King's Hall, Cambridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids King's Hall |
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| University | Cambridge University | |||||||||||
| Location | North of the path between the Master's Lodge and Great Gate in Trinity College | |||||||||||
| Full name | King's Hall | |||||||||||
| Latin name | Aula Regis | |||||||||||
| Founder | John Hotham, Bishop of Ely | |||||||||||
| Established | 1317 (merged to form Trinity College in 1546) | |||||||||||
| Named for | Edward II of England | |||||||||||
King's Hall was an important college at the University of Cambridge. It was started in 1317, making it the second oldest college after Peterhouse. King Edward II created King's Hall to train people who would help him with government paperwork. It was a very rich college compared to Michaelhouse, which was another college nearby. Today, both colleges are part of Trinity College.
Contents
History of King's Hall
A person named John Hotham, Bishop of Ely helped King Edward II start King's Hall. Later, in 1337, King Edward III gave the college official documents to confirm its establishment. Records show that a master or warden named Richard Derham was in charge in 1412. In 1433, Richard Pyghtesley was known as a clerk at King's Hall.
How King's Hall Became Trinity College
King's Hall does not exist on its own anymore. It was joined with Michaelhouse in 1546 by King Henry VIII. This happened as one of the King's last big actions. At that time, King Henry VIII was taking land and money from many churches and monasteries. He wanted to create a very grand college that could compete with Christ Church at Oxford University.
The universities of Oxford and Cambridge were worried. They were religious schools and had a lot of wealth. They thought King Henry VIII might close them down next. The King had even passed a law that let him close any college he wanted and take its property.
The universities asked Catherine Parr, King Henry VIII's sixth wife, for help. Queen Catherine convinced her husband not to close them. Instead, she suggested he create a new, big college. The King did not want to use his own money. So, he combined King's Hall and Michaelhouse. He also added seven smaller student houses, called hostels, to form Trinity in 1546. These hostels included Catherine's, Garratt, Gregory's, Margaret's, Ovyng's, Physwick, and Tyler's.
By combining these colleges and using land taken from the Church, Trinity College became the richest and largest college. It has kept this important position ever since. The main design of Trinity's Great Court was mostly planned by Thomas Nevile, who was a master of Trinity later on.
Location of the Old King's Hall
King's Hall was located in the northern part of what is now the Great Court of Trinity College. You can still see an original building from King's Hall there today. This old building is next to the Chapel in Great Court. It has some of the most desired rooms in the college. These rooms are usually given to very smart professors who have been at the college for a long time. These are found on staircases C and D in Great Court.
The Clock Tower at Trinity College also came from King's Hall. It was moved from its original spot. The Great Gate of Trinity College was built just before the colleges joined together. Because of this, it still has the King's Hall name written on it in Latin. Sadly, the last buildings of Michaelhouse were taken down when the southern part of Great Court was finished.
See also
In Spanish: King's Hall para niños
