A brief history of the Pitt Building
October is a significant month for the Pitt Building. It is the month the foundation stone of the building was laid 193 years ago, and in 2024, October marks the 20th anniversary of the Pitt Building as a conference venue.
The Pitt Building was commissioned in honour of William Pitt the Younger, an undergraduate of Pembroke College in Cambridge, who, in 1783, became Britain’s youngest Prime Minister aged just 24. Edward Blore, official architect for Queen Victoria, was appointed as architect for the Pitt Building. The foundation stone was laid on 18th October 1831 and the building was completed and handed over to the University of Cambridge in 1833.
By the 1850s, Cambridge University Press was using steam-powered machine presses, employing up to 300 people. The Pitt Building housed the printing and publishing offices of the Press for over 100 years.
Even today, every book and journal published by the Press receives its official stamp of approval during the Syndicate meetings held in the stunning Oriel Room.
In 2004, the Pitt Building was renovated and repurposed to offer conference and meeting facilities. This October, we’re celebrating the Pitt Building’s 20th anniversary as a conference venue. To mark this milestone, we spoke to Kate, Sales Development Manager, and Heather, Deputy Head of Cambridge Retail and Corporate Hospitality, about changes over the years, environmental achievements, historic traditions and welcoming royalty and film stars through their doors...
What do you think the Pitt Building brings to the city?
"The building is steeped in the publishing and academic history of Cambridge. Until 1963, the business of the Press, including the printing of books, journals and Bibles, took place in the building and surrounding courtyard. It is an instantly recognisable, iconic landmark and is the flagship building of Cambridge University Press. Visitors to the city often come to our reception and ask to look round the ‘church’ or the ‘museum’ and are fascinated to learn of its true history.
"We are proud to maintain some publishing traditions including hosting Syndicate meetings.
"Many local people have a connection to the building through family members that have worked here in the past and visit us to see how the building has changed over the years. We therefore feel part of Cambridge and our local history. We have strong links to the University and offer a city centre venue for numerous academic departments and faculties and open our doors to the general public for an increasing number of exhibitions, festivals and fairs including the annual Cambridge Drawing Society Exhibition, Christmas fairs and book and clothing sales."
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