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Empty market stalls with striped awnings in a paved Cambridge square, with text overlays about an online exhibition.

Fours Years On (MoC2024)

‘Four Years On’ Lockdown Cambridge 2020

Virtual Exhibition of Photos taken during 2020 Covid Lockdown in Cambridge

This digital exhibition is a collection of photos taken during the summer of 2020. It commemorates Cambridge during the first lockdown. This unique period of contemporary history involved the closure of businesses and the encouragement of the public to stay home in an attempt to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The lockdown restrictions came into effect on 23rd March 2020. The busy streets of Cambridge were suddenly empty. Local shops had to place closure notices in their windows. Even local hubs like the marketplace were devoid of life. Click on the images below and explore these everyday sites during an extraordinary time.

A brick wall with a Botanic Garden information board sits beside closed wrought-iron gates in front of a small gatehouse.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A stone-paved path leads to closed black iron gates beside a brick wall with an information board and a blue plaque.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A deserted road stretches into the distance, flanked by lush green trees, a wooden fence, and a patch of purple flowers.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A narrow stream flows past a grassy bank and black metal railings beside a paved walkway, with mature green trees in the background.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A black metal footbridge crosses a narrow waterway toward a brick house surrounded by trees on a sunny, quiet day.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A quiet, empty road with white road markings winds past a tall wooden fence and leafy trees under a clear blue sky.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
The stone Hobson’s Conduit monument stands in a grassy enclosure fenced by white railings, with houses in the background.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
Empty street in Cambridge lined with trees, brick buildings, and a red telephone box under a clear blue sky.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
An empty Cambridge street scene with a red van, stone church tower, and the white building of the Loch Fyne restaurant.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A white building alongside the River Cam features ground-level arches boarded up with plywood, with a modern office block nearby.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
The River Cam flows past green trees, a stone bridge, and a set of empty wooden punts moored near the grassy riverbank.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A wooden bridge with a geometric lattice structure arches over the River Cam, flanked by green trees and brick college walls.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
Two people walk along the sidewalk of a narrow, quiet street lined with tall, historic brick buildings in bright daylight.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
An empty, sunny street lined by historic brick university buildings, parked bicycles, and a metal fence under a clear sky.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
Green and blue fabric bundles lie on the concrete floor next to a brick wall with faded smiley face graffiti on the base.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A deserted college courtyard features stone buildings, a reflective pool, potted tree ferns, and empty wooden patio furniture.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
Wooden chairs stand on a wooden platform in a courtyard, framed by two concrete pillars, with a potted tree in the distance.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
Empty wooden chairs and tables under a concrete colonnade overlooking a quiet, stone-paved courtyard with ferns in planters.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
An empty Trumpington Street in Cambridge with stone buildings, bollards, a lone runner in the distance, and bright sunshine.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
An empty Cambridge street flanked by King’s College Chapel, a green lawn, and historic brick buildings under a clear blue sky.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A white van parked outside The Eagle pub on a quiet, sunny street with cream-coloured stone buildings under a clear blue sky.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A quiet, empty street in Cambridge with sunlight hitting the stone and white facades of closed shops, including Aromi.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
Empty market stalls with striped yellow, green, and white awnings stand over deserted wooden tables on a cobbled square.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A Market Street storefront with a signage for Smart Phones, featuring window stickers and signs indicating closed premises.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A view down an empty Cambridge street lined with shops, including Monsoon, with a few pedestrians walking along the pavement.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A deserted, narrow cobblestone street in Cambridge lined with brick storefronts and hanging shop signs under a clear blue sky.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
An empty cobblestone street in Cambridge lined with traditional multi-story brick buildings under a clear blue sky.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
Empty paved street beside the stone wall of a large gothic-style building with high windows, surrounded by trees and bollards.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
The circular stone structure of the Round Church in Cambridge stands behind a brick wall, with a red sign to the right.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
The storefront of Catherine Jones of Cambridge with jewelry displays in the window and a stone-paved sidewalk in the foreground.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A deserted street in Cambridge with the Artique Galleries shop on the corner and two pedestrians and a cyclist on the road.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
An empty street corner in Cambridge with a tall brick wall, a red telephone kiosk, and a large tree under a clear blue sky.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
The street-level facade of Primo Cycles shop with a vacant display window containing a few boxes and bicycle wheels on racks.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
Empty street lined with white buildings, a theatre, and bicycle racks under a clear blue sky on a bright, sunny day.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A central modern building with a glass tower and brick facade labeled West Court flanked by older stone and contemporary structures.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
An empty street lined by brick terraced houses with prominent chimneys, featuring no-entry road signs and a distant tower.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
An empty Cambridge street under a clear blue sky, lined with buildings and bike racks on the right, during the day.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
Brown paper sheets cover the windows of the Robert Graham 1874 shop, with notices taped to the center of the display panels.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A sunlit street scene features a white-tiled building with a central entrance beside a brick facade, bicycles parked in front.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
