University College, Oxford

History

A legend arose in the 14th century that the college was founded by King Alfred in 872. This explains why the college arms are those attributed to King Alfred, why the Visitor is always the reigning monarch, and why the college celebrated its millennium in 1872. Most agree, however, that the college was founded in 1249 by William of Durham. He bequeathed money to support ten or twelve masters of arts studying divinity; a property that became known as Aula Universitatis (University Hall) was bought in 1253. This later date still allows the claim that Univ is the oldest of the Oxford colleges, although this is contested by Balliol College and Merton College.

The college acquired four properties on its current site south of the High Street in 1332 and 1336 and built a quadrangle in the 15th century. As it grew in size and wealth, its medieval buildings were replaced with the current Main Quadrangle in the 17th century. Although the foundation stone was placed on 17 April 1634, the disruption of the English Civil War meant it was not completed until sometime in 1676.

Like many of Oxford's colleges, University College accepted its first mixed-sex cohort in 1979, having previously been an institution for men only.

Buildings

The main entrance to the college is on the High Street and its grounds are bounded by Merton Street and Magpie Lane. The college is divided by Logic Lane, which is owned by the college and runs through the centre. The western side of the college is occupied by the library, the hall, the chapel and the two quadrangles which house both student accommodation and college offices. The eastern side of the college is mainly devoted to student accommodation in rooms above the High Street shops, on Merton Street or in the separate Goodhart Building. This building is named after former master of the college, Arthur Lehman Goodhart.

A specially constructed building in the college, the Shelley Memorial, houses a statue by Edward Onslow Ford of the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley – a former member of the college, who was sent down for writing The Necessity of Atheism (1811), along with his friend T. J. Hogg. Shelley is depicted lying dead on the Italian seashore.

The college annexe on Staverton Road in North Oxford houses undergraduate students during their second year and some graduate students.

The college also owns the University College Boathouse (completed in 2007 and designed by Belsize architects) and a sports ground, which is located nearby on Abingdon Road.

The college is also known for hosting one of the only two remaining statues in the United Kingdom of King James II and VII of Scotland, on the south side of the western gateway of the college.

Student life

Univ Alternative Prospectus

The Alternative Prospectus is written and produced by current students for prospective applicants. The publication was awarded a HELOA Innovation and Best Practice Award in 2011. The Univ Alternative Prospectus offers student written advice and guidance to potential Oxford applicants. The award recognises the engagement of the college community, unique newspaper format, forward-thinking use of social media and the collaborative working between staff and students.

Grace

University has the longest grace of any Oxford (and perhaps Cambridge) college. It is read before every Formal Hall, which is held on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. The reading is performed by a Scholar of the college and whoever is sitting at the head of High Table (typically the Master, or the most senior Fellow at the table if the Master is not dining).

Original version

SCHOLAR – Benedictus sit Deus in donis suis. RESPONSE – Et sanctus in omnibus operibus suis. SCHOLAR – Adiutorium nostrum in Nomine Domini. RESPONSE – Qui fecit coelum et terram. SCHOLAR – Sit Nomen Domini benedictum. RESPONSE – Ab hoc tempore usque in saecula. SCHOLAR – Domine Deus, Resurrectio et Vita credentium, Qui semper es laudandus tam in viventibus quam in defunctis, gratias Tibi agimus pro omnibus Fundatoribus caeterisque Benefactoribus nostris, quorum beneficiis hic ad pietatem et ad studia literarum alimur: Te rogantes ut nos, hisce Tuis donis ad Tuam gloriam recte utentes, una cum iis ad vitam immortalem perducamur. Per Jesum Christum Dominum nostrum. RESPONSE - Amen. SCHOLAR — Deus det vivis gratiam, defunctis requiem: Ecclesiae, Regi, Regnoque nostro, pacem et concordiam: et nobis peccatoribus vitam aeternam. RESPONSE - Amen.

English translation

SCHOLAR — Let God be blessed in his gifts. RESPONSE — And holy in all his works. SCHOLAR — Our help is in the Name of the Lord. RESPONSE — Who has made heaven and earth. SCHOLAR — * May the Name of the Lord be blessed.* RESPONSE — From this time for evermore. SCHOLAR — Lord God, the resurrection and the life of them that believe, who are always to be praised both among the living and among the dead, we give You thanks for all our founders and other benefactors, by whose gifts we are nourished here for piety and the study of letters; asking You that we, using these Your gifts rightly to Your glory, may be led together with them into eternal life. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. RESPONSE — Amen. SCHOLAR — May God grant to the living grace, and to the dead rest; to the Church, the King, and our realm, peace and concord; and to us sinners everlasting life. RESPONSE — Amen.

