Portraits of Cambridge: A Town in Transition

Sat 13 June - Mon 5 October

Museum of Cambridge

Explore Cambridge as it grapples with change at the turn of the 20th century through the eyes of the artists who were there.

By the late 19th century, Cambridge had been reshaped by rapid growth, shifting industries, and an evolving streetscape. Through these artworks, glimpses of the past come to life. College courts, demolished Tudor streets, and altered riversides offer a fascinating window into places that have disappeared from view. Whether you know Cambridge well or are visiting for the first time, this is a chance to see the city as it once was: familiar, yet somehow different.

At the heart of the exhibition are artists who captured these changes as they happened. Mary “Polly” Greene features prominently, including her newly conserved works Albany Café and White Horse Inn, which bring moments of everyday Cambridge back to life. Alongside her, Marion Seward of the Cambridge Drawing Society, Robert Farren’s detailed etchings, and Henry Joseph Moule all record a Cambridge in flux, preserving buildings and streets that no longer survive. Together, their work forms a rich portrait of a changing town, inviting us to rediscover Cambridge through the places it has lost.

Cost: £7.70 with a donation £6 concession children 16 and under free