University College, Durham

Durham_College_Infobox
Name = University College
| Motto = " Non nobis solum "
Not for ourselves alone
Colours =

cells|3|#9a122ccell|whitecell|#9a122ccell|whitecells|5|#9a122ccell|whitecell|#9a122ccell|whitecells|3|#9a122c
Named_after =
Established = 1832
head name = Master
head = Professor Maurice Tucker
Senior Tutor = Mrs E. Schumacher-Reid
JCR Name = Senior Man
JCR = Jenny-Wren Charlton
Undergraduates = 694
Postgraduates = 59
Website = [http://www.dur.ac.uk/university.college/ University College]
JCR Website1 = JCR Website
JCR Website2 = [http://castle-jcr.dur.ac.uk/ Castle JCR]
Campus = Durham City

University College, commonly known as Castle, is a college of the University of Durham in England. Centred around Durham Castle on Palace Green, it was founded in 1832 and is the oldest of Durham's seventeen colleges. As with all of Durham's colleges, it is, independently of the University, a listed body under section 216 of the Education Reform Act 1988 [cite web
last = Department for Children, Skills and Families
title = Listed Bodies Search
accessdate = 2007-10-19
url = http://www.dfes.gov.uk/recognisedukdegrees/index.cfm?fuseaction=institutes.list&InstituteCategoryID=2&OrderBy=Category] . Almost all academic activities, such as research and tutoring, occur at a university level.

University College moved into its current location in 1837. Around 150 students are accommodated within Durham Castle itself. Other halls of residence, dating from the 1950s and 1970s, are within five minutes walk of the Castle. It has 600 undergraduates and is currently the most over-subscribed college of the university. In 1987 it was changed from an all male college to a mixed gender college. Since 1998 its Master has been geologist Professor Maurice Tucker.

History

University College was formed upon the creation of University of Durham in 1832. At that time the university had just one college, though it was intended to be a collegiate in the manner of Oxford and Cambridge. cite web
last = Durham University
authorlink = Durham University
title = Foundation of Durham University
date = 2005-01-17
url = http://www.dur.ac.uk/about/history/foundation/
accessdate = 2006-08-07] Durham Castle had been the home of the Prince Bishops of Durham, and Bishop van Mildert, one of the founders of the university, had intended for the castle to be given to the college. Temporary accommodation for students was provided at the Archdeacon's Inn (part of Cosin's Hall) on Palace Green until University College moved into its permanent home. Castle moved to its current location at Durham Castle in 1837 after van Mildert's successor, Bishop Edward Maltby, completed renovations of the building. cite web
last = Durham University
authorlink = Durham University
title = History of the Castle
date = 2006-02-14
url = http://www.dur.ac.uk/university.college/history/
accessdate = 2006-08-07] The castle's keep formerly a ruin was redeveloped for student accommodation; in particular, the college's chapels and Great Hall have been restored. Since then high levels of maintenance are necessary to preserve the buildings of the castle.

The university's second college, Hatfield Hall, was formed in 1846 as a response to the high costs of maintaining Castle. These costs arose from the students expectations of being provided with servants and room furnishings. [ cite web
last = Hatfield College
authorlink = Hatfield College
title = History of the College
publisher = Durham University
date = 2006-01-23
url = http://www.dur.ac.uk/hatfield.college/contact_us/about_the_college/history/
accessdate = 2006-08-07] The university struggled for the rest of the 19th century, held back by a lack of prestige and a distance from the centres of power in the UK.cite book
last = Whiting
first = Charles Edwin
title = The University of Durham
publisher = Sheldon Press
year = 1932
location = London ] By 1882, Castle contained some 79 undergraduates out of 205 at the university as a whole. Despite the university largely failing to gain recognition and prestige, a number of other colleges had opened by the end of the nineteenth century. Of these, Cosin's Hall failed to become financially viable and was absorbed into University College in 1864. Enrolment numbers continued to fluctuate.

