We are pleased to welcome visitors to St Hugh’s. We are very proud of our College and happy to show it off.

Visitors are welcome at St Hugh’s but as we are a busy, working college we respectfully ask that you contact us prior to you visit. You can contact Kate Pritchard on 01865 274965 or our Porters on 01865 274900.

We are happy for you to take photos of our beautiful College but would ask that you please refrain from taking photos of our students and staff without their permission. If you do take photos or video share them with us via:

Email hello@st-hughs.ox.ac.ukTwitter @StHughsCollegeVine @StHughsCollegeFacebook www.facebook.com/StHughsCollege

Tell us what you think!We would love to hear what you think about our College, the tour, and what you might like to see in the future. If you have any feedback please contact Kate by telephone, email or pop in to the Communications and Marketing Office and say hello. This isn’t a comprehensive guide to the history of our College so let us know if there is something else you think we should include or would like to see!

Want to know more?If the brief introduction to our College has sparked interest in our unique history you may be interested in A Serious Endeavour: Gender, education and community at St Hugh’s, 1886-2011 by Laura Schwartz. When St Hugh’s was founded in 1886, it was born amid fierce debate about women’s emancipation and higher education for women was still a new and hard-won achievement. The book is a highly enjoyable read and can be purchased from the Communications and Marketing Office (by Main Entrance) or the Porter’s Lodge.

Did you know?This beautiful space is available for hire as a professional conference and events venue. We also host wedding receptions. If you would like to know more please get in touch with conferences@st-hughs.ox.ac.uk.

Enjoy your time at St Hugh’s and please return soon.

hello@st-hughs.ox.ac.uk

THESTHUGH’STOURWELCOME TO ST HUGH’S COLLEGE

THESTHUGH’STOURFrom the very beginning the smooth running of the College depended upon the hard work of resident ‘servants’ or Scouts and Porters. If you look up to the first floor of the East Wing of Main Building you can see the windows of rooms that were specially reserved to house female servants. They were slightly smaller than the rooms designed for students and some of them had bars on the window. Before the Second World War two or three servants would share a room.

College servants, especially Porters, were also responsible for enforcing the strict chaperone rules and disciplinary codes that female students were subjected to, right up until the 1960s. In the early years students had to be accompanied to lectures by a chaperone (an older woman who was not a student and whom they had to pay for her services), a woman was not allowed into the rooms of male students without a chaperone, and men were allowed to visit St Hugh’s only between certain, strictly enforced, hours of the day.

All women’s colleges in Oxford are on the edge of the town. This was deliberate to ensure that women were kept at a safe distance from male students.

1. PORTER’S LODGE

St Hugh’s has a number of distinguished alumni and we are very proud of alumna Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese opposition politician and leading democracy campaigner. Daw Suu studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at St Hugh’s from 1964 to 1967.

She returned to Oxford in June 2012, when she received her honorary degree and the College held a private birthday party for her. During this time she commented ‘Happy moments are one of the pillars that keep the spirit uplifted during hard times. St Hugh’s and Oxford are inextricable from my happiest memories, those that I could draw on when the beauty of the world seemed dim.’

Daw Suu also spoke about education in Burma ‘I would like to see university life restored to Burma in all its glory. And I would be so grateful if my old university, the University of Oxford could help bring this about once again.’ St Hugh’s recently launched The Aung San Suu Kyi Summer School and the first cohort of Burmese students (aged 15 and 16) are currently staying at the College. They will receive English language tuition and experience a range of social and cultural activities.

It was success all round for Oxford at 2013’s annual Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge with the Dark Blues winning both the reserve boat race and the main event. St Hugh’s students Benjamin French and Laurence Harvey competed in the Isis/Goldie reserve boat race, and cox Oskar Zorrilla put in an impressive performance to help Oxford win the main Boat Race.

2. MAIN BUILDING

THESTHUGH’STOUR THESTHUGH’STOURThe Dining Hall was extended in 1958 which enabled those who lived in College houses to come into College for all meals. It was also during this time that a number of Fellows took the initiative to start a Wine Cellar - in response to what they felt was the poor wine choice!

The 1960s saw considerable relaxation in what were seen as ‘old-fashioned’ regulations and customs, and towards the end of the decade the formal procession of dons to High Table was abolished and the wearing of trousers for women allowed (except on guest nights).

