Memories of 1908 unearthed at 100 year-old 'Hogwarts' hall of residence
As one of the country's oldest halls of residence celebrates its centenary this autumn, a student album from 1908, its first year of operation, has been unearthed. Grade II Listed Wantage Hall at the University of Reading was the first purpose-built hall of residence in England after those of Oxford and Cambridge. It was funded by Lady Wantage, who paid for the purchase of the land, the building of the hall and every last details including the furniture and cutlery. She opened the hall in late October 1908.
(Media-Newswire.com) - As one of the country's oldest halls of residence celebrates its centenary this autumn, a student album from 1908, its first year of operation, has been unearthed.
Grade II Listed Wantage Hall at the University of Reading was the first purpose-built hall of residence in England after those of Oxford and Cambridge. It was funded by Lady Wantage, who paid for the purchase of the land, the building of the hall and every last details including the furniture and cutlery. She opened the hall in late October 1908.
Local Reading resident, Mrs Audrey Miller, heard about the centenary and contacted the university with regard to a 1908 Autograph Album which she had found in her loft when she moved into the property in the 1970s. Unable to contact its original owner, Mr Frank Wright, it has remained in her loft until now. The album offers an incredible insight into life at the hall at the time, including a photograph of Mr Wright and his friends in the hall in 1910, sketches of their lives and experiences at Wantage, humorous profiles of their lecturers, the rules of their own Anti-Woffling Society and its fines system.
It also includes a profile of each of the student occupants of C Table including Spud, Holly and Uncle and Frank himself. He is described as "Treasurer of the AW Society ( Anti-Woffling ). Never woffles of course but rumoured to have distinct partiality for gooseberry tarts flavoured with ginger."
Spud is a "Humorist, vegetarian and naturalist. Denounces slaughtering for
food.", Holly an "Encyclopedia and Uncle – "Never grumbles,very patient and still waiting for Spud's Associateship ginger beer."
Mrs Miller will present the album to the Warden of Wantage Hall, Professor John MacDonald, to look after 'in loco parentis' of the Album's original owner.
The University is also trying to trace the relatives of Mr Wright to try and reunite the album with his family.
Professor MacDonald said: "We are very grateful to Mrs Miller for providing us with this wonderful insight into the first years of Wantage. While everyone who has visited or studied here would attest to the majesty of its buildings, it has always been the students themselves who have made it what it is. At the beginning of this new academic year, I reminded the freshers of the words of BF Skinner, writing a generation ago – 'that education is what remains when what is learned has been forgotten'. I am sure the early students of Wantage Hall, such as Mr Wright, will have felt that as strongly as we do one hundred years later."
In recent years, Wantage Hall has been compared to the Hogwarts of Harry Potter books, as it is built in the Tudor manor-house style of ancient colleges with an imposing turreted clocktower gateway and the principal public rooms in the north-wing across the quad, including the magnificent dining hall, with open hammer-beam roof and oak-panelled walls. Indeed, it now holds an annual Hogwarts Dinner for students. As well as the wonderful exterior façade, it retains a remarkably well preserved interior. The original part of the hall from 1908 is Old Court. New Court was added in 1970. Students also live in the Victorian villa opposite the main entrance known as Lawn. In all, it accommodates 245 students on a fully catered basis. It is situated five minute walk to the north of the main University Whiteknights campus on Redlands Road.
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