Cambridge Union Society

THE UNION SOCIETY'S HOUSE.

The Cambridge Union Society, situated behind the Round Church, is a private members' debating society in Cambridge and is the largest society at the University of Cambridge.

Membership is only open to members of Cambridge University and a small number of other local educational institutions but members may invite guests to most meetings.

The Cambridge Union is housed red brick building with stone facings, by Waterhouse, was opened in October, 1866, and has since been much enlarged.

There is a Library containing a great many volumes, and a large room specially arranged for debates which take place upon the current topics of the day, regularly during Term time. The newspapers are usually in this room, and the quarterly reviews and other periodicals are upstairs.

The Society was founded, in 1815, by the Union of three other Societies-hence its name. It was first at the Lion Inn, subsequently in Jesus Lane, and afterwards in Green Street.

It and the similar Society at Oxford have achieved more success and celebrity than any of the Debating Societies in the country. In its nearly 200 year history, many of its members have had their early training and won their first triumphs here, sometimes going on to be the country's foremost orators in Parliament, at the bar and in the church.