About Wadham College

Wadham's Architecture & History

Wadham's severe symmetry is the finalized form of a plan first attempted in 1265 at Merton; after 350 years, the revolution was complete: a self-contained unit providing all things necessary to scholarship ­ chapel, library, gardens, and study rooms.

One of Oxford’s handsomest colleges, Wadham was founded in 1612 under Letters Patent granted by King James I. It occupies six acres in the center of Oxford a few minutes’ walk from the Bodleian Library, Sheldonian Theatre and Blackwell’s Bookshop.

The Royal Society held its first meetings at Wadham in the mid-seventeenth century, and over the years the college’s members have included Sir Christopher Wren, three Lords Chancellor, Sir Thomas Beecham, Frederick Lindemann (Churchill’s scientific advisor during World War II), Cecil Day-Lewis (late Poet-Laureate) and Sir Maurice Bowra, classical scholar and wit who served as Warden from 1938 to 1970. The current Warden is John Flemming, formerly Chief Economic Advisor at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

The college’s gardens, sports field, and squash and tennis courts will be available throughout the program. Because of Wadham’s central location, students will find it easy to visit the museums, galleries and libraries for which Oxford is famous and to attend the various concerts and plays sponsored by city and university organizations.

Famous Alumni of Wadham College