge, & upper echelons of the Conservative party !
Yes, I’m sure you’re onto something with the drinking clubs at Oxbridge. They are very much part of the legacy of those male-dominated days - and not a pretty legacy either. I’m glad things are changing but it seems wild to me that there are still hangovers from that time: like that there were still male-only colleges when you attended Cambridge! I’m so proud to have attended two female-only colleges (at the time of their foundation, though not when I was there) at Oxford and Cambridge, as I know they were doing so much to challenge the status quo.
A wonderful article about a shocking aspect of the University history.
Many thanks Jeffrey. It's interesting that it was only when it was reported in the national press that the university authorities were sufficiently shamed into ceasing the practice. A #MeToo moment!
And having just watched "She Said" (which I thought was excellent), just look at the effort that took.
Exactly - and I need to see that film.
Absolutely loved this article!
Ah, thanks Aileen! Much appreciated.
Fascinating and horrifying to learn about the Spinning House, and the way they treated young women as predators! Really misogynistic.
Thank you Sarah and it's bleakly comical, isn't it, that townswomen were subjected to such treatment - all in the name of 'protecting' the young gentlemen (or rather making sure their parents still paid to send them here). Women students were also seen as a danger, and the chaperoning system continued much longer in Cambridge than other places.
It is absurd!