King's College, Aberdeen

King's College in Old Aberdeen, Scotland, is a formerly independent university founded in 1495 and an integral part of the University of Aberdeen . Its historic buildings are the centrepiece of the University of Aberdeen's Old Aberdeen campus, often known as the King's or King's College campus.

History

The University and King's College of Aberdeen ("Collegium Regium Abredonense") was the first university in Aberdeen, the third in Scotland and the fifth in the United Kingdom. In 1495, William Elphinstone, the relatively newly appointed Bishop of Aberdeen petitioned Pope Alexander VI on behalf of King James IV to create the facility to cure the ignorance he had witnessed within his parish and the north generally. A papal bull was issued in February 1495 (1491 in the calendar of the day) founding the university; a Royal charter later that year recognised Aberdeen's status as equal to that of Scotland's two existing universities at Glasgow and St Andrews. As a former professor at the University of Paris, Elphinstone crafted the university very much into the continental European tradition. Hector Boece, a fellow professor at Paris, was awarded the status of first Principal of the new institution.

It would not be until 1509, with the issuance of a Charter by Elphinstone that university life at King's truly began. The Chapel construction, begun in 1498 was consecrated in 1509 and dedicated to St Mary. By 1514, the university had some forty two members in the form of both staff and students. citeweb|url=http://www.abdn.ac.uk/noblecollege/building.htm|title=The Noble College- Building on the European Tradition|accessdate=2007-07-30]

Following the Reformation, King's College was purged of its Roman Catholic staff but also largely resistant to change in its methods. George Keith, the fifth Earl Marischal however was a moderniser within the college and supportive of the reforming ideas of Peter Ramus. In April 1593 however he founded a second university in the city, Marischal College. Initially, Marischal offered the Principal of King's College a role in selecting its academics, however this was refused by the King's authorities - cited as the first blow in a future rivalry.

In common with Marischal, King's College supported the Jacobite cause and following the defeat of the 1715 rising both were largely purged of their academics and officials.

College buildings

The building work itself on the main buildings of the college began in April 1500 [citeweb|url=http://www.aberdeentoday.co.uk/landmark6.htm|title=Aberdeen Today, The Granite City; Kings College|accessdate=2007-07-30] on marshy land, supported by large oak beams. The chapel is topped with an Imperial Crown, ie a closed crown, which appears to make a claim to imperial status for the Scottish monarchy. The original was lost in a storm in 1633, and the present crown is a recreation. King's College retains more medieval woodwork than any other Scottish church, including the choir stalls and screen.

The Cromwell Tower was a building built during the 1650s-60s during the period of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland, although finished after Charles II had been reinstalled as King. It was originally used for accommodation and had an ornate turret at its top. It continues its function as an observatory to this day. [citeweb|url=http://www.abdn.ac.uk/physics/astro/cto/histcrom.htm|title=History of the Cromwell Tower Observatory|accessdate=2007-07-30]

The 1930 construction of the Elphinstone Hall effectively created a two-quadrangle arrangement, connected to the original King's buildings. The front of the Hall faces outwards, with its lawn effectively creating a central open space now bordered on the other sides by Old Aberdeen's High Street and the New Building ("New King's"), constructed in 1913.

King's College is now within the university's main Old Aberdeen campus and retains its original and historic quadrangle which houses a large conference centre and the university's chapel. Elphinstone Hall is used for functions, dining and examinations. The rear of King's College is now used as a pavilion for sports. Notably the old college buildings now provide a central focal point to the wider University of Aberdeen campus. While small in comparison with some of the newer constructions and areas, the building maintains a great deal of importance and is central to the atmosphere of the university.

The King's College Centre

The King's College Conference Centre is a conference and events space within the King's College building, established in 1991 within the former university library, yet maintaining many of the original features of the buildings.

The conference centre housed the Scottish Parliament between the 28th and 30th May 2002 whilst the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland met in its temporary home at New College, Edinburgh. During this time, the parliament was addressed by Her Majesty, the Queen as part of her Golden Jubilee tour of the United Kingdom.

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