Downing College

Downing College, Cambridge

History of Downing College

The Baker and Scott Buildings, and the Chapel are designated Buildings of Local Interest.

---

Rattee and Kett worked with architects Sir Herbert Baker and Scott on various parts of the college including the chapel which was completed using Ketton Stone.

Further information about the history of the buildings in the college can be found here:

http://www.dow.cam.ac.uk/about/downing-college-history

A particular feature of the college is The Heong Gallery.

http://www.dow.cam.ac.uk/cultural-life/heong-gallery

---

1845 Romilly records in his diary for 22nd June 1845:

There was a very good Horticultural Exhibition in Downing: an imitation of the Round Church. a Lilliputian garden and fountain, were among its attractions: there was a collection of electro-typed flowers…

Ed. note: With its profusion of flowers and plants, Litchfield’s tent for ices and refreshments, and the presence of a band, the show was a great success. Three glass cases sent in by a Captain Ibbetson attracted much attention with their copper flowers ‘formed by an improved electrotype process whereby their form and growth are most curiously preserved,’ and a Mr Catling was awarded a special prize of thirty shillings for his model of the Round Church decorated with flowers. Members of the British Association were admitted on their ticket; ordinary admission from 2 to 5pm was half a crown and a shilling in the evening.

---

1851 East Lodge

William Webster Fisher, 51, professor of medicine, b Westmoreland

John H Fisher, 56, visitor, vicar of Kirkby Lonsdale, b Westmoreland

Emma Howe, housekeeper, 38, b Norfolk

William Smith, 15, footboy, b Wisbech

Fisher was a leading figure in the development of neuroscience at Cambridge University. (See M Weatherall, Gentlemen, Scientists and Doctors, pub 2000 p58.)

---

1881

Thomas Worsley, 83, Master of the College, b Yorks

Katherine, 77, b Yorks

et.al.

---

1911

Frederick Howard Marsh, 71, professor of surgery, b Suffolk

Violet Susan, b 43, b Scotland

Ellinor Dalrymple Hay, sister in law, 49, b London

Rosalind Mary Mitchell, 59, hospital nurse, b Wales

Nellie Stewart, 29, cook, b Wales

Sarah Brown, 33, parlourmaid, b Newton

Hilda Taylor, 20, housemaid, b Stretham

Lilian Watts, 17, housemaid,  b Barrington

---

Marion Seward (1861-1924) was wife of the master of Downing Albert Seward. She was an artist and member of the Cambridge Drawing Society. The Museum of Cambridge has a collection of her paintings which were sent to F F Blackman  in 1920 on the occasion of his wedding.

Frederick Frost Blackman married Elsie Chick in 1917. He was a botanist and colleague of Albert Seward.

Downing College also has an archive of her work. In November 2024 the Downing College archives posted this note on Facebook:

A lovely new addition to the Archive: the 1914 diaries and watercolour journal of Marion Seward (wife of the Master, Prof. A.C. Seward) recording their journey with eminent scientists on the SS Euripides to the British Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Australia, with photographs relating to the trip. Marion was an accomplished artist and painted 160 beautiful miniature watercolours during their four month trip, detailing views from the Euripides and many of the places visited. The collection is open to researchers by appointment, with more information in the online catalogue: https://archivesearch.lib.cam.ac.uk/…/archival…/1356513.
With grateful thanks to the Seward family for donating this collection to the College and loaning other family papers and photographs to be copied for the Archive. Today is the 100th anniversary of Marion’s death, so it is especially poignant to remember her today.

The Downing College website also notes that Marion helped found the Cambridge Branch of the National Union of “Women Workers in 1912 and her work through the Tipperary Club supported soldiers’ wives, children and relatives during the war. She was also a skilled watercolour painter and illustrated many of her husband’s Botany books.”