The Backs

In 2013, National Trust chairman Simon Jenkins included The Backs as one of his top ten views in England.

In the 16th century, the area consisted of pasture, gardens and orchards owned by colleges of the University, with wooden bridges across the River Cam.

[4] In 1779, Brown presented a plan to the University of Cambridge to create country-house style parkland with its focus on King's College's Gibbs Building.

The plan would have involved removing avenues, transforming the river into a lake, and planting clumps of trees to screen the other colleges.

In addition, there will be a phased replacement of avenues, an extension of the "wilderness" planting behind St John's and along the edge of Queens Road, and the creation of a "wildlife corridor".

[4] In December 2007, The Daily Telegraph reported that "there has been a remarkable degree of consensus between institutions [i.e., the colleges of the University owning parts of The Backs] well known for prizing their autonomy".

Part of The Backs at the University of Cambridge showing Clare College , Clare Bridge , and the back lawns of King's College
The Backs appear as the horizontal green band in the middle left of this aerial photograph of Cambridge .
One of the earliest drawings of The Backs, included in a University of Cambridge plan engraved by Richard Lyne in 1574
A Plan Presented to the University of Cambridge for Some Alterations by Lancelot Brown , 1779
St John's College's New Court (left) was the first major college building built on the west side of the River Cam . [ 2 ]
A 1743 engraving of The Backs and Cambridge skyline