Exeter College, Oxford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Exeter College |
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Blazon: Argent, two bends nebuly sable (arms of Stapledon) within a bordure of the last charged with eight pairs of keys, addorsed and interlaced in the rings, the wards upwards, or.
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| University | University of Oxford | |||||||||||
| Location | Turl Street, Oxford OX1 3DP | |||||||||||
| Coordinates | 51°45′14″N 1°15′22″W / 51.753871°N 1.256046°W | |||||||||||
| Full name | The Rector and Scholars of Exeter College in the University of Oxford | |||||||||||
| Latin name | Collegium Exoniense | |||||||||||
| Motto | Latin: Floreat Exon (Let Exeter Flourish) | |||||||||||
| Established | 1314 | |||||||||||
| Named for | Walter de Stapledon, Bishop of Exeter | |||||||||||
| Previous names | Stapeldon Hall | |||||||||||
| Sister college | Emmanuel College, Cambridge | |||||||||||
| Rector | Sir Richard Trainor | |||||||||||
| Undergraduates | 375 (2021/2022) | |||||||||||
| Postgraduates | 275 (2021/2022) | |||||||||||
| Visiting students | 25 (2021/2022) | |||||||||||
| Fellows | 56 (2022/2023) | |||||||||||
| JCR | JCR | |||||||||||
| MCR | MCR | |||||||||||
| Boat club | Exeter College Boat Club | |||||||||||
| Map | ||||||||||||
 Location in Oxford city centre
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Exeter College is one of the oldest colleges at the University of Oxford in England. It is the fourth-oldest college in the university.
The college was started in 1314 by two brothers from Devon, Bishop Walter Stapledon and Sir Richard Stapledon. They wanted to create a school to train people for the church. Since 1315, the college has been located on Turl Street. When it first opened, Exeter College was popular with young men from wealthy families in Devon. Over time, many famous people have studied there, including writers like J. R. R. Tolkien and Philip Pullman, and athletes like Roger Bannister.
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History of Exeter College
Exeter College was founded in 1314 by Walter Stapledon, who was the Bishop of Exeter and a financial advisor to King Edward II. His brother, Sir Richard Stapledon, also helped. They wanted to create a place to educate future priests.
The college first used a building called Hart Hall (now Hertford College). In 1315, it moved to its current location on Turl Street. For its first 100 years, it was known as Stapledon Hall. It was much smaller back then, with only about 12 to 14 students. The college grew a lot from the 1400s onwards. It began offering rooms for students to live in. The college's motto is "Floreat Exon.", which means "Let Exeter Flourish."
In the 1500s, a man named Sir William Petre gave money to the college. This helped create eight special scholarships. His son, John Petre, 1st Baron Petre, also gave money. These gifts helped the college grow and become better.
Sir John Acland (who died in 1620) gave £800. This money helped build a new dining hall. He also set up two scholarships for students who needed financial help. To fill the new buildings, the college invited many noble Roman Catholic students to study there. However, they were not allowed to officially join the university. Because of these changes, Exeter College became one of the top colleges at Oxford.
In the 1700s, the college became less popular, just like other Oxford colleges. But in the 1850s, new university rules helped the college become strong again.
Women at Exeter College
For over 600 years, only men could study at Exeter College. But in 1979, Exeter was one of the first men's colleges to welcome female students. Today, about half of the students are women and half are men.
In 1993, Exeter College made history by choosing a woman, Marilyn Butler, to be its leader (called the rector). She was the first woman to lead a former all-male college. After she left in 2004, another woman, Frances Cairncross, became the rector.
In 2014, the famous author J. K. Rowling (who wrote the Harry Potter books) was made an honorary fellow of the college. This was to celebrate her amazing contribution to literature and helping children love reading.
Buildings of Exeter College
Exeter College has several beautiful buildings and areas.
Front Quadrangle
The Front Quadrangle is the main courtyard. It is built on the same spot as the original medieval college. The oldest part still standing is Palmer's Tower, built in 1432. This tower used to be the main entrance. Now, it has offices and rooms for teachers. It also has a memorial for students who died in the Second World War.