The inter-war years were transformative for Castle. The college was the smallest in Durham university, with just 34 undergraduates in 1928,cite book
last = Jones
first = Edgar
title = University College, Durham: A Social History
publisher = Edgar Jones
year = 1996
location = Aberystwyth ] and was struggling to meet maintenance costs. The Castle, situated on the banks of "The Peninsula", was in danger of collapsing into the River Wear and many of its internal structures were weak. The combination of high costs and low undergraduate numbers meant that the college was often threatened with closure or merger with Hatfield. [cite journal
last = Darwin
first = K
title = The Junior Common Room, University College, Durham
journal = Castellum
volume = 1
pages = pp11–14
year = 1948 ] Castle was saved largely through charitable donations. A visit in the 1920s from Edward, Prince of Wales, helped increase the profile of the cause. In the 1920s, the castle's foundations were secured through reinforcement with concrete. Following these and other extensive building refurbishments of the 1920s and 1930s the college was now able to expand.

One of its most successful periods followed during the Second World War when personnel of the Durham University Air Squadron were posted in the castle, doing short courses before joining the Royal Air Force. Those from the college who died during World War II were commemorated by the redevelopment of the Norman Gallery area of the Castle in the 1950s. This period also saw the launch of "Castellum", an annual journal of the Castle Society, created to keep former students in touch with college life. [cite journal
last = Chase
first = Rev F.S.M.
title = Editorial
journal = Castellum
volume = 1
pages = pp1–11
year = 1948 ] In order to continue this expansion, the college purchased Lumley Castle in 1946 to house students, and by 1948 seventy five students were housed there. This section of the college developed a spirit of its own and is still remembered today through activities such as the 'Lumley Run'.

During the 1950s and 1960s the college expanded through developments at Owengate and Bailey Court, both around Palace Green. In the 1970s, the college sold Lumley Castle. [cite web
last = No Ordinary Hotels
title = Our History
year = 2006
url = http://www.lumleycastle.com/aboutus/history.htm
accessdate = 2007-01-11] The proceeds were used to fund the development of Moatside Court, and meant that all the college's students were now housed within five minutes of the main castle. During this period there was rapid change in the size and structure of the college, which expanded to over 300 undergraduates by 1979. Female students were admitted to the college for the first time in 1987; before this date, it had been single sex. cite web
last = University College
title = Castle Society
date = 2006-04-12
url = http://www.dur.ac.uk/university.college/castlesociety/
accessdate = 2006-08-10] Since this time the college has become fully mixed, with undergraduate numbers expanding to nearly seven hundred. Expansion caused a strain on college numbers, however, and in 2004 the college was unable to provide accommodation for all of its fresher students for the first time in its history.cite journal
last = Tucker
first = Maurice
title = Letter From the Master - October 2004
journal = Castellum
volume = 57
pages = pp2–5
year = 2004 ] Following the foundation of Josephine Butler, Durham's first new college to be opened since 1972, pressure from the university to take on additional students has lessened, and undergraduate numbers have been intentionally reduced in recent years.cite news
last = Hajibagheri
first = Sarah
coauthors = Purser, Emily
title = Fresher intake upsets the balance
pages = p2
publisher = Palatinate
date = 2006-10-23 ]

Buildings

Construction of Durham Castle began in 1072, [cite web
last = Durham City Tourism
authorlink = Durham
title = Things to see and do in the City of Durham - Durham Castle
url = http://www.durhamtourism.co.uk/at_castle.html
accessdate = 2006-12-30 ] which makes it the oldest building in use at any University in the world. [cite news
last = McCall
first = Alastair
title = Widening access without diluting quality
publisher = The Sunday Times
date = 2005-10-02
url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8403-1795844,00.html
accessdate = 2006-08-07] cite web
last = University College JCR
title = For Prospective Students
url = http://castle-jcr.dur.ac.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=94&Itemid=78
accessdate = 2006-08-07 ] The castle retains much of its original design and structure, and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Durham Cathedral.

To the west of the courtyard is the medieval Great Hall, still used as a dining room by students and dons. It was built during the time of Bishop Bek in the thirteenth century. For two hundred years this was the largest Great Hall in Great Britain; however, it was shortened by Bishop Fox.cite web
last = Simpson
first = David
title = Durham Castle
publisher = North East England History
year = 2006
url = http://www.northeastengland.talktalk.net/DurhamCastle.htm
accessdate = 2006-11-07 ] It still stands some 14 m (46 ft) high and 30 m (98 ft) long. The black staircase that leads from the Great Hall to the Senior Common Room dates from 1662, and is another of the older sections of the college still in use. Underneath the Hall is the college bar, located in an 11th century undercroft.cite web
last = The Undercroft Bar
title = Home - about the Undie
year = 2006
url = http://www.undercroftbar.com/index.php
accessdate = 2006-08-07] Around these are student accommodation, the Lowe Library, and kitchens.

