Hobson’s Conduit, Cambridge

History of Hobson's Conduit

Hobson’s Conduit, also know as Hobson’s River and Cambridge New River, includes a fountain and culverts etc., formerly and still in part supplied by the Conduit, and bridge over this last. (see 1959 Royal Commission on Historical Monuments Survey of Cambridge)

There has been a proposal in 1574 by Andrew Perne, Master of Peterhouse, to flush out the foul water in the King’s Ditch with water brought in from Vicar’s Brook. In 1610 the Lord of Trumpington Manor agreed to diversion of water across the common fields. This was the New River which brought water to the conduit head and then into the King’s Ditch at the junction of Trumpington Street and Pembroke Street.

Drinking water was piped from the conduit-head to a new fountain in Market Hill in 1614. In 1631 a third supply was drawn from the conduit head for Emmanuel College and Christ’s College.

The cost of the scheme of 1610 was borne jointly by the town and the University. Thomas Hobson, carrier (died 1630-1) and Samuel Potto (died 1632) left properties as endowments for the upkeep of the water works.

Hobson’s Conduit is of much interest as an early 17th century utility supplying water for drinking, street cleansing and scouring the drains.

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Hobson’s Conduit by W D Bushell, CUP, 1938

Hobson’s Conduit by W. D. Bushell offers a comprehensive history of one of Cambridge’s most important civic engineering projects. Built in the early 17th century, the conduit was designed to bring fresh running water from springs at Great Shelford into the heart of Cambridge, improving sanitation and supporting the growing population.

The system was largely funded through the will of Thomas Hobson, a well-known local figure whose legacy shaped the city’s infrastructure. Bushell explores how Hobson’s bequest enabled the construction of a network of channels, pipes, and distribution points, including the famous fountain at Market Hill.

The book describes the technical challenges of early modern water engineering, the management of water flow, and the disputes between the town and university over access and control. It also highlights the conduit’s role in public health, fire prevention, and everyday life in Cambridge.

Bushell places Hobson’s Conduit within the broader context of urban development, showing how it contributed to Cambridge’s transformation from a medieval town into a more modern city. The system remained in use for centuries and is still visible today in surviving structures and street features.

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Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobson%27s_Conduit

Listed Building

 

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The Conduit in Exile:

There is an inscription that says, This structure stood upon Market Hill, and served as a Conduit from 1614 to 1856, in which year it was re-erected on this spot by public subscription.

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