The most important building in the quadrangle is the chapel. It was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott and built between 1854 and 1860. It looks a lot like the famous Sainte-Chapelle in Paris. On the other side of the quadrangle is the hall, built in 1618. It has a beautiful vaulted ceiling and many portraits. The college bar is located underneath the hall. The Front Quadrangle got its current look in 1710. It also has common rooms for students and rooms for teachers and students.
Margary Quadrangle
The Margary Quadrangle was finished in 1964. The Thomas Wood building was built then to celebrate the college's 650th birthday. It was named after Ivan Margary, who paid for its repair. This quadrangle also includes the rector's house, built in 1857, and other student rooms from the 1800s.
Fellows' Garden
A path from the Front Quadrangle leads to the college's Fellows' Garden. The library is located here, also designed by Gilbert Scott. The garden is surrounded by other famous Oxford buildings like the Bodleian Library. At the end of the garden, there is a small hill called The Mound. From here, you can see Radcliffe Square, including All Souls' College and the Radcliffe Camera.
Cohen Quad
In 2007–2008, the college bought a large area on Walton Street. The buildings were rebuilt to create new student bedrooms, teaching rooms, and study areas. In 2017, the Cohen Quad was officially opened. It was named after the parents of Sir Ronald Cohen. This new area is the biggest expansion of the college since it was founded in the 1300s. The Cohen Quad has won awards for its design.
Exeter College in Books and Movies
Exeter College is the inspiration for the fictional Jordan College in Philip Pullman's book series His Dark Materials. The movie version of the first book, The Golden Compass (also known as Northern Lights), filmed some scenes at the college.
The last episode of the TV show Inspector Morse was filmed in the college chapel and the Front Quadrangle.
Student Life at Exeter College
Exeter College is known for having a very friendly and close-knit student community. First-year students live in rooms on the college's Turl Street site. There are also special apartments for graduate students on Iffley Road.
Because it is one of the oldest colleges, traditions are important. For example, every year there is a special dinner called Burns Night to honor the Scottish poet Robert Burns. A traditional Scottish meal called haggis is served. The college also has strong connections with Williams College in the United States. This means the annual Thanksgiving dinner is a popular event for students from many countries.
College Choir
Exeter College has a choir with both male and female voices. It has 24 singers. The choir is completely managed, led, and accompanied by the Organ Scholars (students who play the organ). It is the only college in Oxford or Cambridge where the choir, run by students, sings at three services each week. The choir has also been heard on BBC Radio 4. The college offers special scholarships for singers and organ players. Many former Organ Scholars have become famous musicians and directors of music.
Sports at Exeter College
Sports at Exeter College are mostly run by student clubs, not by the college itself. The college has sports grounds that students can reserve. As of October 2023, there are active student clubs for many sports. These include boating, netball, football, cricket, badminton, hockey, rugby, ice hockey, pool, darts, croquet, and lacrosse.
In March 2014, the Exeter College Association Football Club won the Cuppers tournament for the first time in over 40 years. They beat St Catherine's College 2–1 in the final. In May 2019, the Turl Street Rugby team, made up of students from Exeter, Jesus College, and Lincoln College, won Oxford's first women's rugby tournament.
Famous People from Exeter College
Former Students
Many famous people have studied at Exeter College. These include:
- Writers like J. R. R. Tolkien, Alan Bennett, Martin Amis, and Philip Pullman.
- Roger Bannister, the first person to run a mile in under four minutes.
- Actors Richard Burton and Imogen Stubbs.
- Important political leaders like Liaquat Ali Khan, the first prime minister of Pakistan; John Kufuor, a former President of Ghana; and Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, a former president of Peru.
Academics and Tutors
Exeter College has been home to many brilliant teachers and researchers over the years. These academics teach students and contribute to new discoveries in many different fields.
Rectors
The Rector is the head of Exeter College. In June 2023, Andrew Roe was announced as the next rector. He will start in October 2024.
Images for kids
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Exeter College's Broad Street view
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Exeter College Chapel
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The Fellows' Garden, looking toward Radcliffe Square
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Exeter College Dining Hall
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Exeter Recreation Ground buildings
In Spanish: Exeter College para niños