The castle's northern wing originally contained another dining hall, but this was later divided up to make more luxurious quarters for the Prince Bishop. This area is also home to the two chapels of the college. The Norman Chapel dates from the eleventh century and is the oldest accessible part of the castle, and retains its original Saxon architectural style. The Tunstal Chapel is the larger of the two; it dates from the fifteenth century and is named after Bishop Tunstal. Both chapels are used for worship within the college. [cite web
last = University College chapels
title = History, Chapels of University College, Durham
url = http://www.dur.ac.uk/castle.chapel/
accessdate = 2006-08-07 [http://www.dur.ac.uk/castle.chapel/ College Chapels] Accessed August 2006 ]

To the east of the courtyard lies the Keep. It was re-built in the 1830s, having previously lain in ruins. This area has the largest concentration of students living in the castle. To the south of the courtyard is the Gatehouse, built originally by Bishop Pudsey in the twelfth century and re-developed in the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries. Around this are the college's more modern offices.

The college's other buildings are at Moatside Court, Owengate and Bailey Court. The developments at Moatside Court and Bailey Court date from the 1960s and 1970s, whilst Owengate was formed from a series of old houses in the 1950s. Of these, Moatside Court's rooms were of a notoriously poor quality, [cite news
last = Macleod
first = Donald
coauthors = Berrow, Heather
title = Dark days
publisher = The Guardian
date = 2002-01-15
url = http://education.guardian.co.uk/students/story/0,9860,632693,00.html
accessdate = 2006-10-11 ] but have recently been renovated at the cost of over £1 million. [cite web
last = Durham University Estates and Buildings
title = S Block Refurbishment Moatside University College
url = http://www.dur.ac.uk/its.web-demos/estates/designs/demo3/projectsinfo/full.php?id=36
accessdate = 2006-10-11 ]

Lowe Library

The Lowe Library is the college's library. It was formed from a bequest from Colonel W.D.Lowe, an officer of the Durham University Officers' Training Corps. He later became a Classics tutor at the university, staying until his death in 1921. The library was opened in 1925, extended into the college's wine cellar in 1997, [cite journal
last = Hollier
first = John
title = Lowe Library Project
journal = Castellum
volume = 49
pages = pp27–30
year = 1997 ] and now contains over 10,000 books. It acts as a support to the central university library, providing access to core textbooks.

Role and activities

As with all colleges at Durham, students study for degrees with Durham University, not their college, and teaching takes place in academic departments. University College is a "listed body" under the Education Reform Act (1988) [cite web
last = Department for Education and Skills
authorlink = Department for Education and Skills
title = A-Z of Colleges, halls and institutions of a University, University of Durham
year = 2005
url = http://www.dfes.gov.uk/recognisedukdegrees/index.cfm?fuseaction=institutes.list&InstituteCategoryID=2&InstituteSubCategoryID=6&AssociatedInstituteID=32
accessdate = 2006-11-09] and so handles its own admissions. Castle is the most over-subscribed college at the university; for entry in 2006, there were 2,858 applications for just 170 places. Despite this, academic performance at the college tends to be poorer than average at Durham. In 2005, 74.39% of students graduated with a first or upper second class degree; this was the second lowest percentage of all colleges. However, there was a major improvement in 2006. [cite web
last = Durham University
authorlink = Durham University
title = Undergraduate Degree Results June 2005
month = June | year = 2005
url = http://www.dur.ac.uk/resources/spa/statistics/college/4.5results/054-5.pdf
format = PDF
accessdate = 2006-10-24 ]