There used to be a bell, built into the floor by High Table, which Fellows could step on during meals to gain the attention of staff but this was removed by former Principal Sir Andrew Dilnot (see portrait).

The Hall is a community space where Fellows and Lecturers, students, staff and guests come together to eat and socialise. Formal Hall dinners are particularly special events.

3. DINING HALL

One of the most famous martyrs of the suffragette cause attended St Hugh’s. Emily Wilding Davison died when she threw herself in front of the King’s Horse at the Royal Derby in 1913.

2013 is the centenary of Emily’s death and the college is holding a celebration event in October where a number of eminent female speakers will discuss the topic Have we justified the faith of our suffragette sisters? The debate will be followed by a ‘suffragette tea party’ in the Dining Hall, and we will be exhibiting images from the Emily Wilding Davison collection at LSE and British Pathe footage. If you are interested in hearing more about this special event please speak to Kate Pritchard today, or by email kate.pritchard@st-hughs.ox.ac.uk.

By the start of the twentieth century, St Hugh’s was home to a considerable amount of suffragette activity. It was a subject for the College’s debating society, marches were advertised on notice boards, and by 1910 the College had acquired its own banner to take on national marches. Only peaceful methods of campaign were promoted in College and in 1913 St Hugh’s allowed the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies to rent their buildings in Norham Gardens.

Support for women’s suffrage and feminism became an established part of St Hugh’s culture, and it is interesting to compare this with the founding of the College which was connected to the upper echelons of the Anglican clergy and Oxford’s most conservative circles.

4. EMILY WILDING DAVISON ROOM

St Hugh’s was founded by Elizabeth Wordsworth, the great-niece of the poet William Wordsworth. Elizabeth was Principal of Lady Margaret Hall and she used her own money to start the College (then known as St Hugh’s Hall) in 1886. It followed LMH and Somerville to become the third of the Oxford women’s colleges. When St Hugh’s was founded it catered for the grand total of four students and was housed in small residences in Norham Road, Norham Gardens and Fairfield Road in Park Town. When student numbers grew, a house at the junction of St Margaret’s and Banbury Roads ‘The Mount’, was purchased, demolished and replaced by Main Building which opened in 1916, housing 64 students.

St Hugh’s initially charged lower fees than the other colleges and so gave less well-off women the opportunity of an Oxford education. Some viewed it as a ‘cut-price’ institution for those who couldn’t afford to attend the more prestigious LMH. When, in 1893-4, Elizabeth proposed that St Hugh’s merge with its more upmarket parent college, the LMH Council rejected this on the grounds that St Hugh’s was associated with a ‘lower class’ of student who might bring down LMH’s reputation! St Hugh’s first Principal, however, had a much more ambitious vision for the College. Annie Moberly (see portrait) was determined to ensure that it survived as a College in its own right, and that it provided as high a quality of education as the other women’s colleges. Annie Moberly was typical of many women from middle-class backgrounds. She was respectable but not wealthy, and after her father’s death and faced with the daunting question of how to earn a living, Elizabeth’s offer to head up St Hugh’s would have come just at the right time.

Founding a women’s college in Oxford during this period took courage and perseverance. The women’s colleges were not officially part of the University until 1909. Women students had to rely on the good will of male tutors from the men’s colleges for many of their ‘coachings’ as the women’s colleges did not employ their own female tutors until the beginning of the twentieth century. Women were not granted degrees in Oxford until 1920. Nevertheless, they took the same exams as men and received a certificate which confirmed what the class of their degree would have been.

The Hall is named after Clara Mordan (see portrait) - St Hugh’s main benefactor who left the College a large sum of money on her death in 1913. Mordan was not only a supporter of women’s education but also a member of the suffragette organisation, the Women’s Social and Political Union. One might wonder how Clara Mordan and Elizabeth Wordsworth got on as Elizabeth Wordsworth famously abhorred the militants’ tactics.

The Hall is now used for lectures, concerts, meetings and events.

5. MORDAN HALL

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The existing decorations of the Chapel are the result of a refurbishment in the 1950s, funded by a bequest from St Hugh’s first history tutor Cecilia Ady. But the Chapel was a central part of college life from the very beginning. Unlike the non-denominational Somerville College, St Hugh’s was founded as an Anglican institution. In fact, the decision to initially charge lower fees was to provide for the daughters of impoverished clergymen who might otherwise have to send their daughters to secular places of education. Until the 1920s almost a quarter of all students were the daughters of Anglican clergymen.

