Christ's College
Christ's College began life as God's House in 1437 on land which now houses the famous chapel at King's College. It was renamed Christ's College when it received it's present charter in 1505 and was expanded due to the generosity of Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of King Henry VII and founder of St John's College.
Lady Margaret was a key figure in the War of the Roses, secretly conspiring against King Richard III with the result of her son winning the crown at Bosworth Field. As the King's mother she commanded a high status, even more so due to her potential claim to the throne which would have had precedence over her son's.
Location
Christ's is centrally located on St Andrews Street. As with many of the city centre colleges it appears outwardly small and could be easily overlooked. However within the college walls the grounds are quite extensive, organised into three old courtyards, New Court and a large Fellows' Garden. The first court is interesting, with an unusual round lawn overlooked by the master's lodge. Another idiosyncratic feature is the Great Gate tower which is the front entrance to the college. Although imposing you will notice it is out of proportion - the bottom of the tower has been cut off to allow a rise in street level which took place in the city. This can also be seen in the staircases adjacent to the tower which lead down to rooms below street level.
At the back of the college is the controversial New Court (nicknamed "the Typewriter"), a modernist building designed and constructed by Sir Denys Lasdun and completed in 1970. The New Court was considered successful, and was described in Lasdun's obituary in the Guardian newspaper as "superb".
Darwin kept a dog and a shotgun in his room
Charles Darwin lived in the 16th Century buildings of first court for most of his stay at Christ's. Originally intending to be a man of medicine but failing at that, Darwin came to Christ's to become a man of god. This didn't work out either. However his stay at Christ's did introduce him to a circle of natural scientists who helped lead him to his life's work. You can now visit his room which has been painstakingly restored to it's original condition. Darwin kept a dog and a shotgun in his room. The latter he apparently used to blow out candles! Cambridge students are no longer allowed to keep either.
Darwin was famously very fond of his years in Cambridge, going so far as to claim they were the happiest of his life. Less well known is his later claim that "during the three years which I spent at Cambridge my time was wasted, as far as the academical studies were concerned".
Famous alumni
Although Charles Darwin is undoubtedly the college's most famous alumni many others stand with him. Amongst them are John Milton (author of Paradise Lost) and Louis Mountbatten (the last Viceroy of the British Indian Empire). More recently Rowan Williams, Simon Schama and Sacha Baron Cohen were all Christ's men.
For more information (including college opening times) please visit the Christ's website.