St Catharine's College, Cambridge

For people who check facts

St Catharine's College is one of the colleges that make up the University of Cambridge. It was founded on St. Catharine's day (November 25) 1473 (some sources say 1475) by Robert Wodelarke, Provost of King's College.

The initial foundation was not well-provided for and the College had no students at all in its first century. Money troubles have afflicted the College more recently and in the late 19th century it discussed a merger with King's College.

The College was known as 'Katharine Hall' until 1861 when it adopted its present name. Most of the current buildings, including the three sided open main court, were built in the late 17th Century. Most Cambridge students refer to it by the nickname 'Catz'. There is a long-running but good-natured feud with Queens' College which apparently derives from Queens' disapproval of Catz having built its court in front of Queens'.

Noted past graduates of the College include the late Elizabethan poet and playwright James Shirley; John Addenbrooke, founder of Addenbrooke's Hospital; the actor Sir Ian McKellen, and television journalist Jeremy Paxman. The College has always generously contributed to the Cambridge team in the University boat race, providing three of the eight in both 2003 and 2004.

A history of the college was written by W.H.S. Jones in 1936.

External Link

http://www.caths.cam.ac.uk - the St. Catharine's College official website

Colleges of the University of Cambridge