Elizabeth Wordsworth (founder) and Annie Moberly (first Principal) were both the daughters of Bishops and both part of a High Anglican milieu that came out of the Anglo-Catholic Oxford Movement which had swept the University in the 1840s and 50s. One of the leaders of the Oxford Movement, John Keble, was a close family friend of Annie Moberly.

Elizabeth Wordsworth initially hoped to allow only Church of England students into the college, although she later agreed to insert a conscience clause into the statutes. Nevertheless, all students were expected to attend prayers in Chapel first thing every morning and Sunday evening Bible classes and lectures were compulsory.

To this day the Chaplaincy remains an important part of College life. During term time there are weekly services to which all are welcome. Dates and times are available on our website.

6. THE CHAPEL

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As you walk through Main Building you can see the majority of the College’s administration offices, including the Principal’s and Bursar’s offices. With students and staff occupying this same space there is a relaxed, friendly community feel to studying at St Hugh’s.

Main Building is linked to the Mary Gray Allen Building. This building was part of the original plans for the college but was not completed until 1928. It was funded by money left by Clara Mordan to Mary Gray Allen, which reverted to the College on Mary Allen’s death.

During the 1920s University women tutors began to demand salaries that reflected their professional status. Mary Gray Allen wrote to the College expressing her concern at tutors’ low salaries. She proposed to donate £25 if the College would match it. This is equivalent to approximately £1,000 in today’s money.

7. MARY GRAY ALLEN BUILDING

THESTHUGH’STOURThe existing Junior Common Room was built in 2001 but the JCR as an autonomous and democratic student forum has existed since the early 1920s.

Both political and domestic matters have led the JCR to take action over the course of St Hugh’s life. In the 1940s some students planned to block St Margaret’s Road in protest against the poor food they were served in Hall. By the early 1960s students were holding ‘eat-ins’ as another form of protest against high Hall fees. Rent strikes became a feature in the 1970s and have continued into the 21st century. When fees were first introduced in 1998 St Hugh’s students were particularly active, boasting the largest number of non-payers (those who withheld their fees) in the whole of Oxford.

The JCR (and MCR for graduate students) have representation on all College committees and work closely with the Principal, Bursar, Senior Tutor and other staff in improving student life at St Hugh’s.

8. JCR

The Library was established in 1888 and its first volume was a copy of the Koran, presented by the Bishop of Tokyo. The first Library Committee meeting was held in 1896 where the Librarian, Miss E.M. Venables, reported that the Library owned more than 1,000 volumes. This doubled to 2,000 by 1903 and grew to over 12,000 books by 1932.

When the College’s new Main Building was constructed in 1914 the library moved into the Mordan Hall and is named the Mordan Library. For the College Jubilee, a new Library was designed by Herbert Buckland, the architect of the Main Building, who mirrored the interior design of the Mordan Library. The new Library was named after the first Principal: The Moberly Library and opened in 1936.

During the Second World War, St Hugh’s was requisitioned as a Military Hospital treating head injuries and the then Librarian, Philippa Hesketh-Williams wrote that ‘The Library was kept open as usual for students...it was also open to the whole hospital.’

Thanks to generous donations, the growing collection of books resulted in a refurbishment during the late 1970s, and a centenary fundraising appeal in 1986 brought the number of volumes to 58,000.

A major gift from the parents of alumnus, the late Howard Piper, in 1999 helped further refurbish the Library which was renamed The Howard Piper Library in his honour.

In 2009 the College appointed its first professional archivist to catalogue and manage its historical records. Today, the library is one of the most well-stocked and largest College libraries in Oxford.

9. THE LIBRARY

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The Library is only open to visitors on the guided tour. If you would like to visit our Library on another occasion contacthello@st-hughs.ox.ac.uk.

THESTHUGH’STOUR THESTHUGH’STOURSt Hugh’s has always been one of the largest colleges in Oxford, and has continued to build in response to its expanding student body. It can now provide accommodation for all undergraduates for the entire length of their degree - something quite unusual in Oxford today.

When the Wolfson Building was about to be built, tutor in French, Miss Daniel held a ‘Demolition Party’. The guests brought tools (including the Principal - an eminent archaeologist who brought her excavating tools) and began to demolish the interior of the houses that stood on the planned site.

