Brasenose College, Oxford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brasenose College |
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The main gate of Brasenose College,
with the Radcliffe Camera behind |
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Blazon: see below
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| University | Oxford | |||||
| Location | Radcliffe Square, Oxford OX1 4AJ | |||||
| Coordinates | 51°45′12″N 1°15′17″W / 51.753206°N 1.254731°W | |||||
| Full name | The Principal and Scholars of the King's Hall and College of Brasenose in Oxford | |||||
| Latin name | Aula regia et collegium aenei nasi | |||||
| Established | 1509 | |||||
| Named after | Bronze door knocker | |||||
| Previous names | Brazen Nose College | |||||
| Sister college | Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge | |||||
| Principal | John Bowers | |||||
| Undergraduates | 375 (2021) | |||||
| Postgraduates | 235 (2021) | |||||
| Boat club | Brasenose College Boat Club | |||||
| Map | ||||||
 Location in Oxford city centre
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Brasenose College (often called BNC) is one of the colleges that make up the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It started as a hall in the 1200s. It became a full college in 1509. Over the years, new parts like the library and chapel were added.
Brasenose is known for its strong academic performance. In 2020–21, it ranked 4th in the Norrington Table. This table measures how well students do in their exams. A survey showed that 98% of students were happy with their experience. Also, about 80% of UK students joining the college come from state schools.
The college is also home to one of the oldest rowing clubs in the world. It is called the Brasenose College Boat Club.
Contents
History of Brasenose College
How Brasenose College Started
Brasenose College began its journey in 1509. It was built on the site of an older student hall called Brasenose Hall. This hall was first mentioned way back in 1279. The college's name likely comes from a brass or bronze door knocker. This knocker was shaped like a nose and was on the hall's door.
The college had strong ties to the areas of Lancashire and Cheshire. This was because its two founders, Sir Richard Sutton and William Smyth, the Bishop of Lincoln, were from there. This connection lasted for a long time. The early leaders of Brasenose helped the college through big religious changes, like the Reformation.
During the English Civil War, most people at Brasenose supported the King (Royalists). However, the college also produced important leaders on both sides of the conflict. The library and chapel were finished in the mid-1600s. This happened even though the college often faced money problems.
Brasenose in the 1800s
After 1785, Brasenose College grew and became more successful. More wealthy students joined, and the college's income doubled between 1790 and 1810. It also did very well in academics. New buildings were added, including the New Quad, which was finished between 1886 and 1911.
For a while, Brasenose focused more on sports, especially cricket and rowing, than on academics. But things changed. In 1889, Charles Heberden became the principal. He was the first leader who was not a religious person. Under him, the college became more open. The library was opened to all students, and an entrance exam was introduced. The college also started accepting Rhodes scholars.
Brasenose in the Early 1900s
The First World War had a big impact on Brasenose. The college lost 115 men, and the number of students dropped a lot. After the war, reforms helped the college recover.
Between the two World Wars, William Stallybrass was a very important figure at the college. He was a fellow and later the principal. During this time, Brasenose again produced many top sportsmen. However, this came at the cost of lower academic standards and money problems.
After the Second World War, sports achievements were less common. Academic success also did not improve much. Brasenose had become one of Oxford's largest colleges.
Brasenose Since 1970
The 1970s brought big changes to Brasenose. More students studying for advanced degrees joined. In 1974, Brasenose became one of the first men's colleges to welcome women as full members. This ended 470 years of being a college only for men. Other colleges like Jesus, Hertford, St Catherine's, and Wadham also started admitting women that year.
A lot of building work also took place. The goal was to make sure all undergraduate students could live in college buildings for their entire degree. This was finally achieved in 1997. Brasenose is now in a strong position, doing well in finances, activities, and academics.
Today, Brasenose offers most major courses to students. These include subjects in science, humanities, social science, and arts.
Brasenose College Location and Buildings
Brasenose College is in the heart of Oxford. It faces the Radcliffe Camera in Radcliffe Square. To its north is Brasenose Lane, and to the south is the High Street. Lincoln College is to its west. The main entrance is on Radcliffe Square.
Brasenose has a special connection with Lincoln College. On Ascension Day each year, a connecting door between the two colleges is opened for just five minutes. Brasenose students can then enter Lincoln College and are given a special ale.
The main college site has three main courtyards, called "quads." There's the original Old Quad, a smaller one called the Deer Park, and the large New Quad. The college also has smaller houses facing Radcliffe Square and the High Street. The original buildings were a two-story quad. In the 1600s, a third floor was added to create the current Old Quad.
A separate chapel was built to the south. It was connected to the quad by a library built over a cloister. This cloister was once a burial ground for the college. In the early 1800s, the cloister was filled in to create rooms. These rooms were used for students or offices. Later, they became the graduate common room. Now, this area is used for library overflow or teaching.
The nickname "Deer Park" for the Chapel Quad is a friendly joke. It refers to Magdalen College, which has a real deer park.
Dining Hall at Brasenose
In the 1500s, the dining hall was heated by an open fire in the middle of the room. In the 1680s, the hall was updated. It got a raised floor for a wine cellar below and a new roof. More changes in the mid-1700s included a new fireplace and ceiling. The famous "brazen nose" knocker was placed above the high table in 1890.
Chapel and Library
Building the current chapel started in 1656. It replaced an older chapel. Materials for the new chapel came from a disused chapel at St Mary's College. They were moved piece by piece to Brasenose. The chapel is a mix of Gothic and Baroque styles. It has a unique hanging ceiling made of wood and plaster. It was officially opened in 1666. The inside of the chapel has fittings from the 1700s and 1800s. These include chandeliers that were given to the college in 1749.
