LIMITED AVAILABILITY
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FREE, GUIDED URBAN-WALKING TOURS AROUND FORMER SITE OF CAMBRIDGE GASWORKS
Back by popular demand! Following fully-booked tours at previous Open Cambridge festivals, Museum volunteers (in association with Cambridge Industrial Archaeology Group) present another opportunity to explore the impact of the former Cambridge gasworks on local society, economy and the environment.
WHAT’S IN THE tour?
This free, guided tour (around Cheddars Lane, Newmarket Road, River Lane and Riverside.) will visit urban-archaeological remains from what was - in its time - the largest industrial complex in Cambridge: the University & Town Gas-Light Company.
Featuring documentary sources such as maps, photographs, company records and eyewitness reports to describe the sights (and smells) of the former Cambridge gasworks, its operations, stories of its workers, evaluate its environmental impact, and invite participants to assess its legacy: past, present and future.
Tour stops will include: the gasworks' entrance gates, former wharves on the River Cam, former retorts on River Lane, the war memorial (Newmarket Road), archaeological evidence of by-products.
Tour information
Suitable for ages 12+
Free (subject to advance-booking, below)
Accessibilty: each tour will take approximately 60 minutes and cover approximately 1km on (step-free) marked footpaths around the perimeter of Newmarket Rd, Cheddars Lane, River Lane and Riverside.
Meet outside the upper gate of Museum of Technology on the corner of Cheddars Lane at least five minutes before tour time (tours will depart promptly at the advertised start time).
Each tour will conclude at lower entrance of Museum of Technology on Riverside.
Tour will run in all weathers: come prepared!
How to book
Open Cambridge ‘energy’ urban-walking tours (availability up to a maximum tour-group size of 20) will run at the following times during 2024 Open Cambridge:
Friday 6 September 2024, 18:30-19:30 BST
Saturday 7 September 2024, 11:00-12:00 BST
Sunday 8 September 2024, 13:00-14:00 BST.
Book your place on a free tour with an advanced-reservation:
check-out £0 ticket via online ticketing system (below)
maximum 2 reservations per person (email address)
due to popular demand, registrants will be asked to reconfirm attendance by 31 August 2024 in order to ensure a full tour group.
Please note: this free, urban-walking Open Cambridge tour will NOT include admission to Museum of Technology. For Museum opening hours and tickets, please check online.
Data will be held and operated according to the Museum's data-management and -retention policies
Presented as part of 2024 Open Cambridge | Heritage Open Days
Watch more about Cambridge gasworks:
Photo credits:
Ticket photo: Cambridge 1928 | Britain From Above EPW025466 | © Historic England
Banner photograph: 2022 photo of former site of Cambridge University & Town Gas-Light Company gasworks as viewed above Cambridge Museum of Technology: Aaron Greenwood, donated to Cambridge Museum of Technology.