is one of the constituent colleges of the
University Of Oxford in the
United Kingdom . Located close to the University Parks, it is one of the smallest and less wealthy colleges within the university.
The college was originally founded (under the name of
Spring Hill College ) in
Birmingham , as a college for
Nonconformist students, who could not at that time be admitted to Oxford or Cambridge. The college moved to Oxford following the relaxation of the religious restrictions, and was founded in its present form in
1886 . The Victorian buildings were designed by
Basil Champneys .
Until 1995 Mansfield was a
Permanent Private Hall rather than a college, the Queen's Charter being awarded in that year. Undeniably with a population exceeding little more than 180 undergraduates at any one point, Mansfield remains the smallest undergraduate college in
Oxford University apart from Harris Manchester, which only accepts mature students. Its reputation for food around the university is excellent. It is the leader of the University's F.E. Access scheme and has amongst the highest proportions of state school students at any Oxbridge college.
No description of Mansfield would be complete without mention of Hugh and Mike, the porters.
Hugh Flint was the drummer for
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers and appeared on their first two albums, the second of which featured
Eric Clapton . He later formed the band
McGuiness Flint .
Amongst the notable academic staff are the Reverend Dr
John Muddiman , G. B. Caird Fellow in New Testament Theology.
Mansfield has recently gained a 300 year old rivalry with
Corpus Christi , from whom Mansfield wrested the title of "smallest college" some ten years previously. This has so far culminated in a strangely underwhelming protest by Corpuscles, in which a document stating the superiority of Corpus was set on fire. The OxStu claims this was the work of JCR President Ed Mayne, but in fact the document fell foul of Mansfield's "aura of burninating" - the document, like the JCR and the Boat Club, simply spontaneously combusted.
Alumni of Mansfield College include:
- M von Trott (tried to assassinate Hitler)
- Chris Bryant
- Guy Hands
- Erik Routley
- Rev Prof George B Caird (Dean Ireland's professor of the exegesis of holy scripture)
- Paul Crossley (pianist)
- C. H. Dodd (theologian, chairman of New English Bible translators)
- Michael White (music critic)
- Chris Cragg (Financial Times)
:See also .