Students were given a single room in the women’s colleges rather than the larger study-bedroom ‘sets’ provided in the men’s colleges. Having ‘a room of one’s own’ was profoundly important in allowing women a degree of intellectual independence and creative freedom they were not usually permitted at home. Students enjoyed decorating their rooms to their own tastes and inviting guests to afternoon tea and late night cocoa parties.

The long corridors of St Hugh’s were a particular feature of the women’s colleges in both Oxford and Cambridge. When the first ever women’s college was being built in Cambridge its founder requested that it not be organised vertically around staircases as the men’s colleges were. Corridors were preferred because they enabled a greater degree of surveillance.

10. WOLFSON AND KENYON BUILDINGS

11. THE GARDENSEAST LAWN

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The gardens at St Hugh’s have largely evolved rather than been planned. After the College was founded in 1886, it started to purchase the surrounding properties and incorporated the gardens into the present grounds the College enjoys today. Therefore, many areas of the garden were in private hands before being incorporated into the College grounds.

A large house called ‘The Mount’ stood near the present terrace and was demolished in 1914 when the Main Building was built. The other two large houses which made up the site are still standing - ‘The Lawns’ at 89 Banbury Road and ‘The Shrubbery’ which is now the Principal’s Lodgings. A number of allotments, orchards and small market gardens also existed on the site for a time.

In Victorian times, the building of properties along the Woodstock, Banbury and Canterbury roads took place and, over time, the College acquired the freeholds of all the properties that now make up its ‘Island Site’. Most of the garden walls were eventually demolished and the sites integrated into the one large garden we have today. The grounds and gardens are maintained by three College staff.

THESTHUGH’STOURThe Dickson Poon University of Oxford China Centre Building will be an interdisciplinary centre concerned with all aspects of Chinese culture. This stunning new building will be completed in April 2014.

The building will feature state-of-the-art conference facilities, accommodation and the University of Oxford China Centre Bodleian Library, containing 60,000 volumes and housing a large part of the Bodleian’s Chinese book collection.

The total cost of the building is £21m, of which £14.5m has already been raised from some extremely generous donations from benefactors. Most notable amongst these is the Hong Kong philanthropist, Mr Dickson Poon CBE, who kindly donated £10m towards the cost of the building. You can learn more about this exciting project on our website.

12. CHINA CENTRE

The Fellows’ garden was completely revamped in 2011, thanks to generous donors. It was officially opened as part of the College’s 125th anniversary celebrations. The beds were designed to combine a mixture of trees, shrubs and wildlife-attracting perennials. The woodland part of the garden retained trees such as magnolia, a large tulip tree (Lirodendron tulipifera) and an impressive Foxglove tree (Paulownia fargessii). The metal gates leading to the lime avenue were handcrafted to compliment the new garden.

In the spring a variety of bulbs bloom under the lime avenue: trees donated in 1984 by the then Principal, Rachel Trickett. The Swan Gates lead to Canterbury Road and were designed by the poet and glass engraver Laurence Whistler.

St Hugh’s primary emblem is the swan. The College was named after Hugh of Avalon, who was canonised in 1220, and in whose diocese Oxford had been. The swan of Stowe had a deep and lasting friendship with the saint, even guarding him while he slept. The swan would follow him about, was his constant companion, and would attack anyone else who came near him. The Swan is also the name given to the free student newspaper of St Hugh’s College. It is printed every Sunday night (during term), and distributed in the Lodge.

The large lawn area leading to the Principal’s Lodgings is flanked by a slightly wild border of trees and shrubs which provides a sanctuary for wildlife. At the back of the lawn, near the road, can be seen a beautifully flowering Judas tree (Cercis siliquasstrum). A large, old sweet chestnut tree dominates and an old, gnarled (but free fruiting) Mulberry tree (Morus alba) can be found in front of the stable block.

13. FELLOW’S GARDEN AND SWAN GATES

14. EAST GARDEN AND MAPLETHORPE

THESTHUGH’STOUR THESTHUGH’STOURBy re-joining the main College through the wooden gates to the right of the Stables you come to the East Garden.

The first block of grass is given over to being a spring meadow, uncut until early summer and studded with a variety of spring bulbs. There is a fine avenue of Prunus serlua, the Tibetan cherry with a rich brown and peeling bark.

The northern half of the lawn is mostly planted with a selection of trees including a large Corsican Pine (Pinus nigra), Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) and Swamp Cypress (Taxodium disticium).

