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St John's College New Bridge, better known as the Bridge of Sighs, connects Third Court and New Court of the College. Best viewed from St John's Old Bridge, it is one of Cambridge's more popular tourist icons. Unlike its namesake in Venice, the barred Gothic windows are designed to prevent students entering at night, rather than to prevent escape. It was designed by Henry Hutchinson in 1827, and presumably built in 1831 along with New Court. Together with Rickman, Hutchinson was also repsonsible for the design of New Court.
Note that the centre of the gateway from Third Court is not precisely aligned with the bridge. The building of the bridge required remodelling of part of the court's West range.
1709 St John's College Old Bridge Also known as Kitchen Bridge, or simply as John's Bridge, it lies just South-West of Third Court. In 1697, Sir Christopher Wren wrote a letter suggesting a new bridge across the river, in axis with the centre of Third Court and the 2 earlier courts. Hawksmoor added his support in two letters of 1698, which was not surprising considering his plans for a grand Baroque redevelopment of the whole of Cambridge.
In the end, a compromise solution was implemented. The design of the bridge was based on Wren's suggestion, but it was built in the location of an earlier bridge, in continuation of a lane between St John's and Trinity College. The mason was Robert Grumbold, and it was built between 1709 and 1712.
Cambridge had to wait over another century for a bridge in Wren's suggested position, and when it arrived it was in the Gothic style: the Bridge of Sighs.
The Cambridge Award Act of 1856 was the result of several committees and it abolished a number of privileges, such as the compulsory oath for the town officials to protect the University's privileges and the power of the VC to licence public houses (but retaining the power to licence College bars, wine selling and entertainment). Responsibility for weights & measures went to the town magistrates. The VC's right to try all non-felony cases involving University members was also abolished. Most University property became assessable for rates. The VC retained the power to prohibit entertainments, except during the Long Vacation. The Council of the Senate replaced the old Caput. Fellows might marry. Professors were required to be resident.
The University became entitled to 6 members on the Borough council, out of 36, by the Local Government Act of 1889, which included yet another clause protecting the ancient rights of the University. However the University and Colleges, having charitable status, now had to pay 50% rates (100% from 1968). Representation ended in 1974.
After a series of widely-reported cases involving the Vice-Chancellor imprisoning alleged prostitutes in the Spinning House and subsequent legal proceedings, the University decided to cooperate in promoting an Act in 1894 abolishing the VC's powers over sentencing prostitutes (but not for arresting them) and in licencing entertainment.
Proctors still have the right to enter pubs and places of entertainment and the V-C still licences College & University bars, though that right is due for abolition under the 2000 White Paper on licensing reform.