Christ's College

Christ’s College stands in the heart of Cambridge, a short walk from the market square. Founded in 1437 as God’s House, it moved to its present site in 1448 and became Christ’s College in 1505 after a generous endowment by Lady Margaret Beaufort. The college occupies a compact group of courts and gardens, with buildings from the 15th to the 20th centuries. A round lawn in First Court is bordered by wisteria and the Master’s Lodge. Second Court opens onto the Fellows’ Garden, where two mulberry trees planted in 1608 still bear fruit. The college has educated some of the most influential figures in British history. Alumni include the poet John Milton, the naturalist Charles Darwin, and nine Nobel laureates such as Martin Evans and Duncan Haldane. The Master is Lord McDonald of Salford. Christ’s ranks among the university’s top colleges for academic achievement, regularly placing near the summit of the Tompkins Table. Its students achieve first-class degrees at a rate well above the Cambridge average. Visitors walk through First Court past the chapel and Great Gate tower. The Fellows’ Building in Second Court frames a quiet garden, while Third Court displays irises each May and June. The Malcolm Bowie Bathing Pool, fed by Hobson’s Conduit, is one of the oldest outdoor pools in the country. The Fellows’ Garden hosts an annual summer party, and the college’s boat club uses a boathouse on the River Cam.