This illustrated history portrays one of England’s finest cities. It provides a nostalgic look at Cambridge’s past and highlights the special character of some of its most important historic sites.

The photographs are taken from the Historic England Archive, a unique collection of over 12 million photographs, drawings, plans and documents covering England’s archaeology, architecture, social and local history. Pictures date from the earliest days of photography to the present and cover subjects from Bronze Age burials and medieval churches to cinemas and seaside resorts.

Cambridge first grew as an important trading post during the period of Viking rule in the ninth century, and its position was enhanced in the early twelfth century when Henry I granted the town its first charter, giving Cambridge a monopoly of waterborne traffic and hithe tolls. But it was the founding of the university in 1209 that would change the town’s fortune and put Cambridge on the map. Historic England: Cambridge shows the city as it once was, from its streets and alleys to its famous university buildings. Today, Cambridge is home to one of the world’s top universities, as well as being a major tourist destination and a world-leading centre for scientific research and development. This books helps you discover its remarkable history.