Cambridge Town and Gown – pub 2026

Cambridge Town and Gown – The people’s fight against the privileges of the University

A new book about the conflict between town and gown in Cambridge published in August 2026, a modern approach that uses sociology and anthropology to build a new historical analysis of the conflict

Written by historian Dr Nathalie Henry, this book explores with the aid of modern historical methods the rise of the power that the University exercised over its host town of Cambridge. The latter was a successful market town at the beginning of the 13th century having been declared a free borough by a charter awarded by King John. This independence from outside control was whittled away over succeeding centuries by alliances between the University and monarchs such as Elizabeth I. The book raises questions as to where power lies in this world famous city in the 21st century.

Available from the Museum of Cambridge, price £6.99, and from David’s bookshop, St Edward’s Passage off Peas Hill.

“This is a fascinating, well researched and very readable book exploring the unequal power relations which underline the historic town-gown divide in Cambridge.” Lucy Walker, former Chair of the Museum of Cambridge.