Exhibition: Portraits of Cambridge: a Town in Transition
About the exhibition:
Portraits of Cambridge: A Town in Transition invites you to explore a Cambridge as a town grappling with change. 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.
The Museum is grateful to our supporters, who have made the restoration of our works possible for this exhibition.
Getting Here:
We are in the centre of Cambridge. You’ll find us at the corner of Castle Street and Northampton Street. We are right beside Kettle’s Yard and only a 15-minute walk from King’s College.
You can park your bike at the bike parks on Bridge Street or on Northampton Street. There is a bus stop nearby on Bridge Street. Find out more about how to get here by train, bike, bus, car or on foot on our website.