Christ’s Lane south side prior to demolition in 1897 looking towards St Andrew’s Street (MoC 251/71)

Christ’s Lane / Rogues’ Lane, Cambridge

History of Christ's Lane

In medieval times this was known by a variety of names. Generally, ‘the Lane to Hinton’ or the ‘the lane leading from St Andrew’s Church towards Hintune’, it was also also know as ‘Rokislane (Rogues’ Lane) and Hangman’s Lane. It was also called St Nicholas Lane and (early in the 19th cent.) Emmanuel Back Lane and George Street.

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In 2025 a campaign was launched in response to proposals by Christ’s College to develop their frontage onto Christ’s Lane. You can find a summary and documents about this campaign below.

Christ’s Lane Campaign

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1891

(7) Emma Saul, 64, laundress, b Cambridge

(8) Walter Cowles, 39, college servant, b Oxon

(9) William Osborne, 50, carpenter and joiner, b Suffolk

(10) Arthur J Miller, 50, college porter, b Cambridge

(11) William Hunt, 51, college shoeblack, b Cambridge

(12) Mary ?? Nichols, 84, living on own means, b Trumpington

(13) Henry Mason, 51, college gyp, b Fulbourn

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1897 (CDN 29.11.1897) During the last two years it has been a veritable quagmire, I cam through last evening and the mud was several inches thick through the lane. When is Christ’s Lane to be paved in such a manner that it shall be as pleasant to walk through as it is walking across Christ’s Pieces?

See Grand Arcade excavation report p.380f:

The cellar of Building 2 is most likely to have been infilled in 1896. This is because 1–7 Christ’s Lane were demolished and replaced by five new shops and offices at this time; new structures that were erected ‘in lieu of the dilapidated buildings standing thereon’. Moreover, this event also appears to have heralded the end of the Thompson family’s residence at the site, as by 1898 70 St Andrew’s Street was occupied by antique dealer Owen Roe. Also occurring as part of the 1896 redevelopment, a substantial brick-lined cellar, which survived in use until 1959, was constructed at the rear of 70 St Andrew’s Street. This cellar – Building 13 – was entered via a flight of stairs in its northwest corner. Internally, it had a row of supporting columns as well as two light wells that faced out onto the yard of the property.

22 February 1906
Sir: Christ’s Lane is a thoroughfare that is as much used as any in Cambridge, and is owned by a college. During the last two years it has been a veritable quagmire, I came through last evening and the mud was several inches thick through the lane. When is Cambridge to be governed so that there is the same law measured out for the University as there is for the worker and when is Christ’s Lane to be paved in such a manner that that it shall be as pleasant to walk through as it is walking across Christ’s Pieces? – B.L.
Credit: Mike Petty Archive, Cambridge CHRIST’S LANE Scrapbook, reference 06 02 22.

22 February 1906
In 1901 an agreement was made with Emmanuel College for the closing of Emmanuel Street and the opening of a new one nearer Christ’s Lane. It had been needed when electric trams were being planned to remedy a dangerous corner with St Andrew’s Street – but there would be a more dangerous corner to the proposed new street. Now some councillors called for the agreement to be cancelled. However the council had entered a binding contract and they were honour-bound to carry it out.
Credit: Mike Petty Archive, Cambridge CHRIST’S LANE Scrapbook, references 06 02 22a, b, c.

5 July 1933
Sir, If I were ‘Traffic Dictator’ for Cambridge motor cycles would not be allowed in Sussex Street or Christ’s Lane, there would be no parking of cars for more than fifteen minutes or in Jesus Lane: why spend £2,000 widening it, then block the space gained by motor cars. Bus users would be made to queue up near Lloyds Bank: often it is virtually impossible to get through the crowds of waiting passengers. – ‘Interested’.
Credit: Mike Petty Archive, Cambridge CHRIST’S LANE Scrapbook, reference 33 07 05 p8.

5 May 1952
Cambridge city council would like to see Christ’s Lane opened out as a thoroughfare to be used by the omnibuses and other traffic to alleviate congestion in the City centre and provide relief for Emmanuel Street. The present country bus station at Drummer Street would then become the main stopping place for the local buses which now pick up and set down passengers in Sidney Street constricting the traffic flow. They also propose a new road on the line of Post Office Terrace to Wheeler Street. With Corn Exchange Street widened this would provide for a good circulation of traffic in the city centre.
Credit: Mike Petty Archive, Cambridge CHRIST’S LANE Scrapbook, reference 1952 05 05.

18 September 1954
It may interest readers to know that the short thoroughfare from St Andrews’ Street to Drummer Street, now known as Christ’s Lane, has changed its name more than any other in Cambridge. Old maps show it as Hangman’s Lane, St Nicholas’ Lane, Rogis Lane, Rogues’ Lane, Hinton Lane and George Street. Downing Street has been Dowdivers Lane, Langrith Lane, Hogshill Lane, Bird Bolt Lane and Plot and Nuts Lane.
Credit: Mike Petty Archive, Cambridge CHRIST’S LANE Scrapbook, reference 1954 09 18.

27 November 1956
A proposal to close Christ’s Lane and provide an alternative footway between Drummer Street and St Andrew’s Street was approved in 1954. But now Christ’s College have proposed an alternative consisting of an arcade leading into a central courtyard then through another arcade to Drummer Street. The council would be responsible for maintaining, cleaning and lighting it.
Credit: Mike Petty Archive, Cambridge CHRIST’S LANE Scrapbook, reference 56 11 27a.

23 August 1957
Plans have been announced for a modern shopping arcade linking St Andrew’s Street and Drummer Street bus station, replacing the Christ’s Lane. There would be a two-storey block of shops facing an open court together with a waiting room for bus passengers and basement parking for 21 cars and 100 bicycles.
Credit: Mike Petty Archive, Cambridge CHRIST’S LANE Scrapbook, references 57 08 23b & c.

3 September 1980
Visitors to Cambridge will be confused if they use the latest Ordnance Survey map of the city. The Lion Yard shopping centre, completed more than five years ago, is not shown but marked as a collection of tiny streets. Christ’s Lane, closed for the past 15 years and not even visible, is still shown as leading from Drummer Street to St Andrew’s Street whilst the University Centre is an empty space. Even the Tourist Information Centre is shown as at the front of the Guildhall, rather than the back. The O.S. said it did not seem very satisfactory
Credit: Mike Petty Archive, Cambridge CHRIST’S LANE Scrapbook, reference 80 09 03b.