The , commonly known as '''Hild Bede''', is a
College of the
University Of Durham in
England . It is the University's largest college, with over 1000 students. It is neither a
Bailey nor a
Hill college, and is situated on the banks of the
River Wear between
Durham 's '
Peninsula ' and
Gilesgate .
Hild Bede was formed in 1975 by the merger of two single-sex teacher training colleges: the , for men, was founded in 1838 and was associated with the University from 1892; while '''
St Hild's College''', for women, was founded in 1858 and was associated with the University from 1896. Graduates of St Hild's were the first female graduates from Durham in 1898. To maintain the history of the two original colleges, males in the College wear the Bede colours of light and dark blue, the colours that the College are more widely known for, whilst female colours are the green and lilac of the original Hild College.
The college consists of several distinct buildings, including the main Hild building, which is the administrative hub of the college, other accommodation blocks, such as Thorp, Christopher, Bede, and several smaller houses such as Hild Gym, Bede Gym, Charles Stranks, Gables, Manor House, Manor Lodge and Belvedere. Grove and Ravensworth terrace, previously owned by the college, were sold in 2006. At the centre of college is the Caedmon Complex, which contains a dining hall, bar (The Vernon Arms, named after the original Hild Bede Principal), music rooms and the only student-run cinema in Durham, Bede Film Soc
{Link without Title} .
The college is one of two colleges in Durham to have two chapels — The Chapel of St. Hild and The Chapel of the Venerable Bede (University College has the Norman and Tunstall Chapels). Following the merger between the College of St. Hild and the College of St. Bede, St. Hild's Chapel was deconsecrated and has since been converted into a function room (although the Harrison and Harrison organ is still in situ and in a working order) and renamed the Joachim Room after Nina Joachim, the last Principal of St. Hild's College. The Chapel of the Venerable Bede, therefore, has taken its place at the forefront of Christian worship within college, with three services per week being held therein — Choral Evensong every Thursday at 7.30pm, Eucharist every Sunday at 11am and Compline every Sunday evening at 9pm. The twenty-strong Chapel Choir rehearses for an hour before each service as well as a two-hour session every Wednesday afternoon. Bede's Chapel has a fine acoustic (it having been borne in mind during the design and construction stages of the Chapel) and to fill it there is a fine example of Harrison and Harrison's organ-building skill — a two-manual 16-stop instrument, which provides ample colour and dynamic range to accompany a vast array of musical styles. The Chapel also occasionally plays host to a number of concerts from choral and organ recitals to concerto and orchestral concerts.
The college is sometimes regarded as having a slightly disproportionate
Public School intake and an inclination towards competitive
Sport . Hild Bede's sporting reputation is strong, putting forward several teams in a variety of sports. The college maintains a high level of participation and achievement in all intercollegiate sporting leagues.
Historically for the first time, as of the 2006–07 season Hild Bede will have three men's football teams in the highest university league, the premiership, which no other college can lay claim to.
1. The men's hockey team currently reside in North East League Division 1, a feat unique among the Durham Colleges; rivals in this league include Durham University 3rd and 4th teams and Newcastle University's 2nd team. The college's affiliated rugby team,
Bede RFC , were the university's Floodlit Tournament Champions for 2005–06, defending this title successfully to remain champions in 2006-07 whilst simultaneously capturing the College League title in the same year (2006-07), remaining unbeaten in both competitions In many years of touring the team is yet to be defeated, and include victories over the national teams of Mexico, Estonia and Australia amongst their recent successes. The rugby team also recently wrote, directed and starred in a satirical production entitled Gladiat-Rah, which was performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and won five Durham University Drama Awards. Many ex players are seen playing for
A Few Good Men Cricket Club . The college has extensive sporting facilities, which aids the high level of sporting attainment.
Each year, several members of the college are awarded the Ann Boynton Award for outstanding contribution to college, for those who embody the spirit of the college whilst maintaining outstanding academic excellence. Winners of the award can be viewed on the college website.
Original references no longer available.
