Sidney Sussex College
A small college with a friary's cellars, a rococo hall and Cromwell's connection.
Sidney Sussex is among the smaller colleges, set on Sidney Street opposite the Sainsbury's supermarket. It owes its existence to a will: Lady Frances Sidney, Countess of Sussex, left £5,000 and some plate to found a college, and her executors carried this out in 1596, seven years after her death. It was meant as a Protestant foundation, built on the site of the Franciscan friary that had stood here for nearly three centuries.
What to look for
- The medieval cellars. Under Hall Court survive remains of the Grey Friars' complex, and the college keeps its wine in them.
- A Georgian makeover. In the 1820s and 1830s, under the Master William Chafy, the original red brick was covered in cement and the buildings raised slightly, with the architect Jeffry Wyatville supervising.
- The Hall. Sir James Burrough redesigned it in 1752, and its rococo ceiling and plasterwork are the highlight. A portrait of Lady Frances hangs over high table.
- Cloister Court. John Loughborough Pearson's Gothic Revival range of 1891 has stone staircases, where the older buildings have timber ones.
- The Chapel. Its richly carved interior, in a late 17th-century manner, dates from the early 20th century, with work completed in 1923. A tablet installed in 1960 notes that Oliver Cromwell's head is buried somewhere nearby; Cromwell had matriculated at Sidney in 1616.
Chapel and choir
The earlier chapel, built in the 1770s, was tiny at about 20 by 30 feet. Today's chapel is open through the day to the college community whatever their faith, and has a Steinway grand piano, a harpsichord, a chamber organ and a Flentrop organ. The choir sings Choral Evensong on Fridays and Sundays and Latin Choral Vespers on Wednesdays in term, and its recording of music by Thomas Weelkes was nominated for a Gramophone Award in 2013.
The Confraternitas Historica
The college history society, founded in 1910, is reputed to be the longest-running student history society in Europe. It uses Latin titles: the member in charge is the Princeps rather than a president, and other posts include Magister, Tribune and Pontifex Maximus. Meetings were suspended from 1914 to 1919.
Practical notes
Report to the Porters' Lodge on arrival. The college is open to the public to see the grounds and chapel Monday to Sunday through much of the year, but it closes for the exam period from April to June and on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Weddings can close it too, so phone the porters before a special trip.
Nearby
Within a few minutes' walk
