h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The mathematical bridge isn't nasty. It's just bijou because the Cam's so narrow there, it's relatively undamaging if you fall face-down on it, and it's biodegradeable.

Oh, and the design pre-dates Newton so you're right insofar as that story is a myth.

Yours,
Disgruntled Latterly of Queens'

So what is the story? Bijou is right though - I do like the way it leads straight into a building.

14% of the stories you hear are 65% true... and all the rest might as well be told by Zaphod Beeblebrox. I don't know if anyone knows the truth.

I'd never even heard the WWII take on the dismantling - and I really can't see the argument for worrying about saving a fairly basic wooden bridge just 200 yards from King's College chapel!

I think the story of it being originally built without bolts is basically true, no reason why not, but I would guess that the bolts were introduced as a safety/strength measure when the first residence hall West of the Cam (Fisher) was built, especially as that corresponds to the Victorian era and they were so proud of their metalwork skills. Before that it would presumably have been a fellows' garden, and the bridge strolled across only infrequently.

Sorry to be dull about it. But the best fun to be had on the bridge is to wait for inexperienced punters leaving the Mill pond, and as they lift up their pole coming under the bridge, you grab it off them and run away as they drift helplessly. A bit childish, I suppose...

Is there an article on punt-pole fishing already? The story of Newton designing the bridge to fit together without bolts (hence the name mathematical) has made it into one or two UK travel guide books ... so it must be true! Maybe someone should ask the head porter at Queens, he was probably around when they put it up.