Downing Site
Encyclopedia
The Downing Site is a major site of the University of Cambridge
, located in the centre of the city of Cambridge
, England
, on Downing Street
and Tennis Court Road
, adjacent to Downing College
. The Downing Site is the larger and newer of two city-centre science sites of the university (the other being the New Museums Site
). Largely populated with utilitarian brick buildings dating from the 1930s, the more notable buildings include the Zoology Laboratory (1900–04), Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences
(1904–11) and Downing Street entrance (1904–11).
To the northwest is the New Museums Site
and to the southwest is the Old Addenbrooke's Site
, two other important University of Cambridge sites.
and Tennis Court Road, to the south of the medieval town of Cambridge. The Pembroke Leys was acquired by Downing College on its foundation, but the northern portion of the Leys remained undeveloped. This northern portion was purchased by the university in 1896–97, and now forms the Downing Site.
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, located in the centre of the city of Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, on Downing Street
Downing Street, Cambridge
Downing Street is a street in central Cambridge, England. It runs between Pembroke Street and Tennis Court Road at the western end and a T-junction with St Andrew's Street at the eastern end. Corn Exchange Street and St Tibbs Row lead off to the north...
and Tennis Court Road
Tennis Court Road
Tennis Court Road is a street in central Cambridge, England. It runs parallel with Trumpington Street to the west and Regent Street to the east. At the northern end is a junction with Pembroke Street to the west and Downing Street to the east. To the south as a T-junction with Lensfield Road...
, adjacent to Downing College
Downing College, Cambridge
Downing College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was founded in 1800 and currently has around 650 students.- History :...
. The Downing Site is the larger and newer of two city-centre science sites of the university (the other being the New Museums Site
New Museums Site
The New Museums Site is a major site of the University of Cambridge, located in the centre of the city, on Pembroke Street and Free School Lane, sandwiched between Corpus Christi College, Pembroke College and the Lion Yard. Its postcode is CB2 3QH...
). Largely populated with utilitarian brick buildings dating from the 1930s, the more notable buildings include the Zoology Laboratory (1900–04), Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences
Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences
The Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences, opened in 1904, is the geology museum of the University of Cambridge in England. It is part of the Department of Earth Sciences and is located on the University's Downing Site in Downing Street, central Cambridge, England.The Sedgwick has a collection of more...
(1904–11) and Downing Street entrance (1904–11).
To the northwest is the New Museums Site
New Museums Site
The New Museums Site is a major site of the University of Cambridge, located in the centre of the city, on Pembroke Street and Free School Lane, sandwiched between Corpus Christi College, Pembroke College and the Lion Yard. Its postcode is CB2 3QH...
and to the southwest is the Old Addenbrooke's Site
Old Addenbrooke's Site
The Old Addenbrooke's Site is a site owned by the University of Cambridge in the south of central Cambridge, England. It is located on the block formed by Fitzwilliam Street to the north, Tennis Court Road to the east, Lensfield Road to the south, and Trumpington Street to the west.Addenbrooke's...
, two other important University of Cambridge sites.
History
The current site was part of Pembroke Leys, a boggy area of small fields lying between Regent StreetRegent Street, Cambridge
Regent Street is an arterial street in southeast central Cambridge, England. It runs between St Andrew's Street, at the junction with Park Terrace, to the northwest and Hills Road at the junction with the A603 to the southeast. Regent Terrace runs in parallel immediately to the northeast...
and Tennis Court Road, to the south of the medieval town of Cambridge. The Pembroke Leys was acquired by Downing College on its foundation, but the northern portion of the Leys remained undeveloped. This northern portion was purchased by the university in 1896–97, and now forms the Downing Site.
University departments and institutions
Though several university departments have recently relocated to larger modern buildings elsewhere, the Downing Site still houses many departments, predominantly in the biomedical sciences. These include:- Department of Biochemistry (old site)
- Department of Earth Sciences
- Department of Experimental Psychology
- Department of Genetics
- Department of Geography
- Department of Pathology
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience
- Department of Plant Sciences
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy
- Faculty of Archaeology and Anthropology
- McDonald Institute for Archaeological ResearchMcDonald Institute for Archaeological ResearchThe McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research is a research institute of the University of Cambridge in England.-History:The Institute was established in 1990 through a generous benefaction from the late Dr D. M. McDonald, a well-known and successful industrialist...
- Molteno Laboratory (Parasitology)
- Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
- Physiological Laboratory
- Sedgwick Museum of Earth SciencesSedgwick Museum of Earth SciencesThe Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences, opened in 1904, is the geology museum of the University of Cambridge in England. It is part of the Department of Earth Sciences and is located on the University's Downing Site in Downing Street, central Cambridge, England.The Sedgwick has a collection of more...
- Zoology Laboratory