Cambridge 1950 home page | legal notice
In the 19th century Chesterton was not officially part of Cambridge. Until 1890 the only bridge access into Cambridge from Chesterton was via the Great Bridge (Magdalene Street Bridge). In 1889 the Cam Bridges Act allowed two new bridges to be built from Chesterton to Cambridge. In 1890 the first of these bridges, the Victoria Avenue Bridge, was built. When Chesterton became part of Cambridge in 1911 their citizens were promised the construction of the second bridge by 1917. As with many promises made by politicians, this one was broken (the outbreak of the Great War did not help). The authors of the 1950 report state that the construction of this second Chesterton bridge should be made a matter of urgency. Eventually, sixty years late (in typical Cambridge style), in 1971 the Elizabeth Way bridge was opened, using pretty much the proposed 1950 route. It is still the most recent car bridge built across the Cam in Cambridge and so by far and away the ugliest.
Cambridge 1950 home page | legal notice