Within Durham's colleges, there is a strong competitive rivalry. Castle's main rival is Hatfield College, which is Durham's second oldest college, having separated from Castle in the 1850s. The rivalry is maintained by student pranks and tricks; in 2005, for example, Hatfield students briefly stole a fibreglass statue of Marilyn Monroe from Castle's bar. [ cite news
last = Palatinate Editorial Team
title = College rivalry: friend or foe?
publisher = Palatinate
date = 2006-10-23]

There are a number of arts societies within the college. Most notable is the "Castle Theatre Company", which produces a play each term. These plays are usually performed on the college's grounds, although they sometimes tour nationally. [cite web
last = Castle Theatre Company
title = As You Like It
year = 2006
url = http://www.castletheatre.co.uk/shakespeare/
accessdate = 2006-10-19] They have also appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. [cite web
last = Castle Theatre Company
title = Young Macbeth
year = 2006
url = http://www.youngmacbeth.co.uk/
accessdate = 2006-10-19 ]

The college has a commercial arm, taking advantage of the attractive nature of the college's buildings. It hosts corporate events, conferences and weddings during the university vacations. [cite web
last = University College
title = Conferences and Tourism
date = 2006-11-24
url = http://www.dur.ac.uk/university.college/conferences/
accessdate = 2006-12-20]

The Castle is open to tourists only via guided tours. These occur daily outside of term time, but are more restricted during the term due to potential conflicts with the running of the college. Furthermore, events in the university timetable may result in their cancellation. Tourists are not otherwise permitted entry to the college or any common areas. [ cite web
last = Ross
first = David
coauthors = Britain Express
title = Durham Castle
url = http://www.britainexpress.com/counties/durham/az/durham/castle.htm
accessdate = 2006-11-09] There is relatively little conflict between students and tourists, with many of the guided tours done by students themselves.

tudent body

Some 600 undergraduates attend Castle, making it slightly smaller than the average Durham college. Of these students, around 100 live in the castle itself, while another 250 are housed in the college's surrounding buildings. [cite web
last = Durham University
authorlink = Durham University
title = Undergraduate Student Accommodation - Full Time
year = 2004
url = http://www.dur.ac.uk/resources/spa/statistics/college/4.1accommodation/4.1ft/054-1a.pdf
format = PDF
accessdate = 2006-10-09] It remains the most popular college in Durham for applications, with around twenty three students applying for every available place. [ cite web
last = Durham University
authorlink = Durham University
title = Facts and Figures
date = 2006-02-21
url = http://www.dur.ac.uk/undergraduate/living/colleges/application-stats/
accessdate = 2006-08-07]

The student body ("Junior Common Room" or JCR) is governed by an elected Executive Committee. The head of the 'Exec' is the Senior Man (even when a female student holds the role), supported by several other officers. Regular JCR meetings are held to discuss and vote on important issues. There are several other elected non-executive officers such as Returning Officer, Fresher Rep and Sports Captain who organise other important college functions. The Senior Man meets regularly with college and university authorities to represent the JCR. University College JCR also supports many societies run exclusively for Castle Students. The most popular societies include University College Boat Club (UCBC), Castle Theatre Company and Castle Football.The JCR runs three balls every year for its students, with one held during each term. The largest is the end of year "June Ball", which is the social highlight of the academic year, and claims to be the most exclusive and prestigious event in Durham University. Tradition dictates that its theme remains closely hidden until the doors to the Castle open.cite web
last = University College JCR Social Chairman
coauthors = June Ball Committee
title = The June Ball
url = http://www.thejuneball.com/
accessdate = 2006-08-07]

The graduate community at Castle forms the Middle Common Room (MCR), which is based in the 'St Calais Room'. However, due to size restrictions, no members of the MCR are yet able to live in the college grounds. [cite web
last = Nawroyckyi
first = Nick
title = Information for Prospective Postgraduates
publisher = University College MCR
year = 2006
url = http://www.dur.ac.uk/castle.mcr/
accessdate = 2006-10-08] The MCR, like the JCR, organises a number of social events and activities, such as the college's entry into the inter-collegiate University Challenge competition, which acts as trials for the university's team. The Senior Common Room (SCR), is an organisation of academics and tutors connected to the college. The SRC also organises formal meals with guest speakers.

The student bar of University College is called the Undercroft, or The Undie, due to its location in an eleventh century Undercroft. It developed from the original Junior Common Room, which opened in the early 1950s.