The chapel has been changed several times. The inside was renovated in 1819, and the outside starting in 1841. A new organ was installed in 1892–93. The current organ was put in in 1973 and rebuilt in 2001–02.
The current library building began in 1658. It received its first books in 1664. Before this, there was a smaller library. For over a hundred years, the books in the new library were held by chains. These chains were removed in the 1780s.
In May 2018, author Philip Pullman opened the newly renovated Greenland Library. This £4 million project created a much better study space for students. The library was funded by three former students. It won an award for its conservation work in 2019.
New Quad and Other Buildings
The New Quad was designed by TG Jackson and finished in 1911. It replaced older buildings. The college site was completed in 1961 with new buildings. These are mostly used for first-year students to live in.
From 2010 to 2012, a big project updated the kitchens, dining hall, and other areas. This included new heating and a new floor in the dining hall. It also added new kitchen equipment and more dining spaces. During this work, a temporary dining hall was set up in the Old Quad.
The dining hall was finished by September 2010. The rest of the work was done by Easter 2012. A restored 15th-century building, once the college kitchens, became a new dining space. It is now known as the Mediaeval Kitchen. The temporary kitchen was removed, and the quads returned to normal.
Recently, the Junior Common Room (JCR) and Bar have also been updated.
Student Accommodation Annexes
Brasenose College has a large student housing area called the Frewin Annexe. It is on St Michael's Street. This area was developed from Frewin Hall in the 1940s. Frewin Hall had previously housed famous people, including King Edward VII.
Second, third, and fourth-year students often live in rooms at Frewin. A recent building project there found some amazing old things. These included a 4,000-year-old burial mound, old walls, animal bones, and medieval coins.
There is also a graduate annexe shared with St Cross College. It was finished in 1995. This annexe has groups of five rooms that share bathrooms and a kitchen. Another graduate annexe, Hollybush Row, opened in 2008. It is close to the train station. It has single rooms with private bathrooms and shared kitchens.
Brasenose College Traditions
Brasenose College Coat of Arms
Brasenose College has a very detailed coat of arms. It combines the personal symbols of its founders and the symbols of the See of Lincoln.
Because the coat of arms is so complex, a simpler symbol is often used. This is the "brazen nose" itself. You might see it on things like the college tie instead of the full coat of arms.
Student Life at Brasenose
The Junior Common Room (JCR) is a very important part of student life for undergraduates. It offers social events, fun activities, and support for students. An elected committee helps with many parts of student life. They also talk with the college leaders and graduate student representatives.
Unlike most Oxford colleges, the common room for graduate students is called the Hulme Common Room (HCR). It is named after a past helper of the college.
The college also puts on an annual summer arts festival. It is one of the biggest at the university. It started in 1994. The festival includes plays, comedy shows, music, and a baking contest. In 2016, the 22nd festival had six days of outdoor plays, concerts, and an outdoor movie night. In 2015, Brasenose celebrated 40 years of women being admitted to the college. They had an exhibition of portraits of female former students. In 2017, students held their first "Frewchella" festival. This was named after the Coachella festival and the college's Frewin Annexe. It had food, music, and a bouncy castle.
Music at Brasenose
Brasenose College has a director of music. This person leads the chapel choir. They also help organize many concerts, usually every week. Some are professional concerts. Others show off talented soloists or groups from the college. The college offers music scholarships to students.
Brasenose College has a choir that anyone can join. However, they also offer scholarships for singers. The choir sings every Sunday. They also perform at special services and events. The choir often goes on tour to other countries. They also sing at cathedrals near Oxford during term time.
In 2010 and 2011, the college held an event called "Wondrous Machine." Local primary school children came to Brasenose. They learned about the pipe organ and the science behind how it works.
Sports at Brasenose
Brasenose students enjoy many different sports. These include football, netball, hockey, lacrosse, basketball, badminton, squash, rugby, and more. Students play at all levels, from casual games to serious competitions. Joining sports is completely optional. It does not affect whether you get into the college.
The Brasenose College Boat Club (BNCBC) is the college's rowing club. It is thought to be one of the oldest boat clubs in the world. A boat from Brasenose took part in the first recorded race between rowing clubs anywhere. This was in Oxford in 1815, where they beat Jesus College Boat Club. Many college members have rowed for the university against Cambridge University in the famous Boat Race.
The college boathouse is shared with Exeter College Boat Club. It is located in Christ Church Meadow, on the River Thames (which is called the Isis in Oxford). The Brasenose College Rugby Football Club (BNCRFC) has a connection to William Webb Ellis. He is often said to have invented the game of rugby and studied at Brasenose.
Famous People from Brasenose College
Many famous people have studied at Brasenose College. These include politicians, scientists, writers, entertainers, and academics.
Some well-known former students alive today include:
- David Cameron, a former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
- Malcolm Turnbull, a former Prime Minister of Australia.
- Actors and comedians like Mark Williams and Michael Palin.
- Jessie Burton, author of The Miniaturist.
- Duncan Campbell, a journalist and co-founder of the charity Stonewall.
- Dominic Barton, former head of McKinsey and Canadian ambassador to China.
- J. Michael Kosterlitz, who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2016.
- Kate Allen, director of Amnesty International UK.
- George Monbiot, an environmental activist.
Earlier famous former students include:
- Henry Addington, another Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
- Elias Ashmole, who started the Ashmolean Museum.
- John Buchan, author of The Thirty-Nine Steps.
- William Webb Ellis, often credited with inventing Rugby football.
- William Golding, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature.
- John Gorton, a Prime Minister of Australia.
- Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig, a famous soldier.
- Robert Runcie, a former Archbishop of Canterbury.
See also
In Spanish: Brasenose College para niños
- Brasenose College Boat Club
- Brasenose Lane
- Radcliffe Square