A beautiful Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica) towers over the compost heaps and as the path leads to Kenyon Building two large, spreading hornbeams (Carpinus betula ‘fastigiata’) dominate the surroundings. The curious sculpture to the side of Kenyon Building is ‘A man lifting bricks’ by Marcus Cornish and was sponsored by a leading brick manufacturer.

To your right is the Maplethorpe Building which provides student accommodation, and excellent conference, meeting and event facilities.

15. CROQUET AND EAST LAWN

As you follow the path back towards the main part of the College you will pass the outside of the Library and the herb bed which is cultivated for use in college meals. The lawn outside The Mary Gray Allen Building has an impressive beech tree, a young Cercidiphyllum japonica, and flowers and shrubs flank the lawn.

The lawn is now used for croquet and provides a great way for students, staff and visitors to relax and enjoy the gardens. Croquet has also been very popular with school visits as part of our outreach programme.

East Lawn is the area in front of the croquet lawn (looking from the buildings) and to the side of the Maplethorpe Building. It contains a number of trees, including the large and magnificent beech trees (Fagus sylvatica), a mature weeping pear (Pyrus salicifolia), strawberry tree (Arbutus unendo) and a lovely flowering cherry (Prunus avium). Crocus and daffodils carpet the ground beneath the beech trees during Spring.

Walking across East Lawn and round to the left (so Main Building can be seen on your left) you reach an area of the College known as ‘The Wilderness’. This is a wild area containing large trees and a small hazel grove.

The gate here leads to ‘The Lawns’ at 89 Banbury Road.

16. WILDERNESS AND THE LAWNS

Returning to College you approach Main Building, across the Main Lawn. This formal lawn area is often used as a venue for College balls and events. We don’t have a ‘Keep off the grass’ policy and the lawn is often enjoyed by the students.

The centrepiece planting is the ‘Armistice’ magnolia (Magnolia soulangiana), donated by the JCR and planted in 1918 to mark the Armistice of World War one. An interesting tree/shrub is the large suckering ‘Dwarf buckeye’ (Aescuculus parviflora) which is situated near the terrace beds.

To the west of the lawn is an area containing a renovated rose arch rescued from a historic 1920s feature that had fallen into disrepair. Behind the rose arch is ‘The Dell’, a Fern feature with dogs-tooth violets (Erythronium spp) evident in the Spring. This area was formerly gravel pits from ‘The Mount’, the house that stood in the grounds.

The St Hugh’s sundial, made by Joanna Migdal, is a modern replacement for an eighteenth-century dial by the highly-respected London mathematical instrument maker Richard Glynne. There is a history of the sundial on the College website.

The formal terrace has been planted with box hedges and roses in an attempt to formalise the area. Historically the beds were planted with helianthimums and alpine plants to create a ‘jewel garden’ created from cuttings taken from other Oxford College gardens.

The beds against the building contain some interesting plants, including a Pomegranate bush which produces vivid orange flowers but doesn’t fruit. The large and impressive evergreen Magnolia grandiflora adorns the Dining Hall wall.

17. MAIN LAWN, THE DELL AND THE TERRACE

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We hope you have enjoyed visiting St Hugh’s. We would love to hear feedback on your visit today. It will help us plan for future community events. Recent visitors shared their thoughts on our lovely College.

If you would be interested in keeping up-to-date with College news and events let us know hello@st-hughs.ox.ac.uk.

THESTHUGH’STOUR OXFORDOPENDOORSTHANKS FOR VISITING ST HUGH’S

HUGH’S HORTICULTUREOur beautiful gardens only look so good because of the hard work and dedication of Martin, Jacqui and Stephen in the Gardens team.

A BLOG FROM THE GARDENS OF ST HUGH’S

When they’re not out weeding, watering or mowing they share their experience, hints, tips and favourite plants on their regular blog: Hugh’s Horticulture. It’s well worth a follow and if you’d like to write a piece sharing your experience of St Hugh’s gardens please get in touch. Maybe you could share your thoughts on your visit today!

You can follow their blog at

www.hughshorticulture.wordpress.com

‘It must be a privilege to study here.’

‘My favourite college garden.’‘Deceptively extensive.’

‘Spacious, lovely, friendly and welcoming.’

‘So glad I came.’

‘Wonderful to see behind the doors.’