Mathematical Bridge

River guides frequently attribute this bridge to Isaac Newton. Since Isaac died in 1727 and the bridge was built in 1749, I suspect this bit of... more

by Jean Noren

Title

Mathematical Bridge

Artist

Jean Noren

Medium

Photograph - Photograph

Description

River guides frequently attribute this bridge to Isaac Newton. Since Isaac died in 1727 and the bridge was built in 1749, I suspect this bit of history is false. The bridge was designed in 1748 by William Etheridge, and was built in 1749 by James Essex the Younger. Repairs were done in 1866 and it was rebuilt to the same design in 1905.

The joints of the present bridge are fastened by coach-bolts and nuts. Earlier versions used iron pins or coach-screws at the joints, driven in from the outer elevation. The story that it was originally built without nails belongs in the same filing cabinet as the attribution to Newton.

The bridge has also been mis-attributed to John Michell by his great grandson. Michell was an undergraduate at Queens’ from 1742, and appointed a Fellow in 1749, the year after Etheridge’s model of the bridge had been paid for.

The red-brick building seen on the right is the President’s Lodge (1460), the oldest building on the river at Cambridge.

Despite the erroneous stories about this bridge, I can say for a fact that it is a cool, little bridge that is a pleasure to look upon.

Uploaded

September 30th, 2017