Girton College, Cambridge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Girton College
Girton College during the 1890s
Arms of Girton College
University	University of Cambridge
Location	Huntingdon Road (map)
Abbreviation	G
Motto in English	Better is wisdom than weapons of war
Founders	Emily Davies Barbara Bodichon
Established	16 October 1869; 155 years ago (16 October 1869)
Named after	Girton village
Previous names	College for Women (until 1871)
Sister college	Somerville College, Oxford
Mistress	Elisabeth Kendall
Undergraduates	534 (2022–23)
Postgraduates	410 (2022–23)
Map
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Girton College is one of the many colleges that make up the famous University of Cambridge. It was started in 1869 by two amazing women, Emily Davies and Barbara Bodichon. It was the very first college in Cambridge just for women!

In 1948, it became a full college of the university. This was a big step, as it meant women were officially allowed to study at Cambridge. Later, in 1976, Girton was the first women's college in Cambridge to welcome both boys and girls.

The main college is located outside the village of Girton. It's about 2.5 miles (4 km) northwest of the university town. The college covers 33 acres (13 hectares) of land. Most of its buildings were built between 1872 and 1887. They are in a typical Victorian red-brick style.

Girton College has great sports facilities, including an indoor swimming pool. It also has an award-winning library and a chapel with two organs. There's also a newer building called Swirles Court. It opened in 2017 and offers rooms for over 300 students.

The college is known for welcoming many students from UK state schools. It has a strong community feel and is famous for its musical talent. Girton also holds several art collections. These include People's Portraits and an Egyptian collection. This Egyptian collection has the world's most famous portrait mummy.

Many famous people have studied at Girton. These include Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. Others are Lady Hale, a former UK Supreme Court President. Also, Arianna Huffington, who started HuffPost, and comedian Sandi Toksvig.

Girton's sister college is Somerville College at Oxford. Somerville was also one of the first Oxford colleges to admit women.

Girton College: A History of Firsts

The main gate of Girton College with the porter's lodge.

Pioneering Women's Education (1869-1976)

In the 1860s, people started to push for better education for women. Emily Davies and Barbara Bodichon were key figures in this movement. They wanted women to be able to go to university. They also wanted women to take the same exams as men at Oxford or Cambridge.

In 1862, Davies and Bodichon formed a committee. By 1865, 91 female students took the Cambridge Local Examination. This was a small step, as it didn't mean women could live at the university.

A watercolour painting of Girton by Alfred Waterhouse, the college's architect.

At that time, students could get a "Pass degree" or an "Honours degree." An Honours degree was much harder. In 1869, new exams for women were created. Emily Davies didn't like this idea. She wanted women to take the same challenging exams as men.

The college started on October 16, 1869. It was first called the College for Women at Benslow House. It was located in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, away from Cambridge. This was to make it less controversial at first. It was one of England's first residential colleges for women.

In 1869, 21 candidates took the entrance exams, and 16 passed. Five students began their studies on October 16, 1869. These included Emily Gibson and Louisa Lumsden. The first three students to secretly take the main university exams in 1873 were called "The Pioneers." They were Rachel Cook, Louisa Lumsden, and Sarah Woodhead.

By 1871, enough money was raised to buy land near Cambridge. In 1872, sixteen acres were bought near the village of Girton. The college was then renamed Girton College. It opened at its new location in October 1873. The first building cost £12,000.

The Great Hall has a Victorian design with wood panels and large arched windows.

More buildings were added over the years. By 1902, the college could house 180 students. In 1924, King George V granted Girton a special charter. But it was not yet an official college of the university.

Finally, on April 27, 1948, women were fully admitted to the University of Cambridge. Girton College officially became a college of the university.

Leading the Way in Equality (1976-Present)

After World War II, many universities started to allow both men and women. In Cambridge, some men's colleges began admitting women in 1972. Girton College decided to become co-educational in November 1976. This made it the first women's college in Cambridge to admit men.

In January 1977, the first two male teachers joined. Male graduate students came in 1978. Finally, male undergraduate students arrived in October 1979. One reason for this change was that mixed colleges seemed to attract very bright students.

Girton also became co-residential, meaning male and female students shared facilities. Only one corridor was kept just for women. The college bar opened in 1979. Sports fields for rugby, cricket, and soccer were added from 1982.

Girton College is known for its academic performance. In 2019, 22% of its undergraduate students earned a top-level degree.

College Leaders: The Mistresses

The head of Girton College is called the Mistress. Her main job is to oversee everything at the college. She leads college meetings and committees. The Mistress is chosen by the college council. She must live at the college for most of the year.

