University House

University Hall of Residence, 1908, designed by Herbert T. Buckland. Brick with sandstone ashlar dressings and Cumberland slate roof with brick stacks.

The building comprises a central block facing east onto a formal garden, containing the library and dining room, with a corridor behind linked to the main west entrance, staircase hall, and cross wings. The north wing originally housed the kitchen and offices, while the south wing contained the warden's accommodation. The Beale Wing was added to the north in 1913, named after Alice Beale, a pioneer in social reform and wife of the first Vice-Chancellor.

EXTERIOR

The main block demonstrates Queen Anne style with Edwardian Baroque tendencies and some Free Style characteristics. It is 2 storeys with attic storey, articulated by a continuous modillion cornice. The fenestration follows a 1:2:1:2:1:2:1:2:1 pattern, with canted ashlar bay windows to the single bays. Ground-floor windows are 9/9-pane sashes and first-floor windows are 6/6-pane sashes. Segmental-pedimented dormers with 6/6-pane sashes crown the eaves.

The pedimented end bays feature ashlar banding and ashlar bay windows set beneath attic windows in segmental-headed eared brick architraves. The central bay is crowned by a large Jacobethan-style pedimented ashlar dormer. Half-glazed doors with 6-pane overlights flank this central bay. All other windows are set in full-height ashlar surrounds, with panelled aprons to first-floor windows. Three-window ranges with diaper and chequer work link the central block to the cross wings.

The cross wings feature hipped 6/6-pane sashes to hipped dormers and three-window east elevations with 6/6-pane sashes in projecting ashlar bays. First-floor windows are crowned by cast-iron Art Nouveau balconies. The north and south elevations are executed in similar style. The south elevation features hipped dormers and pedimented projecting bays with 2-storey canted bay windows flanking a 2-window range centre. The entire elevation is linked by a raised garden terrace with ashlar coping and steps to a brick retaining wall with dog-tooth course.

The 3-storey west elevation is articulated as 4:3:4 fenestration and exhibits more Free Style characteristics. A continuous parapet and projecting central entrance bay with ashlar banding features a semi-circular projecting ashlar bay lighting the stairs. Double-leaf doors are set in a rope-moulded architrave. The windows flanking this bay comprise 4/4-pane sashes alternating with small-pane casements, set in stone architraves with aprons. Beyond are 16-pane casements in moulded stone architraves to the second floor and 6/6-pane sashes in pedimented architraves to the first floor, which have panelled aprons extending to meet moulded stone architraves of 9/9-pane ground-floor sashes. The outer ranges each have recessed bays—3 to the left and 4 to the right—articulated by banded brick pilasters.

A bell tower with multi-gabled bellcote is located in the angle of the south wing. The south wing projects in 2 storeys with attic and is executed in similar style to the east elevation, with modillion cornice and hipped dormers. It is linked to a 2-storey hipped-roof small block designed as warden's accommodation, which has a central half-glazed door and flanking bay windows with timber casements on its west elevation. The hipped block to the north has been absorbed into the Beale Wing.

The Beale Wing of 1913 features an east elevation with 1:1:2:1:1 fenestration in similar style to the main block's east elevation. Its rear elevations are relatively plain. The wing was extended in 1964.

INTERIOR

A cast-iron balustrade adorns the main staircase. The hall features a stylised vine frieze to the cornice, which is repeated throughout the interior. Original joinery includes panelled doors and glazed-tile fireplaces in all student bedrooms, which vary in size and all face south, east, or west off the axial corridor.

The dining hall and library are both contained in the main range with windows facing east onto the garden. Columns with stylised Romanesque capitals support cross beams finished in plaster with rope-moulded edges, strapwork decoration, and vine friezes. Three oak chimneypieces in the dining hall feature surrounds and Georgian-style panelled overmantles. A cast of an ancient frieze, donated in 1913, hangs above the chimneypiece in the library, which contains original bookshelves and panelling. Double-leaf doors to the ends of the dining hall and to the corridor are set in eared architraves with plain entablatures.

The common room to the first-floor centre bay window features an oak Arts and Crafts style chimneypiece with glazed-tile grate surround. The cornice displays the vine frieze found elsewhere throughout the building.

HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE

University Hall holds particular significance both within the context of the women's movement in the late Victorian and Edwardian periods, particularly regarding the hard-fought right to access higher education, and as a distinguished Edwardian interpretation of the Queen Anne style. It was the first women's university hall of residence, as opposed to the self-contained colleges built for Oxford, Cambridge, and London universities. The architectural style was clearly influenced by the Queen Anne movement, which was associated with mainstream educational architecture of the period, particularly Board Schools from 1872 onwards and the colleges that spearheaded women's entry into higher education from the late 19th century, including Girton College, Cambridge (1871, listed grade II), Newnham College, Cambridge (grade II and II* buildings, 1874–1910, by Basil Champneys), Somerville (grade II, 1882, by T G Jackson), and Lady Margaret Hall (grade II, 1881–3, by Champneys). University Hall exhibits more Edwardian Baroque tendencies, mixed with some Free Style touches, than any of these predecessors, with all principal elevations robustly articulated and distinguished by fine attention to detail.

The plan was clearly based on these colleges, with each room having its own fireplace and facing away from northern aspects. A detailed specification was compiled by Margery Fry, warden between 1904 and 1914 and former librarian at Somerville College, to which she later returned as Principal. The building was mostly funded through public subscription and served as a military hospital during the First World War.