Queen’s Lane
Originally one of the city’s main industrial
streets.
Queen's Lane is one of the two
remaining portions of Milne
Street, a connecting street
between the river and the
town. The building of King's
College enclosed Milne Street
in the 15th Century, effectively
cutting off this part of the town
from the river. Queens' Lane
gained its name with the
foundation of Queens' College
in 1448 by Margaret of Anjou,
queen of King Henry VI. Today,
this short and narrow lane is
mainly used by the students.
View north along Queen’s Lane
SIGNIFICANCE • SIGNIFICANT
General Overview
All the buildings are associated with King's College, St Catharine's College or Queens' College and therefore, it is
students that mainly use the lane. Out of term time, the street is very quiet.
Grade II Listed Building
view of King’s
College Chapel towers
Grade I Listed Building
Good Detail
Positive View
Poor View
Important Tree
St Catharine’s College
N
(c) Crown copyright (Licence No.100019730)
Cambridge Historic Core Appraisal • June 2006
1 : 1,250
Bicycles along Queen’s Lane
Queen’s Lane • page 1 of 2
Townscape Elements
Streetscape Enhancements
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The lighting along the Lane is interesting with 3
free-standing lamps with black iron shafts and a
decorative lantern. There are also 2 large lanterns
attached to Queens' College Old Court above the main
entrance. To complement this, a lighting scheme could
be developed to enhance the attractive gate into King's
College Webb's Court.
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Road feels very enclosed as the buildings are taller
than the width of the street and there are few breaks
in the building line.
Buildings are back of footway or set back on top of
raised footway.
Views are curtailed by buildings on King’s Lane /
Silver Street.
Variety of roofing types.
St Catharine’s College set back behind high wall /
railings with trees and shrubs visible beyond.
Signage is generally discreet, but seems unnecessarily
duplicated with 2 identical parking signs places only a few
metres apart. One of these could perhaps be removed.
Complete removal of cars, except for access could give
the opportunity for carriageway and pavement resurfacing.
Archaeology / Historic Topography
Old Court, Queen’s College
Anticipated deposit depth varies from 0.50m to 1.50m
Potential for prehistory is low
Potential for Roman is low
Potential for medieval is high
Before it was blocked Milne Street was a particularly
important route of access paralleling both the High Street
and the river and demonstrating a move into what had
been wetter and less used ground. From this street the
riverside hythes could be reached and at least one horse
mill is reported along its length. Queen's Lane is one of
two surviving stretches of this street. The northern end of
Queen's Lane formed the eastern boundary of the
Carmelite priory, established on the site in 1290.
Webb’s Court, King’s College
Building
No. / Name
Status
Age
Height
(storeys)
Wall
Materials
Roof Form /
Materials
Architect
Queen’s College:
Old Court:
East Range
with Gatehouse
Listed Grade I
1448
2
Gatehouse: 3
red brick,
stone dressings
tiled
Mason, Reginald Ely
Queen’s College:
Walnut Tree Court:
East Range
Listed Grade I
1617-19
heightened
c1780
3
brick,
stone dressings
parapet
Queen’s College:
Walnut Tree Court:
Chapel
Listed Grade I
1890
N/A
red brick,
stone dressings
tiled
Bodley & Garner
Queen’s College:
Friars Court:
Dockett Building
none
1912
3 + attic
+ basement
red brick,
stone dressings
clay tiled
E.T. Hare
King's College:
Webb's Court
Listed Grade II
1908-9
3 + attic
ashlar-faced
mansard / slate
Sir Aston Webb
St Catharine's
College: part of
King's Lane Courts
none
1965-68
3 + attic storey
red brick,
stone detailing
mansard / lead
St Catharine's
College:
Principal Court:
West Range
Listed Grade I
1687
3 + attic
red brick,
stone dressings
tiled
St Catharine's
College:
boundary wall
Listed Grade II
late C17 /
early C18
N/A
red brick
St Catharine's
College:
Screen & gates of
Master's Lodge
Listed Grade II
late C19
N/A
wrought iron fence & gates,
red brick stone capped piers
Cambridge Historic Core Appraisal • June 2006
Notes
reroofed & embattled 1823
Builder:
Robert Grumbold
W Fawcett
Queen’s Lane • page 2 of 2