Gloucester College, Oxford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gloucester College |
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Gloucester Hall in 1675
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| University | University of Oxford |
| Location | Present day Worcester Street |
| Coordinates | 51°45′18″N 1°15′49″W / 51.75497°N 1.26370°W |
| Established | 1283 |
| Closed | 1542 (annexed to St John's) 1714 (refounded as Worcester College) |
| Named for | St. Peter Abbey, Gloucester |
| Previous names | Gloucester College (1283-1542) Gloucester Hall (1542-1714) |
| Map | |
 Location in Oxford city centre
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Gloucester College, Oxford, was a special place for Benedictine monks to study. It was part of the famous University of Oxford in Oxford, England. This college existed from the late 1200s until the 1500s. That's when many monasteries were closed down.
Gloucester College was a bit different from other Oxford colleges. Monasteries would send their monks there to learn. The college was divided into sections, like different dorms. Each section was controlled by the monastery that sent the monks. The leader of the college was first called a Prior. Later, this title changed to Prior Studentium, and finally to Principal.
After it closed, the building became Gloucester Hall. It was then connected to St John's College, Oxford. Much later, in 1714, it was started again as Worcester College, Oxford. This new college was founded by Sir Thomas Cookes.
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The College's Early Days
Gloucester College first opened in 1283. A man named John Giffard gave a house in Oxford for this purpose. It was a gift to the Benedictine monks from the Canterbury region. The abbey of St. Peter, Gloucester managed the first 13 spots for monks. Henry de Heliun was the first leader, or prior.
In 1337, Pope Benedict XII made an important rule. He said that 5% of all Benedictine monks should go to university. This rule was written in a special document called a bull, named Pastor bonus. Because of this rule, the leader's title changed to Prior Studentium. The students themselves would elect this leader.
However, studying in Oxford was expensive. The monks' home monasteries had to pay for their education and living costs. This meant that not many students attended, even after the new rule. The college even closed for a while after the terrible Black Death in the mid-1300s. By 1537, it had 32 students.
Changes Over Time
During the dissolution of the monasteries in the 1500s, the college's property went to the English King. Then, in 1542, it was sold to Sir Thomas White. Sir Thomas White was the person who founded St John's College, Oxford. So, Gloucester Hall, as it was now called, became an extra part of St John's College.
Later, a leader named Benjamin Woodroffe tried something new. He started a "Greek College" for Greek Orthodox students. This was an effort to build connections with the Church of England. This special college was active from 1699 to 1705. About 15 Greek students studied there.
Gloucester Hall changed again in 1714. Sir Thomas Cookes refounded it as Worcester College, Oxford. Today, you can still find reminders of the old college. Gloucester Green is a place in Oxford that was opposite the original college. Also, a building inside Worcester College is called Gloucester House.
Notable People Who Studied Here
Many interesting people studied at Gloucester College and later Gloucester Hall.
Students from Gloucester College (1283–1542)
- Henry Bradshaw
- Adam Easton
- John Feckenham
- John Lydgate (it is believed he studied here)
- Richard of Wallingford
Students from Gloucester Hall (1542–1714)
- Robert Catesby
- Kenelm Digby
- Richard Lovelace
- Thomas Coryate
- Edward Kelley
