Visiting Wadham College, Oxford

Wadham College was established in 1610 by Dorothy Wadham, acting in accordance with the will of her late husband, Nicholas Wadham, a member of an ancient family from Devon and Somerset.

The college's central buildings, which showcase the Jacobean architecture style, were designed by architect William Arnold and constructed between 1610 and 1613.

During the mid-17th century, under Warden John Wilkins, the college served as a hub for experimental scientists including Robert Boyle and Christopher Wren. This group held regular meetings at the college, forming the nucleus that eventually founded the Royal Society in 1662.

The Holywell Music Room, located within the college grounds, opened in July 1748. It is recognized as the oldest purpose-built music room in Europe and England's first concert hall.

The chapel's original Jacobean woodwork, which previously circled the interior, was altered in 1834 when the present stone reredos was inserted into the east end.

After over three centuries as a men-only institution, Wadham College was among the first five Oxford colleges to begin admitting women as full members in 1974.

In 2011, Wadham became the first college at Oxford or Cambridge to fly the rainbow flag, demonstrating its commitment to equality as part of an annual Queer Week celebration.