Hobson's Conduit Monument, Cambridge

In the late 1500s, Cambridge was affected by the plague and other fatal infections. These were thought to be caused by ‘bad air’ resulting from the sewage contaminated water in the river and local ditches.

The Nine Wells Springs were a source of clean water. The authorities from Cambridge Town and University collaborated with the Lord of the Manor in Trumpington to create a ‘new river’ to divert some of this fresh water into Cambridge.

In 1631, Thomas Hobson, whose income came from transporting goods to and from London, bequeathed land to fund and maintain this public water supply – hence the association with his name. Hobson’s Conduit Trust is now a registered charity, that was established to have rights over the stream and to maintain it in good order for the town and the University.

(hobsonsconduittrust.org/)

Is also called Hobson's Brook, and is a watercourse that was built from 1610 to 1614 by Thomas Hobson and others to bring fresh water into the city of Cambridge, England from springs at Nine Wells,

The monument to Hobson is the former fountain, which was built on the market after the introduction of the new water pipeline. “The new river”, as this water canal was called, can still be seen today. On the way out of town, about from the Botanical Gardens, there is also a beautiful footpath along the canal.