Since Girton College started, the Mistress has always been a woman. Even if a man were elected, they would still be called "Mistress." The current Mistress is Elisabeth Kendall. She took over in 2022 from Susan J. Smith.

Student Life at Girton

An undergraduate room (grade A) at the main college site.

Accommodation and Costs

Girton College's student rooms cost about £180.50 per week. This is one of the more expensive rates among Cambridge colleges. However, this price stays the same for students throughout their degree. This means students don't have to worry about rent increases each year.

The college works with student representatives on room pricing. In 2022, Girton started a bursary scheme. Students who receive a Cambridge Bursary get a £20 per week rent discount. This makes their rent among the lowest in Cambridge.

• Undergraduates: Girton offers 348 rooms at its main site. These rooms are rented for the whole year (38 or 39 weeks).
• Rooms are connected by corridors, so you can walk indoors between many parts of the building.
• Rooms have different quality grades, but all are charged the same weekly rate.
• First-year students get rooms randomly. Students with lower-grade rooms get to pick first in their second year.
• Most undergraduates live at the main site. Second-year students can also live at Swirles Court or in one of the college houses. Girton owns several houses near the college.

• Graduates and Fellows: Since 2017, graduate students live in Swirles Court. This is a newer area called Eddington. One house on Huntingdon Road is used for research fellows (teachers who do research). Girton is one of only two Cambridge colleges that guarantees all graduate students a room with their own bathroom.

Swirles Court: Modern Living

Swirles Court, a modern accommodation building for students.

Swirles Court opened in 2017. It is named after Bertha Swirles, a former Girton student. It has 325 rooms, each with its own bathroom, for graduate students. Unlike the main college, Swirles Court is open all year. It also has a porter (staff member) on duty 24/7.

Wolfson Court: A Former Home

In 2017, graduate students moved from Wolfson Court to Swirles Court. Wolfson Court was an older building near the city centre. It had 106 student rooms and its own dining facilities. It was often used for conferences.

Exploring the Main Site

College Architecture

The first parts of Girton College were designed by Alfred Waterhouse. He built the main site between 1873 and 1886. This included the Old Wing, Hospital Wing, and the Stanley Library. The buildings are made of red brick, typical of Victorian architecture. They have black mortar and terracotta details. The roofs are steep with special tiles. In 1913, the college covered 33 acres.

The College Library

The upper reading-room of the College library.

Girton's first library, the Stanley Library, opened in 1884. It was very comfortable, with stained-glass windows and leather furniture. Books were mostly given as gifts. By 1932, the collection was so big that a new library was needed.

The new library was designed by Michael Waterhouse, a relative of Alfred Waterhouse. It has an upper reading room made of oak. The main book collections are on the ground floor. A modern extension, the Duke building, opened in 2005. It offers computer facilities and another reading room. This building has won several awards for its design.

The College Chapel

The chapel's south-facing stained-glass window.

Plans for a chapel at Girton started in 1890. Building began in 1899 and finished in 1901. The chapel was designed by Alfred and Paul Waterhouse. It can seat about 200 people. The inside is simple, with beautiful oak carvings.

In 1910, a fine Harrison & Harrison organ was added. This was bought with donations from students and friends. The organ was rebuilt in 1974 and is still used today. A second organ was bought in 2002.

In 1952, a stained-glass window was put in. It shows Jesus and scenes from his life. It also has symbols of his suffering. The window is very detailed, with flowers and plants.

The chapel services usually follow the Church of England style. But other religious services can also be held there. Today, at least two services are held each week. These are Evensong on Sunday and Compline on Tuesday. The college chaplain, who is also a jazz musician, organizes them.

Beautiful Gardens

Girton's duck pond with the Great Hall in the background.

When the college land was bought, trees were planted on empty ground. Today, Girton's gardens are very large compared to other Cambridge colleges. A pond was created in 1884 from digging for new buildings.

The gardens are home to many animals. A 1983 report found sixty types of birds. A moth report from 1986 recorded over 100 species. You might even spot a rare black squirrel in the gardens!

The Lawrence Room: A College Museum

Eliza Baker Court at Girton College.

In 1934, the Lawrence Room became the college museum. It's named after Amy Lawrence, a Girton scientist. It holds collections from Anglo-Saxon times, Ancient Egypt, and the Mediterranean. Before 1934, these old items were kept in the library. The museum is open once a week for visitors, and it's free.

