Kearsley's Traveller's Entertaining Guide Through Great Britain (1803):
Cambridge is the seat of a celebrated university, situated on the river Cam. The town consists of fourteen parishes, and is governed by a mayor and aldermen. The mayor, when he enters upon his office, takes an oath to maintain the privileges of the university. The town-hall and shire-house are the only buildings of note that do not belong to the university. The houses are old and the streets narrow, but well- paved. The county gaol is the gatehouse of an ancient castle built by William the Conqueror. There is a conduit in the market-place erected by Hobson, the famous carrier, and repaired from an estate left by him; it is constantly running. The origin of the university is obscured in antiquity; it is supposed to have been founded during the heptarchy. It contains twelve colleges and four halls, which have equal privileges with the colleges. The colleges are, Peterhouse , Corpus Christi or Bennet, King's, Queen's, Jesus, Christ's, St. John's, Magdalen, Caius, Trinity, Emanuel, and Sidney Sussex. The halls are, Clare, Pembroke, Trinity, and Catharine. Of the colleges, Peter-house is the most ancient, being founded in 1257 and King's, and Trinity the most considerable. King's college is the noblest foundation in Europe; and the chapel, one of the finest pieces of Gothic architecture in the world.
The library, chapel, etc of Trinity-college, are worthy of observation. The other structures belonging to the university are the senate-house, a fine edifice, with which, St. Mary's church, the Schools, the university library, and other buildings, forms a noble square. Here is a botanical garden, and a general hospital, called Addenbroke's, from the name of the founder. It is in contemplation to erect a new college, to be called Downing-college, from estates left for that purpose many years ago.
Inns : Sun, Black Bull etc.
Use the "Show me" link to locate Cambridge on the map. You may need to scroll down to see Cambridge highlighted.
Chapter 6 