Cambridge Research - Sheep's Green

Sheep's Green at Cambridge

University of Cambridge Research;

Statements by Gwen Raverat - 1952 (Period Piece)

In the area around the University of Cambridge, England, there lies a bucolic semi-rural meadowland known as Coe Fen. On its western border is the Cam River, and on the opposite banks are the flat meadows known as Sheep's Green. During the mid 19th century, Sheep's Green became immensely popular for swimming by men and women. In 1877, a local resident, John Hodson, built Hodson's Folly, a structure that could allow him the ability to monitor his fishery while also keeping a watchful eye on his daughters as they swam in the river. Mixed-gender swimming occurred in the 19th century, but only the stronger female swimmers were allowed to join the men in the deeper waters. However, in 1896, the genders were separated when the city authorities built female-only bathing sheds in a more secluded spot across from Hodson's Folly. Gender separation then continued throughout the town's swimming areas until after WWII, and it wasn't until 1966 that mixed-gender swimming areas were once again popular.

As evidenced by the many other reports and articles on this website, prior to 1896, mixed-gender swimming was not uncommon at Sheep's Green. As this Cambridge Research piece indicates "While women bathed in voluminous costumes, before the 20^th century it was usual for men and boys to swim naked." As Gwen Raverat (grand-daughter of Charles Darwin) described in Period Piece, her account of a Cambridge childhood in the 1890s: “All summer, Sheep’s Green and Coe Fen were pink with boys, as naked as God made them; for bathing drawers did not exist then: or at least, not on Sheep’s Green.”

Ms. Raverat obviously experienced first hand walking about the shores of Sheep's Green and Coe Fen as stark naked men and boys enjoyed bathing in the waters all about her. As discussed above in the Research paper, Hodson's own daughters no doubt swam and played in the waters in their "voluminous costumes" while their male play mates were all "naked as God made them". This should not be surprising, given the many photos presented on other pages of this site evidencing the presence of clothed girls playing with naked boys in waters at the seaside, rivers, and, famous places such as Trafalgar Square. But what is more interesting here is the statements that men too enjoyed these same popular banks, also always nude.

The Cambridge Report can be read here: Going With The Slow Flow