The Backs

THE BACKS OF THE COLLEGES start from Northampton Street and run along the far famed "Backs," the road skirts the grounds of St John's, which are entered by an iron gate swinging on eagle-topped piers of brick.

The cricket ground of the College is on the right, with that of Trinity beyond it, and the wilderness of St John's is on the left. Then comes the Back of Trinity, presenting the west front of the College library and of the new court on the left, with the Fellows' garden on the might.

A little further on is the row of magnificent trees, separating the road from Clare Pieces. Here is a series of some of the most charming views which Cambridge affords: Clare, delightfully half masked by trees, its gateway and avenue leading up to its bridge over the river.

The stately west end of King's Chapel, with the side of Clare and the new wing of the University Library on the north, and Gibbs' building to the south; in the interval between Gibbs' building and the chapel, a happily-designed, red, gabled house-front in King's Parade rises over the screen; on the south of Gibbs' building, facing Clare are the College Library and the Provost's Lodge; and in the meadow on the west side of the river is the small remnant of an avenue, which once led to an old bridge in a line with the archway of Gibbs' building. King's Bridge gives the best view of all.

The road goes on behind Queens', formally known as Erasmus' walk, close by the ditch bounding King's, between it and a row of elms.

It then winds round into Silver Street, over "Small Bridges" (The name Silver Street properly applies only to the road east of the Cam). From here the wooden bridge of Queens' can be seen on the left, and on the right a watermill-the united " King's Mill" and" Bishop's Mill" of former times. At a little distance a smaller mill called "Newnham Mill" can be seen. The two are supplied by one head of water.