List of fictional Oxford colleges

List of fictional Oxford colleges
Not to be confused with Oxbridge colleges.

Fictional colleges are perennially popular in modern novels, allowing the author much greater license when describing the more intimate activities of an Oxford college. Such institutions are often home to eccentrics or miscreants, murderers or snobs, and though wistfully romantic in their cloistered courts, host fictional events that could prove libellous were identifiable institutions used.

Below is a list of some of the fictional colleges of the University of Oxford.

Contents

His Dark Materials

Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials novels feature a number of fictional Oxford colleges:

Inspector Morse

The Inspector Morse series of book by Colin Dexter is predominently set within Oxford and environs, including the University. Consequently many fictional colleges are named. The derived television series, Inspector Morse and Lewis, continues the idea:

  • Beaufort College - Inspector Morse TV series; Named for Henry Beaufort, a Plantagenet royal and Chancellor of the University of Oxford from 1397 to 1399.
  • Beaumont College - Inspector Morse novels; Beaumont Street is a long road in central Oxford. One end emerges opposite Balliol's side entrance, and it extends to the front of Worcester College. Beaumont Street was formerly the site of Beaumont Palace, perhaps the "location" of the college.
  • Chaucer College - Lewis (stand-in for Merton College); Named for influential poet Geoffrey Chaucer, "the father of English poetry". His son Thomas Chaucer also managed the affairs of Henry Beaufort, Oxford's Chancellor.
  • Courtenay College - Inspector Morse TV series (based on Oriel College); Nuneham Courtenay is a village 5 miles south-east of Oxford; in the 14th century, the village had belonged to the influential Courtenay family, after whom the fictional college might also be "named". Nuneham House was purchased by the University. The Harcourt Arboretum, part of the tree and plant collection of the University of Oxford Botanic Garden, occupies part of what were the grounds of Nuneham House.
  • Gresham College - Lewis, episode "Dark Matter" (stand-in for Lincoln College); The term "Invisible College" was a group of Oxford scientists (including Boyle, Hooke and Wren) who went onto establish the Royal Society. The group would meet at Gresham College in London.
  • Lady Matilda's College - Lewis (based on and filmed in Lady Margaret Hall)
  • Lonsdale College - Inspector Morse novels and subsequent Lewis TV series; Lonsdale scenes were filmed at Brasenose College.
  • Mayfield College - Lewis episode "Life Born of Fire"; Mayfield Press is based in Cowley Road; the nearest college would be Greyfriars on Iffley Road. However, scenes were filmed in and around Brasenose College.
  • St Jude's College - Lewis
  • St Saviour's College - Inspector Morse TV series (based on New College)
  • Savile College - Lewis (filmed in and around Trinity College)
  • Trevelyan College - Lewis
  • Wolsey College - Inspector Morse novels (based on Christ Church); Cardinal Wolsey founded Christ Church.

Jude the Obscure

Thomas Hardy's novel Jude the Obscure features a number of fictional 'Christminster' colleges, a thinly fictionalized version of Oxford:

  • Biblioll College
  • Rubric College
  • Sarcophagus College
  • Sepulchre College

Other mentions

See also

References

  1. ^ St. Hilda's College History, st-hildas.ox.ac.uk

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