Great British Cities with Susan Calman S01E03 - Cambridge

Susan explores Cambridge, starting with a punt down the river Cam with history buff Henry Rintoul who reveals the origins of the waterways and the story behind one man's plan to repurpose it when livelihoods were threatened.

Susan heads to the Botanic Garden to meet Head of Horticulture Sally Petitt and delves into the story of John Stevens Henslow who transformed a 'Physic Garden' into a place that would inspire one of his proteges, Charles Darwin, to change our understanding of the natural world forever.

Next, Susan heads to Fitzbillies, an iconic Cambridge bakery that has fed the city's students and town folk for over 100 years. Alison Wright reveals the story behind its creation and Susan enjoys a taste of authentic Cambridge history.

Re-energised, she heads to Coe Fen to meet farmer Mark Drew and find out more about a unique part of Cambridge life: the story of why a herd of free-roaming cows live in the city centre - a practise that dates back hundreds of years.

Susan catches up with sporting historian Nigel Fenner, who reveals the story of an unusual turf war between well-heeled students and townies, and how the most popular sport on the planet was created in Cambridge.

Susan then meets Shirley Franklin, the niece of Rosalind Franklin who was responsible for taking one of the most important photos of all time – an image revealing the true structure of DNA – but was then all but air-brushed from history by her rivals.

Finally, she delves into the story of the First Eastern General Hospital which, during the Great War, helped over 70,000 casualties and transformed medical practices. Susan meets Dr Sarah Baylis and discovers why the city's greatest contribution to the war effort was lost in time for decades.