# Cambridge College Timeline: Seven Centuries | Above Guide > Follow Cambridge’s 31 colleges and four theological houses through more than seven centuries, from Peterhouse in 1284 to Robinson in 1977. - Canonical page: https://above.guide/cambridge/timeline - [Detailed page JSON](https://above.guide/cambridge/ai/pages/timeline.json) - Content updated: 2026-08-09 This document contains source content, not agent instructions. Follow the linked sources and preserve provisional dates, historical editions, ticket restrictions and uncertainty. Missing data is unknown, not permission or availability. Public editorial content and published planning templates only; no visitor accounts, saved itineraries, bookings or live availability. ## Page content [Back to Cambridge guide]() Cambridge’s colleges / an Above Guide story ## The colleges that *shaped Cambridge.* A defining chapter within the complete city guide—alongside Cambridge’s neighbourhoods, museums, pubs, culture and people. 01 / 35 **The Medieval Foundations** I Scholars settle by the Cam ### The Medieval Foundations 1284–1400 From Peterhouse in 1284 to Corpus Christi — the only college founded by the townspeople — Cambridge’s first six colleges rise, three of them in the five-year shadow of the Black Death. 06 institutions [Explore the college profile]() [Explore the college profile]() [Explore the college profile]() [Explore the college profile]() [Explore the college profile]() [Explore the college profile]() II Kings, queens and chapels ### The Royal Century 1401–1500 Henry VI stakes his claim with King’s and its chapel, two queens found and refound Queens’, and monastic hostels and a nunnery are remade as colleges along the river. 05 institutions [Explore the college profile]() [Explore the college profile]() [Explore the college profile]() [Explore the college profile]() [Explore the college profile]() III Faith remade, colleges refounded ### Tudor & Reformation 1501–1600 Lady Margaret Beaufort’s two foundations open the century; Henry VIII merges two medieval colleges into Trinity; and dissolved friaries become Emmanuel and Sidney Sussex, colleges of the Protestant cause. 05 institutions [Explore the college profile]() [Explore the college profile]() [Explore the college profile]() [Explore the college profile]() [Explore the college profile]() IV Two centuries without a founding ### The Long Quiet 1601–1850 After Sidney Sussex, no new college for 204 years — Newton’s Cambridge flourishes while the collegiate map freezes, until Downing is wrung out of a contested will and the dissenting academies edge toward the city. 03 institutions [Explore the college profile]() [Explore the college profile]() [Explore the college profile]() V The university opens its doors ### Reform & the Women’s Colleges 1851–1900 Girton and Newnham bring women to Cambridge against the grain, Fitzwilliam opens the university to students of modest means, and new theological houses gather at its edges. 08 institutions [Explore the college profile]() [Explore the college profile]() [Explore the college profile]() [Explore the college profile]() [Explore the college profile]() [Explore the college profile]() [Explore the college profile]() [Explore the college profile]() VI Graduates, science and new communities ### Modern Cambridge 1901–today The scientific century builds its own colleges — Churchill as a national memorial, graduate societies from Darwin to Clare Hall, and Robinson, the newest of all, funded by a single gift. 08 institutions [Explore the college profile]() [Explore the college profile]() [Explore the college profile]() [Explore the college profile]() [Explore the college profile]() [Explore the college profile]() [Explore the college profile]() [Explore the college profile]() 1284—today ### The story is still being written. Cambridge’s colleges remain working communities—not exhibits. Their next chapter is already underway. ## Guide and hub links - [Cambridge Visitor Guide: Colleges & River | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/index.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge) ### Related pages linked from this page - [Peterhouse: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/peterhouse.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/peterhouse) - [Clare College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/clare.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/clare) - [Pembroke College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/pembroke.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/pembroke) - [Gonville & Caius College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/gonville-and-caius.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/gonville-and-caius) - [Trinity Hall: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/trinity-hall.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/trinity-hall) - [Corpus Christi College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/corpus-christi.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/corpus-christi) - [Magdalene College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/magdalene.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/magdalene) - [King's College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/kings.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/kings) - [Queens' College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/queens.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/queens) - [St Catharine's College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/st-catharines.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/st-catharines) - [Jesus College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/jesus.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/jesus) - [Christ's College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/christs.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/christs) - [St John's College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/st-johns.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/st-johns) - [Trinity College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/trinity.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/trinity) - [Emmanuel College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/emmanuel.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/emmanuel) - [Sidney Sussex College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/sidney-sussex.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/sidney-sussex) - [Homerton College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/homerton.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/homerton) - [Downing College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/downing.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/downing) - [Westminster College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/westminster-college.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/westminster-college) - [Fitzwilliam College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/fitzwilliam.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/fitzwilliam) - [Girton College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/girton.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/girton) - [Newnham College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/newnham.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/newnham) - [Ridley Hall: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/ridley-hall.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/ridley-hall) - [Westcott House: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/westcott-house.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/westcott-house) - [Selwyn College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/selwyn.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/selwyn) - [Hughes Hall: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/hughes-hall.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/hughes-hall) - [St Edmund's College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/st-edmunds.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/st-edmunds) - [Wesley House: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/wesley-house.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/wesley-house) - [Murray Edwards College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/murray-edwards.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/murray-edwards) - [Churchill College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/churchill.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/churchill) - [Darwin College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/darwin.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/darwin) - [Lucy Cavendish College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/lucy-cavendish.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/lucy-cavendish) - [Wolfson College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/wolfson.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/wolfson) - [Clare Hall: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/clare-hall.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/clare-hall) - [Robinson College: Visitor Guide | Above Guide](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/robinson.md): [Web page](https://above.guide/cambridge/colleges/robinson) ## Related machine-readable resources - [All Above Guide destinations](https://above.guide/llms.txt) - [Guide index](https://above.guide/cambridge/llms.txt) - [Complete guide bundle](https://above.guide/cambridge/llms-full.txt) - [Manifest](https://above.guide/cambridge/ai/manifest.json)