Castle Society

The Castle Society was formed in 1947 by Castle Alumni. It was originally named the "Durham Castleman's Society". Membership is open to anyone with academic ties to the college, and its aim is create a wider 'Castle' community beyond its immediate students. The society makes regular donations to the college library, chapel, student bursaries, and the college boat club. It has helped fund a number of projects in the college, including the accommodation at Moatside Court and Fellows Garden, as well as the West Courtyard Common Room. The Castle Society produces the annual journal "Castellum", which chronicles life at the Castle and reports on activities of Castle alumni. [cite web
last = Castle Society
title = Castellum
publisher = Durham University
date = 2006-07-12
url = http://www.dur.ac.uk/university.college/castlesociety/castellum/
accessdate = 2006-08-07] Since 1990, it has contributed towards the University College Durham Trust, the college's charitable fund.

Notable alumni

A number of notable people have attended the college. The best known are Phil de Glanville,cite web
last = Durham University
authorlink = Durham University
title = Cricket and Rugby captains honoured in Durham’s top sporting awards
date = 6 June 2000
url = http://www.dur.ac.uk/pr.office/922honpal.htm
accessdate = 2006-12-20] a former captain of the England national rugby union team, and Timothy Laurence, husband of Anne, Princess Royal and son-in-law of Queen Elizabeth II. De Glanville studied economics at the college from 1988-1990, whilst Laurence studied geography.

One of the first graduates from the college was Robert William Bilton Hornby, who came to the college in 1838. He gained his Bachelor of Arts in 1841 and stayed at the university until 1856, when he received a Doctorate of Divinity. Hornby went on to be a notable antiquarian and priest at York Minster.Fact|date=February 2007

Journalists and writers who went to the college include Harold Evans, [cite web
last = University College
title = University College, College Officers
work = University College Calendar
url = http://www.dur.ac.uk/resources/university.calendar/volumei/current/college.university.pdf
format = PDF
accessdate = 2006-12-20] former editor of "The Sunday Times", and Hunter Davies. [cite news
last = Cross
first = Peter
title = Working life: The secret of my success - Hunter Davies
work = The Independent
date = 1999-01-24
url = http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19990124/ai_n9658636
accessdate = 2006-12-20] A number of students have gone on to become Members of Parliament, including former "Senior Man" of the college Piers Merchant, [cite web
last = Durham Union Society
authorlink = Durham Union Society
title = Friday 13 October
work= Termcard, Epiphany Term 2006
date = 2006
url = http://www.dus.org.uk/termcard.pdf
format = PDF
accessdate = 2006-12-20] , veteran Parliamentarian and Chairman of the powerful Public Accounts Committee Edward Leigh MP and current Conservative MP Crispin Blunt. [cite web
last = BBC NEWS
authorlink = BBC News
title = Crispin Blunt
year = 2001
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/vote2001/candidates/candidates/4/47501.stm
accessdate = 2006-12-20 ]

Masters

The college is run by a 'Master', the most senior position in the SCR. As the first master of University College, Archdeacon Charles Thorp, also held the post of university warden. Following Thorp's death in 1862 the mastership was created as a separate position, and has been held by twelve people:

* Archdeacon Charles Thorp 1832 - 1862
* Dr Joseph Waite 1865 - 1873
* Rev Herbert Booth 1873 - 1875
* Dr Alfred Plummer 1875 - 1902
* Dr Henry Gee 1902 - 1919
* Dr Henry Ellershaw 1919 - 1930
* Rev J.H. How 1930 - 1939
* Colonel Angus Alexander Macfarlane-Grieve 1939 - 1954
* Colonel Len Slater 1954 - 1973
* Dr D.W. McDowall 1973 - 1978
* Dr Edward Salthouse 1979 - 1998
* Professor Maurice Tucker 1998 - present

References

External links

* [http://www.dur.ac.uk/university-college/ University College] official website
* [http://castle-jcr.dur.ac.uk/ University College JCR] undergraduate student organisation
* [http://www.dur.ac.uk/castle.mcr/ University College MCR] postgraduate student organisation
* [http://www.dur.ac.uk/castle.scr/ University College SCR] staff organisation