Bridge of Sighs (Cambridge)


The Bridge of Sighs in Cambridge, England is a covered bridge at St John's College, Cambridge University. It was built in 1831 and crosses the River Cam between the college's Third Court and New Court. The architect was Henry Hutchinson.
It is named after the Bridge of Sighs in Venice, although they have little architecturally in common beyond the fact that they are both covered. The bridge, a Grade I listed building, is one of Cambridge's main tourist attractions and Queen Victoria is said to have loved it more than any other spot in the city.

History

Until the early 19th century, all Cambridge colleges were located in the east side of the River Cam. St. Johns college became the first to add accommodation on the west side, an area known as the Backs, with the construction of the New Court. The new buildings and the bridge linking them with the original college buildings, were designed in 1827 by Henry Hutchinson in the fashionable Gothic Revival style. Construction was completed in 1831, shortly before his death.
On two separate occasions, students have pulled the prank of dangling a car under the bridge. In the first incident, a 1928 Austin 7 was punted down the river using four punts that had been lashed together, then hoisted up under the bridge using ropes. The second incident a Bond or Reliant Regal three-wheeler car was dangled under the bridge. In neither case was the bridge damaged.
The bridge was apparently a favourite spot of former Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, having photos taken there when he was a student, in 1974 and 2000.
The bridge was a filming location for in 2007 and The Theory of Everything in 2014.