The Renaissance of Girls' Education in England: A Record of Fifty Years' ProgressZimmern, Alice
History
The Renaissance of Girls' Education in England: A Record of Fifty Years' Progress
Zimmern, Alice
Women -- Education -- Great Britain
Of these Somerville and Lady Margaret were founded almost
simultaneously, but with somewhat different aims, the former being
undenominational, the latter distinctly Church of England. Both were
intended as halls of residence for Association students, but in 1881
Somerville was incorporated as a college ‘to provide for the residence
of women students’ as well as ‘for the instruction of women students and
for the delivery of lectures to such students’; it was not, however,
till 1894 that the term ‘college’ came into general use. Like the
Cambridge colleges it has grown from small beginnings; it has been
enlarged four times, not on one plan but by the addition of fresh
buildings, so that it does not present the appearance of a connected
whole. But standing in pleasant grounds among fine old trees, this very
medley gives it a certain charm. It can now accommodate over seventy
students, besides the Principal, secretary, and four resident tutors.
Many of its old students have gained honourable positions for
themselves; indeed the Principals of two leading women’s colleges,
Holloway and Bedford, were chosen from the ranks of old Somerville
students.
Lady Margaret was founded by the Bishop of Rochester and others, and has
adhered to its original plan of supplying residence to Church members of
the Association. It undertakes no part of the instruction, but makes use
of the Association’s tutorial and lecturing staff. For some years the
numbers continued small, but as they gradually increased it became
necessary to construct an additional hall. Part of this, the Wordsworth
building, was occupied in 1896, when the numbers went up to forty-nine,
and the council are now appealing for additional funds with which to
build a chapel and the central block, to contain the library and
permanent dining-hall. A pretty thatched boat-house on the Cherwell is
an attractive feature of the grounds, and Lady Margaret is proud of its
rowing club. The Principal is Miss Wordsworth, daughter of the late
Bishop of Lincoln and great-niece of the poet. The hall takes its name
from Lady Margaret Beaufort, that renowned patroness of learning, and
there is a cast from her effigy in the tiny college chapel.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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