Robinson College
University of Cambridge
Facade of Robinson College
Arms of Robinson College
Scarf colours: from one edge of the scarf to the other, the first third grey, then three equal stripes of blue, gold and grey, and then the final third blue
LocationGrange Road (map)
Full nameRobinson College in the University of Cambridge
AbbreviationR[1]
Established1977
Named afterDavid Robinson
Sister collegeSt Catherine's College, Oxford
WardenSir Richard Heaton
Undergraduates428 (2022–23)[2]
Postgraduates256 (2022–23)[2]
Fellows110
Endowment£25.7m (2021)[3]
Websitewww.robinson.cam.ac.uk
Students' associationrcsa.co.uk
MCRmcr.robinson.cam.ac.uk
Boat clubfacebook.com/robinsonboatclub/
Map
Robinson College, Cambridge is located in Cambridge
Robinson College, Cambridge
Location in Cambridge
The stained-glass windows of Robinson College Chapel, designed by John Piper.

Robinson College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1977, it is one of the newest Oxbridge colleges and is unique in having been intended, from its inception, for both undergraduate and graduate students of both sexes.

The College was founded through a significant donation from the businessman and philanthropist, Sir David Robinson. In 1981 Robinson College was formally opened by Queen Elizabeth II with both undergraduate and graduate students in attendance.

History

The College was founded after David Robinson offered the University £17 million to establish a new college in Cambridge. Robinson later gave his College another £1 million on the occasion of its official opening. The first graduate students and fellows joined the College in 1977. Undergraduates (20 of them) were first admitted in 1979, but significant numbers only began arriving the following year. Robinson was formally opened by Queen Elizabeth II in May 1981.

While Robinson embraces many Cambridge traditions, such as Formal Hall, a chapel and porters' lodge, it avoids others: for example, it allows its students to walk on the grass in the College gardens. In general, the College has a reputation for being slightly less formal and traditional than other Cambridge Colleges.

Buildings and grounds

Designed by the Scottish architectural firm Gillespie, Kidd & Coia, Robinson's main buildings are distinctive for the use of handmade red bricks in their construction. In November 2022, Historic England announced that the College had been awarded Grade II* listed status.[4] In November 2008, the college was included in the "50 most inspiring buildings in Britain" by The Daily Telegraph.[5] Of particular note is the chapel, which contains stained-glass windows designed by John Piper and houses a renowned Frobenius organ.[6] The oak-panelled dining hall seats 300 for formal dining and the library is remarkable for its use of woodwork, for which it was awarded the Carpenter’s Award for 1981.[7]

The College is located a ten-minute walk west of the city centre, behind the University Library, near the science buildings in West Cambridge and the arts faculties on the university's Sidgwick Site. It stands on a 12.5-acre (5.1 ha) wooded site of historical and horticultural interest.[8] The College Gardens are a fusion of ten pre-existing gardens which date back to late Victorian and early Edwardian times[9] and are crossed by the Bin Brook stream, which once supplied water to the Medieval Hospital of St John (now St John's College).

Within its grounds are Thorneycreek House and Cottage (built in 1895), the Crausaz Wordsworth Building and the Maria Björnson outdoor theatre. Robinson owns a number of houses on Adams Road and Sylvester Road adjoining the main college site, which it uses for student accommodation.

The main entrance to the college is via a drawbridge-like ramp which is accessible to wheelchair users, and there are also some special facilities for those with physical or visual disabilities.

The Needham Research Institute is also located within the College grounds.

Conferences

As one of Cambridge's most important conference centres, Robinson hosts conferences when undergraduate students are absent.

Student life

Students of the college are represented by the Robinson College Students' Association, or RCSA,[10] headed by a President, with members of the college elected to the RCSA committee every year. Politically, Robinson is generally seen as liberal. Robinson has supplied a large number of Green Officers to the Cambridge University Students' Union in recent years and in 2008 was judged the most environmentally friendly college in Cambridge.[11]

Like other colleges, Robinson provides its students with recreational facilities such as a JCR, MCR, TV room, art room, café and bar. As a result of its other role as a conference centre, the college is equipped with two auditoria that are available for student use during term; the smaller one being frequently used by the college's film society and the larger by the "Brickhouse Theatre Company" (dramatic society).[12] There is also a purpose-built party room that hosts college "bops" and other entertainment. Musical talents are catered for by a music room, CD library and chapel.

There are also several sports teams, covering most major sports: everything from water polo and cricket to rowing and rugby union. Robinson has become successful in hockey, winning the Cambridge colleges league and colleges Varsity match against Oriel College, Oxford, in 2009–2010, in addition to becoming mixed cuppers champions by beating Churchill College, Cambridge.

College arms

The arms of the College are described as follows: 'Azure in base two Bars wavy Argent over all a Pegasus rampant Or gorged with a Crown rayonny Gules.'[13]

College grace

The Latin grace is read before the start of formal hall.[14]

Latin: Benedic, domine, nobis et donis tuis, per Jesum Christum dominum nostrum. Amen.
Lord, bless us and your gifts, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Notable people

Alumni

Fellows

In addition, the writer Valerie Grosvenor Myer, although not formally a Fellow, supervised English students at Robinson in the 1980s.

List of Wardens

See also

References

  1. ↑ University of Cambridge (6 March 2019). "Notice by the Editor". Cambridge University Reporter. 149 (Special No 5): 1. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  2. 1 2 "Student Numbers by College". Information Hub. University of Cambridge. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  3. ↑ "Accounts for the year ended 30 June 2021" (PDF). Robinson College, Cambridge. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  4. ↑ Historic England. "Robinson College, Cambridge (Grade II*) (1482703)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  5. ↑ Woodman, Ellis (20 November 2008). "The 50 most inspiring buildings in Britain". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  6. ↑ benedge (24 June 2015). "Chapel". Robinson College. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  7. ↑ benedge (24 June 2015). "About". Robinson College. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  8. ↑ Archived 5 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ↑ benedge (24 June 2015). "Gardens". Robinson College. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  10. ↑ "About Us | Robinson College Students' Association". Rcsa.co.uk. 30 October 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  11. ↑ Archived 27 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ↑ "Brickhouse Theatre Company – The theatre company of Robinson College, Cambridge". srcf.net. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
  13. ↑ As listed on Robinson College cards found in the Porters' Lodge.
  14. ↑
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