People associated with the college

Main article: List of alumni of University College, Oxford, List of Masters of University College, Oxford}}{{further, Category:Fellows of University College, Oxford, List of Honorary Fellows of University College, Oxford

Government and politics

File:Clement Attlee.png|Clement Attlee, former prime minister of the United Kingdom File:Harold Wilson (1967).jpg|Harold Wilson, former prime minister of the United Kingdom File:Hawke Bob BANNER.jpg|Bob Hawke, former prime minister of Australia File:Bill Clinton.jpg|Bill Clinton, former president of the United States of America (did not graduate) File:Festus Mogae 2009-06-23.jpg|Festus Mogae, former president of Botswana File:Edgar Algernon Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 1st Viscount Cecil of Chelwood by Sir William Orpen.jpg|The Viscount Cecil of Chelwood, politician and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize File:Robert Reich.jpg|Robert Reich, economic advisor, former U.S. secretary of labor, and author File:Kofi Busia - John Agyekum Kufuor and photo of Kofi Busia (cropped).jpg|Kofi Abrefa Busia, former prime minister of Ghana File:Official_portrait_of_Roz_Savage_MP_crop_2.jpg |Roz Savage, politician and ocean rower

Literature and arts

File:Percy Bysshe Shelley by Alfred Clint crop.jpg|Percy Bysshe Shelley, Romantic poet File:George Abbot from NPG.jpg|George Abbot, former archbishop of Canterbury File:Statue of C.S. Lewis, Belfast.jpg|C. S. Lewis, author of the Chronicles of Narnia File:Dornford Yates (Cecil William Mercer) by George Charles Beresford (1909).jpg|Cecil William Mercer, novelist File:Andrew Motion, April 2009.jpg|Andrew Motion, former Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom File:Christina Lamb at the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Conference in London - 2022 (52536512318) (cropped).jpg|Christina Lamb, journalist and author File:Sir Max Hugh Macdonald Hastings.jpg|Max Hastings, historian and journalist File:Nick Robinson.jpg|Nick Robinson, journalist File: SophieSolomon.jpg|Sophie Solomon, violinist, songwriter and composer File: Rf_kuang_2023_1.jpg|R.F. Kuang, novelist

Science and innovation

File:Stephen Hawking.StarChild.jpg|Stephen Hawking, theoretical physicist and cosmologist File:Portrait of Sir William Jones (4671559) (cropped).jpg|William Jones, philologist File:Dr. John Radcliffe Wellcome L0002868EA.jpg|John Radcliffe, physician and academic File:Prof. Dr. Rudolph A. Marcus (cropped).jpg|Rudolph A. Marcus, Nobel Prize-winning chemist File:Pavan_Sukhdev_(10186874696)_(cropped).jpg|Pavan Sukhdev, environmental economist

Other connections

Although not members of University College, the scientists Robert Boyle (sometimes described as the "first modern chemist") and his assistant (Robert Hooke, architect, biologist, discoverer of cells) lived in Deep Hall (then owned by Christ Church and now the site of the Shelley Memorial). The former made a contribution to the completion of University College's current Hall in the mid-17th century.

Samuel Johnson (author of A Dictionary of the English Language and a member of Pembroke College) was a frequent visitor to the Senior Common Room at University College during the 18th century.

William Beveridge (social reformer and author of the Beveridge Report) was Master of the college from 1937-1945.

One of Dame Maggie Smith's earliest performances was a 1953 production of He Who Gets Slapped produced by the college's dramatic society, the University College Players.

Publications

The college produces a number of regular publications for college members.

''University College Record''

The University College Record is the annual magazine sent to alumni of the college each autumn. The magazine provides college news on clubs and societies such as the University College Players and the Devas Club, as well as academic performance and prizes. News about and obituaries of former students are included at the end of each issue.

Editors have included Peter Bayley and Leslie Mitchell.

''The Martlet''

The Martlet is a magazine for members and friends of the college, available in print and online.

Gallery

File:University_College_front_to_the_High_Street_Oxford.jpg|University College, on the south side of the High Street. File:University_College,_Oxford;_aerial_view_with_key_and_scale._Wellcome_V0014175.jpg|University College, Oxford: aerial view with key and scale. File:UK-2014-Oxford-University College 02 (Shelley Memorial).jpg|The Shelley Memorial at University College, Oxford. File:University_College_Chapel,_Oxford,UK-_Diliff.jpg|The interior of the chapel of University College, Oxford. File:University_College,_Oxford;_the_library._Line_engraving_by_J_Wellcome_V0014178.jpg|University College, Oxford: the library. Line engraving by J.H. Le Keux, 1861, after himself. File:University_College_Oxford02.jpg|The Main Quad of University College Oxford. File:University_College_Oxford_Boat_Club_Boathouse.JPG|The Boathouse for the University College Oxford Boat Club. File:Dr_Bowen%27s_Room,_University_College,_Oxford.JPG|Dr Bowen's Room, University College, Oxford. File:University_College_Oxford_Logic_Lane.jpg|A view of Logic Lane toward the High Street from within University College, Oxford.

References

References

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