Portal:University of Oxford/Selected college/19

New College was established in 1379 by William of Wykeham, Bishop of Winchester, and stands on Holywell Street and New College Lane to the east of the city centre. It was founded in conjunction with a school, Winchester College, with the intention that students from Winchester would progress to New College, and both institutions have buildings by master mason William Wynford. At the time of its foundation, it was the largest Oxford college, and now has about 420 undergraduates and 180 postgraduates. The buildings include a large chapel, in which the college choir of boys (educated at the nearby New College School) and men sing regular services. The large grounds include part of the old Oxford city wall, and the college is still inspected once every three years by the Lord Mayor to ensure that the college is maintaining the wall as William of Wykeham promised. New College Boat Club represented Great Britain in the 1912 Summer Olympics and won the silver medal for rowing. Former students include the politician Tony Benn, archbishop Henry Chichele (founder of All Souls College), the judge Lord Goff of Chieveley, and the actor Hugh Grant. Past or present fellows include Richard Dawkins, Marcus du Sautoy, Isaiah Berlin and H. L. A. Hart. (Full article...)