| U3AC walks | U3AC walk - Jesus Green |
Route: Quayside, Thompson Lane, New Park Street, boardwalk, Jesus Green, continue along river to lock, carry on to Victoria bridge, down Victoria Avenue to start of avenue, along avenue to lock, back across Jesus Green to end of Portugal Street, Portugal Street, Portugal Place.
Length: 1.3 miles Start: Quayside - Finish: St Clements church
Introduction:This walk covers between Quayside and Jesus Green, plus Jesus Green itself.
Click on photos for a larger version.
This was a medieval lane.
The Old Vicarage is listed grade II. It is C16. It used to be the vicarage for St Clements church. Note the jetty!
A website about this development (no longer available) in Thompson Lane says "Public Art for this development comprises an artwork designed by artist Cath Campbell to both compliment and deliberately disrupt the architectural rhythm and aesthetic of the space. Cath created an intricately woven permanent timber sculptural installation for the south corner of St Clement's Gardens, beginning at ground level and reaching to the third storey. The artwork creates both a sculptural object and a functional support for a planting scheme that will be trained across the artwork. This significant feature provides a focal point for the building that can be viewed from Bridge Street." It doesn't seem to have a name, but its function is a trellis.
29 Thompsons Lane and 30 Thompsons Lane and 31 Thompsons Lane are all listed grade II, and are early C19.
A hotel in Thompson Lane has this artwork set into its wall. It's labelled "Helix, Christophe Gordon-Brown 2011". It may be a reference to the DNA helix, as Francis Crick, one of the discoverers, lived in Portugal Place, close by. Unfortunately, this is a single helix (which is a 3D spiral), and the DNA helix is a double helix. Never mind!
Turn left before the building with the spiral, down Ship Lane. The fountain dates from 2000 (hence MM). It was once filled with pennies, as an artwork!
When you meet the river, turn right. This modern boardwalk allows us to walk along the river.
You can see the backs of 4-10 Chesterton Road across the river. These are listed grade II and are C18.
Willows grow along the river. When the university college boat teams win their "Bumps" races, they break off willow from the bankside trees to crown themselves.
Beyond the tennis courts, there are some flat stones laid out in the grass (and easy to overlook - they are not the barbecue stones, or the bandstand!) These are the Human Sundial. This needs a person to complete it. You stand on the mark, and your shadow shows the time. Click here for more about it. The Human Sundial is in memory of Vernon McElroy and was unveiled in 2014. Vernon McElroy was a member of the Rotary Club of Cambridge Rutherford, and he conceived the idea of this sundial a year earlier.
Jesus Green Lock and Bridge is listed grade II. It is a working lock, to get boats past the drop in river levels. The rest of the water goes over the weir.
The old lock house is listed grade II. It is early 19th century.
There is a Dinky Door, tucked in behind the footbridge. It is a transporter for "Ride and Park" i.e. those who ride to a park (rather than those who park in a carpark and ride in a bus). It is disabled-friendly, as the lift in front can be used for wheel chairs (if small enough).
Jesus Green Lido is an open air unheated swimming pool next the river surrounded by trees. Opened in 1923, it is one of the few remaining examples of the lidos built across the country in the 1920s. This pool is 100 yards long, twice as long as an Olympic pool. This length was a design idea to mimic swimming in the nearby river.
Jesus Green has been in use for centuries but it was joined to Midsummer Common until the building of Victoria Avenue and Bridge in 1890. Victoiria Bridge replaced a ferry. You can walk under the bridge, but we will be turning right, along Victoria Avenue, either by climbing the steps to walk along the road, or staying on Jesus Green and walking parallel to the road.
Victoria Avenue is lined with horse chestnut trees. The mark on the branch made by a leaf stem falling off looks a bit like a horse shoe, and that may explain its name. These trees were planted in 1890s, when Victoria Avenue was built.
Turn right into the avenue of trees. These are London Planes, so-called because there are many in London. It is widely planted in towns and cities because it deals with pollution by shedding its bark. This makes the mottled look of the bark. Usually you can identify trees from the leaf shape, but London Plane leaves are similar to other trees such as sycamore. The trunk is more of a clue! This avenue was probably planted in the 1920s, when various paths were laid out in Jesus Green. A couple of the trees have fallen, due to storms and internal decay, and been replaced.
Many years ago, all the lamp posts were decorated with knitting or crochet, over-night!
Turn left at path junction in the middle. We walk along Jesus Ditch, round Jesus College. This is one of the ditches surrounding a college, similar to those on the Backs.
Turn right, then left up Portugal Street, which then becomes Portugal Place.
Francis Crick (who was one of the people who discovered the shape of the DNA molecule) used to live off Portugal Place (just behind the Maypole pub). This golden single helix is above the front door where he lived. DNA is a double helix. Never mind!
This Latin and Greek sign is in Portugal Street. The Latin says "DUA ROTAE HI RELICTAE PERIMENTUR". This means "Two wheels left here will be destroyed" - that is - "Don't leave your bikes here!". Presumably the Greek means the same.
The buildings in Portugal Place are mostly early to mid 19th century. A lot of them are listed grade II.
8 Portugal Place is older. It is C17, altered in the Cl8, and is listed grade II.
© Jo Edkins 2022 - Return to Walks index