Clare College, Cambridge

Clare College, Cambridge
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Name	Clare College
Caption	Clare College from the River Cam
Established	1326 (as University Hall); refounded 1338
Named for	Elizabeth de Clare
Sister college	St John's College, Oxford
Head	Loretta Minghella
Location	Trinity Lane, Cambridge
Students	~700
Website	https://www.clare.cam.ac.uk/

Clare College, Cambridge. It is the second-oldest constituent college of the University of Cambridge, founded in 1326 and refounded in 1338 by Elizabeth de Clare, a granddaughter of King Edward I. The college is renowned for its iconic Clare Bridge and expansive gardens along the River Cam, as well as a strong tradition in both the arts and sciences. It maintains a vibrant academic community with a notable list of alumni spanning fields from politics and literature to science and music.

History

The college originated as **University Hall** in 1326, established with an endowment from Richard de Badew. Financial difficulties led to its refounding in 1338 by Elizabeth de Clare, who provided a new charter and substantial endowment, leading to its naming as **Clare Hall**. The college survived the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII, unlike many Cambridge institutions, due to its secular status. Significant expansion occurred in the 17th century under the leadership of Thomas Paske, who initiated the construction of the iconic Old Court. Throughout the English Civil War, the college was a centre of Puritan thought, with many fellows, including Ralph Cudworth, associated with the Cambridge Platonists. In 1856, Clare Hall changed its name to Clare College to avoid confusion with the newly founded Clare Hall for advanced study. The 20th century saw further growth, including the admission of women in 1972, making it one of the first previously all-male colleges at Cambridge to become mixed.

Buildings and grounds

The architectural heart is **Old Court**, a masterpiece of English Renaissance design completed in 1638, featuring one of the most photographed vistas in Cambridge through its gatehouse towards the chapel. The college is famed for the 1640 **Clare Bridge**, the oldest bridge in Cambridge, adorned with distinctive stone balls, one of which is famously misshapen. The grounds include the expansive **Fellows' Garden** and the **Memorial Court**, designed by Giles Gilbert Scott and opened in 1926. Across the River Cam lies the modern **Clare College Boat House** and the **University of Cambridge Botanic Garden**, to which the college holds the key. The college's music society is based in the **Old Kitchens**, and its main dining hall features portraits of notable figures including John Tillotson.

Student life

Student life is centred around the **Clare College Students' Union** (ClareSU) and over 30 affiliated clubs and societies. The **Clare College Music Society** is particularly prominent, hosting regular concerts in the chapel and supporting the renowned **Clare College Choir**, which tours internationally and has recorded under conductors like John Rutter. Sporting traditions are strong, especially in rowing, with the **Clare Boat Club** competing in the annual May Bumps on the River Cam. The college hosts formal halls several times a week and annual events such as the **Clare May Ball**. Student publications include the magazine *Clareification*, and the college's central location provides easy access to Cambridge institutions like the Fitzwilliam Museum and King's College, Cambridge.

Academics

The college admits approximately 130 undergraduates and 90 postgraduate students annually across all subjects offered by the University of Cambridge. It has a particularly strong reputation in fields such as Law, Mathematics, and Natural Sciences. Tutorial supervision is organized by the college's **Fellows**, who include experts like historian David Reynolds and physicist Athene Donald. Clare participates in the Cambridge Tripos system and boasts a high rate of academic success, with many students achieving top results in examinations. The college library holds over 70,000 volumes, including special collections, and the **Clare College Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities** (CRASSH) is a major interdisciplinary hub.

Notable alumni

Alumni, known as **Clareites**, have made significant contributions across diverse fields. In science and mathematics, they include Nobel laureate Sir John Kendrew, co-discoverer of the structure of myoglobin; pioneering computer scientist Maurice Wilkes, designer of the EDSAC; and astronomer Sir Arthur Eddington, who confirmed Einstein's theory of general relativity. Literary figures include the poet Seamus Heaney, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature; novelist and playwright David Hare; and critic Sir Frank Kermode. In public life, alumni range from former Prime Minister Lord John Russell and Lord Chief Justice Lord Lane, Baron Lane to economist Sir Partha Dasgupta and broadcaster James Naughtie. The college's musical tradition is upheld by figures like composer John Rutter and conductor Trevor Pinnock.

Category:University of Cambridge colleges Category:1326 establishments in England Category:Educational institutions established in the 14th century