Last week I had the opportunity to visit St. Hilda's College in Oxford. St. Hilda’s College is one of the colleges that is a bit off the beaten track. It's on the banks of the Cherwell behind the Magdalene Bridge. Colleges are usually only open to students, faculty and staff so it's a treat when I get to see the world that exists behind the walls and gates of a college. I also love to see new perspectives and views of the dreaming spires of Oxford that you can only see from the private colleges.
St. Hilda's founded in 1893 by Dorothea Beale, a Principal of Cheltenham Ladies College and stalwart proponent of women's education.
In order to give teachers in training the benefit of a year at Oxford University, Miss Beale purchased the Cowley House in Oxford in 1892 and opened it as St. Hilda's hall of residence for women in 1893. In 1901 is was incorporated with the Cheltenham training college as St. Hilda's Incorporated College and in 1920 the Hall was admitted to the privileges of the Statute giving to women the right of membership of the University.
After World War I when the number of students rose from 49 to 70, St. Hilda's purchased the leasehold of Cherwell Hall in 1921, a training college belonging to the Church Education Corporation. That then became the main resident hall for the students.
I love this view of Magdalen Tower
This is the original school that was Miss Beale purchased in 1892. It is soon to be torn town and replaced by a new building.
Most colleges at Oxford have a combination of old original buildings and newer, more modern ones. Sometimes the combination works beautifully, sometimes not.
These are three of the six models on display in the lobby of the theatre. One will be chosen by the Board of Governors from the short list of six semifinalist architectural firms.
I love the great halls or the dining halls of the former women's colleges. All of the portraits of former college presidents or head of house on the walls are women!
Such a beautiful view of Magdalen and Merton! I also love the mistletoe balls in the trees -- a touch of Dr. Seus.
If you have the good fortune to visit any of the colleges in Oxford, you might notice chalk graffiti on the stone walls inside the quads or next to the porter's lodge or the dining hall. The only graffiti allowed on the walls of the colleges at Oxford are bragging rights of the wins and rankings for colleges' men and women's rowing teams. They are badges of honor, hard won, and drawn with a special chalk that is supposed to stay legible for at least 10 years. Look for them when you visit a college. They celebrate important victories over rival colleges' boat crews.
Rowing races worth watching in 2016:
The big race between Oxford and Cambridge, Sunday 27 March, 2016
Torpids 2016: 6th week Hilary Term: Rowing on 19th(/21st) February, bumps 24th-27th (running in 6th week due to clash with Women's Eights Head Of the River Race)
Women's Eights Head of the River Race: Saturday, 5th March 2016, 12:45pm start
Summer Eights 2016: 5th week Trinity Term; Rowing on 20th(/22nd) May, bumps 25th-28th May
If you want to learn more about Oxford's rich rowing traditions, here is an interesting blog that is dedicated to all things rowing in Oxford.
One of my favorite weekends in Oxford is the Open Door weekend that takes place the 2nd weekend of September each year. It a wonderful weekend when the colleges and many of the carefully guarded treasures of the city of Oxford and the University are open to the general public, all for free.
According to the University, Oxford Open Doors is the country's largest heritage open days event. I've gone 4 years in a row now and each year I've had the opportunity to see places and space that normally are not available to the general public. This year I took a tour of the Oxford University Press and the local BBC studios. I took a tour of Osney Mill and learned about what Oxford was like from 800-1500 AD. I took a guided walk and learned about the Jewish history in Oxford from 1070 to 1290 when Jews were expelled from England. I also took an archeology walk that highlighted the history that lies behind what we can see. And then I went to see various colleges, some I hadn't seen and some that are old favorites.
Four years ago my first weekend in Oxford was the Open Door Weekend. I didn't realize what it was, I just thought we had landed in this magical city that was so accessible and welcoming. We climbed towers and wandered into colleges and it seemed nothing was off limits. It took me a while to understand that we arrived on what was a special weekend and that I couldn't expect to be able to just wander into a college any time I wanted to.
Each year there is a different theme for Oxford Open Door. This year the theme was books in honor of several libraries opening after being closed to restoration or reconstruction. I got to see the library at Queens College, the library at All Souls College and the new Weston Library of the Bodleian.
I'm already looking forward to next year's Open Day weekend. And in case this wasn't fun enough, next weekend is London's Open Door!
The open door at Oxford Castle
In my tour I learned that the Oxford University Press is the largest and the second oldest University Press in the world. They haven't print anything from the Oxford location since 1989 -- that is all done in various world-wide locations. The first book the Press printed was in 1478. Currently it publishes more than 6,000 titles a year worldwide, in more than 40 languages and in a variety of formats – print and digital.
My tour of the BBC in Summertown was also interesting. It was fun to see the TV and Radio Studio and see how much they get done on such a limited budget.
You never know what you are going to see during the Open Door Weekend
Vintage buses were available for free bus trips across town
The Upper Library at Queen's was open. It was first opened in 1695 and houses the large collection from from various benefactors. It has recently been renovated to it's original grandeur. It is simply stunning.
The great hall at Queen's College
The Chapel at Queen's
The chapel at Magdelan College
The large quad at Magdelan College
A view of Magdelan from the Addison walk
The chapel at All Souls College
A brass band played for the crowds visiting the college. All Soul's is one of the most exclusive colleges. It is clearly a favorite as demonstrated by the crowds.
The great hall at All Soul's
The Codrington Library at All Soul's College
One of my favorite college chapels -- the chapel at Exeter College
The great hall at Exeter College
