Trevelyan College, Durham

Trevelyan College, Durham
Head	Professor Martyn Evans
JCR	Claire Markwell

Trevelyan College, often abbreviated to Trevs, is a college of the University of Durham in North Eastern England. Founded in 1966, the college takes its name from social historian George Macaulay Trevelyan, Chancellor of the University from 1950 to 1957. Originally an all-female college (the last to open in England), the college became fully mixed in 1992. Trevelyan College is noted in Durham for its friendly atmosphere and degree results; it currently heads the collegiate academic league with 87.2% of those who graduated in 2006 doing so with first or upper second class degrees . It is also known for the display of daffodils that surrounds it every year and for its annual musical.

Although Trevelyan is a separately registered higher educational institution (HEI), it is different from Oxbridge colleges in that it is owned (and for the most part run) by the University. Again, unlike Oxbridge, all academic tutoring takes place in the University's departments, though every student has a college tutor who acts in a pastoral capacity.

The internal construction of Trevelyan is very unusual, comprising of a string of hexagon-shaped blocks resulting in most rooms containing somewhat unusual angles. One story is that the architect believed that women (for whom the college was originally designed) would be intimidated by a building full of right angles and corners. Others have speculated that the building was designed to minimise privacy, encourage social interaction and make it difficult to 'misbehave'; or that it is intended as a modern interpretatiton of Durham Castle. The original blocks are labelled A-J, though there is no "I Block" to be found and there is also a modern block of ensuite bedrooms, K Block.

The layout features rooms based around staircases, landings and courtyards. The entrance hall is referred to as "the Cobbles", although said cobbles are no longer there having been removed during a recent modern refit. Trevelyan also has its own comprehensive library, music rooms, bar, shop (or buttery) and fitness suite; it also possesses a chapel (the Barn) which is used for prayer, talks and musical/dramatic rehearsals.

When the college became fully mixed, one of the central courtyards, 'The Cloisters', was roofed over to provide a new, much enlarged bar. The area above this new roof is nicknamed "The Goldfish Bowl" by students, due to the proximity of the windows looking into other rooms. It is not unknown for students to hang washing across this space, use it as a sunning spot, or to catch glimpses of fellow students in rooms opposite. The Undercroft, a relaxing seating area, links the bar with the rear of the college. All of these areas overlook the central quad, a setting for the college's musical events and formal ball. To the rear of the college there are landscaped lawns and a tennis court.

The building's unique design has won it a Civic Design Award. Modern additions include an en-suite block (the Macaulay Wing, or K Block) and the Sir James Knott Hall, catering for sports and conference events. A third of the college was fully refurbished in 2005. Approximately 320 fully caterered students can be housed in the building, and around 600 are members of the college, making Trevelyan the third smallest of Durham's seventeen colleges, and the smallest of those maintained by the university council. The college's shield bears the upper half of a horse swimming in water, which features on the arms of the Trevelyan family. The image represents the overcoming of adversity, an image humorously reflected in the title of the college’s alumni magazine, Hippocampus[1]. The Trevelyan college monthly magazine is called Hex magazine, as a tribute to the the colleges interesting hexagonal shape.

Notable Alumni

• Mo Mowlam (former cabinet minister)
• Minette Walters (thriller writer)
• Pippa Greenwood (garden expert)
• David J. Bodycombe (puzzle writer)

External links

• Trevelyan College official university website
• Trevelyan College JCR undergraduate student body's website
• Trevelyan College MCR postgraduate student body's website
• Trevelyan College SCR academic and pastoral body attached to the college