Right before you, standing tall in all its elegant glory, is the Senate House - Cambridge’s grand stage for the drama of degrees, ancient ceremony, and, well, the occasional rooftop car! Crafted between 1722 and 1730, this spectacular building was designed by James Gibbs, who clearly had a soft spot for the neoclassical look and a handy slab of Portland stone. Back then, constructing the Senate House wasn’t as straightforward as popping down to the shop for bricks. This land was originally sprinkled with houses, all of which had to be bought up by a special act of Parliament in 1720. Then, with all the formal finery, the first stone was set in place by the Vice-Chancellor, Thomas Crosse, on a warm June morning in 1722.
Now, picture the Senate House as it was on its grand opening day in July 1730-except, and here’s a Cambridge plot twist, they never quite finished the western end until 1768. Even more, this magnificent structure was supposed to be just one side of a much larger quadrangle. Alas, the quadrangle never materialized, but what Cambridge ended up with is now a Grade I listed gem-one of the city’s most cherished sights.
Most days, this place is serenely majestic. But come graduation, it transforms. Robes flutter, Latin chants echo, and nervous students march inside, clutching dreams and sometimes each other. It’s here, in the Senate House, that the end of those long Cambridge days officially becomes a brand-new beginning. There’s a spectacular order to these ceremonies. Graduates wear the gowns tied to their pre-graduate status-imagine turning up dressed as your ‘old self’ to get your brand-new self confirmed. Inside, each college is announced in order of their foundation, except of course for the royal colleges, who always like to stand out!
Let’s say you were a graduand (that’s Cambridge-speak for someone about to graduate). You’d be led forth by your college Praelector-the kind of academic who always walks briskly and has a command of Latin to boot. They’d clasp your right hand and present you with a grand Latin declaration to the waiting Vice-Chancellor and the presiding academics, vouching not only for your learning but also for your character. Once your name is whispered-well, more like announced-you’d kneel, offer your hands, and hear another ancient Latin phrase before rising as a graduate, certificate in hand, probably with a beaming smile or maybe a nervous hiccup. Cambridge takes it seriously-each graduation is actually an official act of the university’s governing body, meaning the Regent House has to give it a proper vote just like any big university decision.
But this old house isn’t just about serious business and ceremonial solemnity. It’s also graced by the lighter, sometimes mischievous heart of Cambridge tradition. At the end of each year, those scary-sounding “Tripos” exam results are posted on the outside walls for everyone to see. But when it comes to the Mathematical Tripos, imagine an eager sea of students below as results are read aloud from the balcony, followed by gleeful showers of class lists tossed down like academic confetti.
Of course, what’s a historic university without a little mischief? On a June morning in 1958, locals were astonished to spot a battered old Austin Seven van perched right on the apex of the Senate House roof. No, parking enforcement didn’t get wind of this one-rather, it was the handiwork of a daring group of engineering students from Gonville & Caius. With a little mechanical wizardry, some removed bits to lighten the load, and enough stolen scaffolding to scandalize King’s College, they pulled it off under the cover of darkness, sparking national headlines and a legend that’s been retold ever since. The tradition of surprising rooftop decorations has continued, with feats like a festively decorated Christmas tree appearing on the roof as recently as 2022, thanks to Cambridge's creative night climbers.
The Senate House has even played host to modern debates, like when the BBC staged the UK’s 2017 Election Debate right here. So whether it’s Latin rituals, floating exam results, or the odd van with a suspicious view, this place is where Cambridge’s sense of occasion and playful spirit come together in perfect harmony. The Senate House - always ready for the next chapter, ceremony, or prank.
