Central · Founded 1610
Wadham College
Visitors come for one of Oxford's best-preserved Jacobean quadrangles and gardens, plus its role as cradle of the science that became the Royal Society.
Official site ↗Founded 1610. Founded under the will of Nicholas Wadham and established by his widow Dorothy Wadham, who ran its creation and drew up its statutes after his death.
A remarkably unified Jacobean college built in a single 1610-13 campaign, its main quad, hall and chapel largely unchanged, backed by extensive gardens with fine mature trees.
Don’t miss
- Unified Jacobean front quad, hall and chapel
- Large mature gardens
- Birthplace of Warden John Wilkins's Experimental Philosophy Club, forerunner of the Royal Society
- Founded by a woman, Dorothy Wadham
Notable names
Sir Christopher Wren (architect) · Rosamund Pike (actor) · Melvyn Bragg (broadcaster and author) · Michael Foot (Labour leader)
Visiting
Historically among the more accessible central colleges for visitors at set times; current opening hours and any garden access should be verified with the college.
Opening hours, admission and current access change often — check the official site before you go.