The Anglo-Saxon collection comes from excavations at the college site. An Anglo-Saxon cemetery from the 5th and 6th centuries was found there. Most items, like tools and personal belongings, were moved to another museum. Some were returned to Girton in 2008.

The most special item in the Egyptian collection is a portrait mummy. It's called Hermionê Grammatikê, which means "Hermione the literary lady." It's one of the most famous portrait mummies in the world. It dates from the first century AD. It was found in 1911 by archaeologist Flinders Petrie. He wanted the mummy to go to a women's college because of its name. So, in 1911, "Hermione" came to Girton College. The Egyptian collection also has four mummified baby crocodiles.

The Mediterranean collection has items from Ancient Greece and earlier times. The most notable pieces are Greek Tanagra figurines. These small statues date from the 4th and 3rd centuries BC.

People's Portraits: Art for Everyone

Since 2002, Girton has hosted an exhibition called People's Portraits. This exhibition from the Royal Society of Portrait Painters shows "ordinary" British people. It toured Britain in 2000. Girton won the chance to house the collection. New paintings are added every year.

The collection now has 45 paintings. All were created by members of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters. Girton was chosen because it's one of the largest and most diverse colleges. This fits with the college's focus on community and art.

Social Spaces: The "Schlub"

Girton's Social Hub is called the "Schlub" by students. It's a café during the day and a bar in the evenings. You can get handmade paninis and pizzas during the day. In the evening, drinks are available.

The college also has a cellar bar, nicknamed "Deep Schlub." It has a pool table and social areas. Students can relax here after their studies. The "Deep Schlub" also hosts college parties organized by the student council. It was recently renovated in 2023.

Future Plans for Buildings

In June 2023, plans were approved for new buildings at the main site. These will include more student rooms, meeting spaces, and an auditorium. Sports facilities will also be moved. The new buildings will provide 405 rooms for students. This will help move students from Swirles Court and allow for future growth.

Student Life and Activities

Formal Dinners

Girton College has formal dinners, called "formal halls," once a week. This is fewer than most other Cambridge colleges. About 160 students and guests attend these dinners. Tickets cost around £14 for students.

Sports Teams

The Girton College Boat Club competes in the May Bumps rowing races.

Girton is the only Cambridge college with an indoor heated swimming pool, which is a protected historical building.

Girton College has many student-run sports teams. It has its own sports fields for cricket, football, hockey, netball, and volleyball. The Girton College "Cloud Leopards" are the college lacrosse team. They play against Girton's sister college in Oxford. The sports fields were updated in 2009.

There are men's and women's teams for badminton, football, hockey, rowing, and rugby. Hockey also has a mixed team. Other sports like cricket, cross country, lacrosse, netball, squash, swimming, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, and water polo are open to everyone. The college has outdoor tennis courts, indoor squash courts, and a gym. The indoor heated swimming pool has been used since 1900. There's also a one-mile running path around the college.

In 1995, the men's football team won the Cuppers (a university-wide competition) for the first time. They also won the League Championship in 1997–98 and again in 2003–04.

Music at Girton

The college has a strong tradition of music. The Director of Studies in Music at Girton is also the head of the university's Music Faculty. Girton has often been one of the top three colleges for music at the university. In 2005, a Girton student achieved the highest ever score in the music exams.

The Girton College Music Society, run by students, holds weekly concerts. They also have orchestral concerts each term. The college provides four grand pianos for practice. It also has a harpsichord and two organs. All undergraduate music students get a practice piano in their room. The chapel's main organ was made in Switzerland and bought in 2002.

The chapel choir has 28 members. They sing Choral Evensong on Sundays and Compline on Tuesdays. The choir has released eight CDs. Girton offers scholarships for organ players and singers.

Student Societies

Girton College welcomes students studying almost all subjects. It has many student-run societies for different interests. Many subjects have their own societies, like Biology, History, Economics, and Music.

There's also an Art society, a Film society, and the Girton Amateur Dramatic Society (GADS). GADS puts on about two plays each term. Girton Amnesty focuses on human rights. The Orchestra on the Hill is for students interested in music.

Spring Ball: A College Tradition

The Girton Spring Ball has a long history. It started as a traditional dance in 1883. It began to look more like today's ball in the mid-1900s. A big celebration was held for the college's 100th anniversary in 1969.

The Ball is usually held every year in March. This is different from most other Cambridge colleges, which have their big balls in May. The Spring Ball is organized by a committee of about 20 Girton students.

