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Central · Founded 1624

Pembroke College

A quietly handsome college opposite Christ Church, rich in literary heritage as the Oxford home of Samuel Johnson and of J.R.R. Tolkien.

Official site ↗

Founded 1624. Founded in 1624 under a charter of King James I, endowed by the bequests of Thomas Tesdale and Richard Wightwick and named after William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke, then Chancellor of the University.

Ranges from the 17th-century Old Quad and Chapel Quad to a striking modern expansion, the Rokos Quad (2013), reached by a bridge across Brewer Street.

Don’t miss

  • 17th-century Old Quad
  • College chapel
  • Modern Rokos Quad linked by a bridge over Brewer Street
  • Samuel Johnson associations and memorabilia

Notable names

Samuel Johnson · J.R.R. Tolkien, Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor here, who wrote much of The Hobbit as a fellow · James Smithson, founder of the Smithsonian Institution · Michael Heseltine · Senator J. William Fulbright

Visiting

Set on a quiet square off St Aldate's; visitor access is limited and subject to college policy, so check current arrangements before visiting.

Opening hours, admission and current access change often — check the official site before you go.