Stone facade with dark red wooden double doors flanked by large display windows marked BOOKS and CAFÉ above stacks of boxes.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A tall grey brick building on a corner features a stone lion sculpture on the wall and large windows with small iron balconies.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A sign taped to a streaky, white-smeared shop window reads Closed Until Further Notice above a note about no cash on site.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A white paper with a hand-drawn, multi-coloured rainbow and the word hope followed by a heart displayed in a window pane.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A red NHS notice in a wire-mesh window warns against entering the pharmacy with coronavirus symptoms, including abuse policies.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A brick street corner features a G. Peck & Son chemist sign above a door displaying red Covid-19 health information posters.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
White-walled Loch Fyne restaurant building with its ground-floor windows boarded up with plywood sheets on a sunny day.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A brick building wall features a protruding bay window, white-framed rectangular windows, and a blocked-off doorway on a street.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
The Anchor pub in Cambridge features board-covered doors and windows, with stacked chairs beside an empty river landing stage.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
Plywood boards cover several windows and a doorway on the white-painted, weatherboarded side of a brick building in an alley.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
The Anchor pub with all its windows and doors boarded up with plywood sheets against a bright blue sky on a city street.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
The Mathematical Bridge spans a quiet river, flanked by a modern building and historic brick college architecture under blue skies.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A narrow street between a dark blue cafe front and The Anchor pub, with several large orange wheelie bins lining the alley.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A notice attached to black metal railings announces the closure of St Bene't's Church, with its stone entrance visible behind.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A white sheet of paper taped to a window displays the hand-drawn, multicolored message thank you NHS decorated with hearts.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A grey storefront for Cambridge Contemporary Crafts on a quiet, sunlit street with paper signs posted on the window panes.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A line drawing on paper attached to a window shows a colorful rainbow over houses with the text Bright Hope For Tomorrow.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A white sign taped to a window reads Stay Safe, Drink Good Beer, See You On The Other Side, signed Love, BrewDog Cambridge.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
Empty market stalls with striped awnings stand in an expansive, deserted town square surrounded by historic stone buildings.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
The shopfront of a closed Cath Kids store with reflections of buildings and market stalls visible in the glass display windows.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
Empty market stalls with striped canopies sit in deep shadow next to a large red structure on a deserted Cambridge street.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A quiet, empty stone-paved street in Cambridge lined with closed shop fronts, brick buildings, and hanging business signs.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A printed notice taped to a shop window stating that the store is only offering phone repairs during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A sign taped to a glass door informs customers that the WHSmith store is temporarily closed and directs them to the website.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A printed sign in a shop window states that Ryman is closed until further notice, with their website address below the text.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
The dark-fronted shop David Clulow Opticians has large empty display shelves behind its glass windows on a quiet street.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
The empty Ecco shop at Montagu House on a Cambridge street, with white paper covering the windows and a lease sign above.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
The storefront of Sundaes shoe shop in Cambridge with We are CLOSED signs displayed in the large display windows.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
The storefront of Open Air Footwear features empty display cases in the window while a pedestrian walks past on the street.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A white-framed sign in a turquoise shop window displays handwritten text about hair styling, with a reflection of a person.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A Space NK store closure notice is taped to a glass shop window, with blurred brick buildings visible in the reflection.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A printed notice in a plastic sleeve, mounted on a red sign, advertising virtual chapel services via a St John's College link.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A drawing of a rainbow and a smiling sun with the words Stay Home and Stay Happy taped inside a window with metal bars.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A sign on a glass window reads Thank You! over a rainbow and the letters NHS, with & Key Workers written below.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
Jewellery display window with light blue and bright orange necklace stands, shop bags, and reflections of the street opposite.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
Shop front of Robert Graham 1874 with windows covered in brown paper, bearing gold lettering for whisky and cigars, in 2020.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A printed sign from HM Courts and Tribunals Service instructing people to stay 2 metres apart, displayed behind glass.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A printed notice attached to metal bars by plastic ties announcing the closure of the Grand Arcade due to COVID-19.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A metal security gate blocks the Grand Arcade shopping centre entrance, with a white notice about Covid closure attached to it.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A sign on a glass window reads Your place, not ours, with a Nando’s delivery graphic and a reflection of the photographer.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A printed sign on a glass door states that Wagamama is closed, featuring a monochrome photo of food and star decorations.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
A shop window with the text 24 HOUR CLUB, containing wooden shelving units with white shelves and a few items on top.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
Shopfronts for Noodle Republic and Jiamart on a brick building with windows covered by wooden boards during the 2020 lockdown.
Cambridge (RGL2020)
Window glass painted with messages like We'll be back soon and stay safe over inverted chairs and empty cushioned seats.
Cambridge (RGL2020)

 

If you have any memories or photographs of Cambridgeshire during the lockdowns and wish to share these with Capturing Cambridge, be sure to visit our ‘Contact Us’ page.

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