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Wadham College
UK-2014-Oxford-Wadham College 05.jpg
Wadham College Oxford Coat Of Arms.svg
Blazon: Gules, a chevron between 3 roses argent barbed vert (Wadham); impaling Gules, a bend or between 2 escallops argent (Petre)
University Oxford
Location Parks Road
Coordinates 51°45′21″N 1°15′17″W / 51.755871°N 1.254593°W / 51.755871; -1.254593
Full name Wadham College of the Foundation of Nicholas Wadham Esquire and Dorothy his wife in the University of Oxford
Latin name Collegium Wadhamensi
Established 1610; 415 years ago (1610)
Named for Dorothy (née Petre) and Nicholas Wadham
Sister college Christ's College, Cambridge
Warden Robert Hannigan
Undergraduates 462 (2015/2016)
Postgraduates 182
Boat club Wadham College Boat Club
Map
Wadham College, Oxford is located in Oxford city centre
Wadham College, Oxford
Location in Oxford city centre

Wadham College is one of the colleges that make up the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It is located right in the middle of Oxford, where Broad Street and Parks Road meet.

Wadham College was started in 1610 by Dorothy Wadham. She followed the wishes of her late husband, Nicholas Wadham (1531–1609). Nicholas was from a very old family in Devon and Somerset.

The main buildings of the college are a great example of Jacobean architecture. This is a style of building from the early 1600s in England. The famous architect William Arnold designed them. They were built between 1610 and 1613. The college has a large and fancy Hall. Next to the main buildings are the beautiful Wadham Gardens.

Wadham is one of the biggest colleges at the University of Oxford. It has about 460 undergraduate students and 180 graduate students. There are also around 65 fellows, who are like senior teachers and researchers.

History of Wadham College

How Wadham College Began

Wadham College was founded in 1610. It was created by Dorothy Wadham to honor her husband's wishes. Nicholas Wadham had planned for a college to be built. After he passed away, Dorothy made sure his dream came true.

Building the College

The main buildings of Wadham College were built quickly. Construction started in 1610 and finished in 1613. The architect, William Arnold, designed them in the Jacobean style. This style is known for its grand and detailed look.

Famous People from Wadham College

Sir Christopher Wren and Science

One of the most famous people who studied at Wadham is Sir Christopher Wren. He was a brilliant scientist in the 1650s. Wren was part of a group called the Oxford Philosophical Club. This group included other famous scientists like Robert Boyle and Robert Hooke.

They often met at Wadham College. Their meetings were guided by the college's warden, John Wilkins. This group was very important. They later helped create the Royal Society, a famous scientific organization.

Other Notable Alumni

Many other important people have studied at Wadham College. These include leaders, writers, and artists. For example, Roger Penrose is a famous mathematician and Nobel Prize winner. C. B. Fry was a well-known cricketer.

Arthur Onslow was a Speaker of the House of Commons. Kamisese Mara became the first prime minister of Fiji. Abdul Halim of Kedah was a King of Malaysia. Sir William Fox was a prime minister of New Zealand.

Robert Blake is known as the "Father of the Royal Navy." Michael Foot was a leader of the Labour Party. Rowan Williams was a former Archbishop of Canterbury. Actresses Rosamund Pike and Felicity Jones also studied here.

Melvyn Bragg is a famous broadcaster and author. Marcus du Sautoy is a mathematician who helps people understand science.

College Life and Values

A Welcoming Community

Wadham is known for being a very open and welcoming college. It tries to have a diverse group of students. This means students come from many different backgrounds. The college wants everyone to feel comfortable and included.

Academic Success

Wadham College is also known for its strong academics. In 2014/2015, it ranked 3rd in the Norrington Table. This table measures how well Oxford colleges perform in exams. The college has a large financial fund, which helps support its students and programs. In 2018, this fund was about £107 million.

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Wadham College para niños

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