Famous People from Girton

The Mistress is the head of the college. The current Mistress is Elisabeth Kendall. Girton College is known for its diverse group of social scientists. It also has a history of different economic ideas, led by Joan Robinson.

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  Margrethe II, Queen of Denmark

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  Elizabeth Symons, Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean, a British politician.

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  Sandi Toksvig, a well-known comedian and author.

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  Hisako, Princess Takamado, a member of the Japanese Imperial Family.

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  Dina bint Abdul-Hamid, who was Queen of Jordan.

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  Brenda Hale, Baroness Hale of Richmond, a former top judge in the UK.

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  Rosalyn Higgins, Lady Higgins, a former President of the International Court of Justice.

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  Arianna Huffington, who helped start the Huffington Post website.

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  Mary Arden, Lady Arden of Heswall, a judge of the UK Supreme Court.

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  Sao Sanda, a princess from Yawnghwe.

Symbols of Girton College

The College Arms (Shield)

Girton's coat of arms, representing its four main supporters.

The college has a special coat of arms. It combines symbols from its founders and important supporters. These include H. R. Tomkinson, Barbara Bodichon, Henrietta Stanley, Baroness Stanley of Alderley, and Emily Davies. Emily Davies didn't have her own arms, so she was represented by the Welsh colours, green and silver.

In 1928, the design was finally approved. The college was given the following arms: "Quarterly Vert and Argent a cross flory countercharged a Roundel Ermine and in the second and third quarters a Crescent Gules." This means the shield is divided into four parts, green and silver. It has a special cross, a white circle with black spots, and two red crescent moons.

The College Gown

The college gown is like the standard gown for students at the University of Cambridge. The sleeves are sewn up for eight inches from the shoulder. This was done so that bare shoulders wouldn't show, even in summer. Students also wear square caps.

However, students don't wear their gowns during the college feast. This feast celebrates students in their final year. It's a way to remember the time when women were not allowed to get degrees from Cambridge University.

The College Grace

Girton College has a short, traditional grace (a prayer before meals) and a longer one, both in Latin. For regular formal dinners, the short grace is used. It's "Benedictus benedicat" (May the blessed one give blessing) at the start. At the end, it's "Benedictus benedicatur" (May praise be given to the blessed one). This short grace has been used since the college began.

The longer grace was written in 1950. It was created after women were fully admitted to the university. This helped Girton be more like the other colleges. It is sung once a year at the College Feast.

Here is the full grace in Latin and English:

College Songs

"The Girton Pioneers" song, set to the tune of "The British Grenadiers", celebrates the first three women to take the Tripos exams.

The oldest college song is "The Girton Pioneers." Students wrote it in 1873. It celebrates the first three women who took the university exams. It's sung to the tune of "The British Grenadiers". Here's the first part:

Girton students are also known for a chant: "We are Girton – super Girton! No one likes us, but we don't care!" This is like a famous football fan chant. It refers to Girton being a bit far from the city centre. In 2016, a choir performed "Long Way to Girton College." This was a new version of the song "It's a Long Way to Tipperary".

Another song, "I love to go a-bicycling," also talks about Girton's distance. It's sung to the tune of "I love to go a-wandering." It has been sung since the 1960s. Here's a part of it:

In 1972, a song called "Song to Wolfson Court" was written. This was about a new building that students didn't always like. Here are the first two parts:

Images for kids

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  Girton College during the 1890s

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  The main gate of Girton College with the porter's lodge.

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  A watercolour painting of Girton by Alfred Waterhouse, the college's architect.

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  The Great Hall has a Victorian design with wood panels and large arched windows.

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  An undergraduate room (grade A) at the main college site.

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  Swirles Court, a modern accommodation building for students.

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  The upper reading-room of the College library.

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  The chapel's south-facing stained-glass window.

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  Girton's duck pond with the Great Hall in the background.

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  Eliza Baker Court at Girton College.

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  The Girton College Boat Club competes in the May Bumps rowing races.

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  Girton is the only Cambridge college with an indoor heated swimming pool, which is a protected historical building.

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  "The Girton Pioneers" song, set to the tune of "The British Grenadiers", celebrates the first three women to take the Tripos exams.

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  Girton's coat of arms, representing its four main supporters.

See also

In Spanish: Girton College para niños

• Girton College Boat Club
• Category:Alumni of Girton College, Cambridge
• Category:Fellows of Girton College, Cambridge

Other Places Named Girton

• Girton Grammar School, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
• Girton Hall, University of California, Berkeley

Official College Website

• Girton College