brasenose

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Founded 1509 as The King’s Hall and College of Brasenose by William Smyth, Bishop of Lincoln and Sir Richard Sutton. Sister College – Gonville and Caius College Cambridge. Men and Women – Undergraduates 365 Postgraduates 206. Brasenose College is in the centre of Oxford situated by Radcliffe Square overlooking the main quadrangle of the Bodleian Library. It is affectionately referred to as ‘BNC’ or ‘The Mighty Nose’. As with many learned institutions the evolution from lodging houses, where academics would gather and exchange ideas, to a more formal place of education was smooth and steady. Brasenose Hall was the biggest of several lodging halls on site in 1279. An unusual bronze knocker portraying an animal mask with a protruding nose hung on the door and provided the name for the building – Brazen Nose. It is believed this knocker was removed by a bunch of disaffected students in the 1330’s, who migrated to Stamford in Lincolnshire, fixing it to their dwelling as an act of rebellion. The king ordered an end to this nonsense and the students returned, leaving the knocker in Stamford. In 1890 the house came up for sale and was promptly purchased by the college so they could retrieve the artefact. It now sits above the high table in the hall. In the beginning – Little University Hall Little University Hall stood in what is now the northeast corner of the Old Quadrangle and was purchased from a bequest, made by William of Durham, to promote education and study in 1252. In 1509 work was undertaken to construct new buildings and records show that a quarry was leased in Headington to provide the stone. This date is important as it is regarded as the founding date by the college, even though educational excellence had been promoted on ... ... middle of paper ... ...owned property for all but a few students – some second years miss out. The dining hall provides three meals a day with an evening Formal three times a week. Gerties Tea Bar provides an alternative source of snacks and is open throughout the day. In recent years Brasenose has developed a highly successful Summer Arts Festival and has a choir that has performed at St Peter’s in the Vatican. In 1971 Brasenose decided to allow women into the college and the first arrived in 1974. The first female lecturer was appointed in 1972. Famous former students include Monty Python member and much travelled television presenter Michael Palin. William Webb Ellis was a student and is (questionably) credited with creation of the rules to Rugby Union resulting in the World Cup trophy being named after him. Prime Minister David Cameron gained a first class honours degree at Brasenose.

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