Trinity College (in full: The College of the Most Holy and Undivided Trinity and Sir Thomas Pope (Knight)) is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It stands in Broad Street, next door to Balliol, and opposite Turl Street. It is enclosed by an iron palisade, rather than a wall, giving the college a more open and accessible appearance than many others in Oxford. The college occupies a spacious site, including four major quadrangles, and is particularly known for its large and attractive gardens, which include a small area of woodland. Despite its size, the college is relatively small in terms of student numbers, with less than 300 undergraduates.

As well as being generally attractive, Trinity's buildings also have many notable features. On the top of Trinity's West Tower sit four female statues, which represent Astronomy, Geometry, Medicine and Theology, and Trinity's 17th century Baroque chapel was the first in Oxford not to be built in Gothic style.

Durham College

The site where Trinity College now stands was originally occupied by Durham College. This college had been founded in 1286, at around the same time as the oldest colleges that survive until today. Durham College was built for Benedictine monks from the Cathedral Church in the city of Durham, and was built around a single quadrangle, known nowadays as the Durham Quadrangle. The only surviving building from the Durham College foundation is the Old Library, which dates from 1421. Durham College was originally dedicated to the Trinity, The Virgin and St Cuthbert, and it is thought that Trinity College took its name from this dedication.

History

Trinity College was founded in 1555 by Sir Thomas Pope . Pope was a Catholic, who had no surviving children, and he hoped that by founding a college, he would be remembered in the prayers of its students. The original foundation provided for a president, twelve fellows, and twelve scholars, and for up to 20 undergraduates. The fellows were required to take holy orders and to remain unmarried.

Notable Former Students

• Henry Ireton
• Laurence Binyon
• George Ferguson Bowen
• James Bryce
• Richard Francis Burton
• Rayner Goddard, Baron Goddard
• Miles Kington
• Robin Leigh-Pemberton
• Norris McWhirter
• Henry Moseley
• John Henry Newman
• William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham
• Arthur Quiller-Couch
• Terence Rattigan
• George Rawlinson
• John Somers, Lord Somers
• James Stanhope, 1st Earl Stanhope
• Jeremy Thorpe

Academics/Teachers

• Ronald Syme
• Thomas Warton

External links

• Trinity College, Oxford, website
• History of the College
• Virtual Tour of Trinity