Mary Somerville (1780-1872) was a Scottish polymath: a mathematician, scientist, astronomer, geographer, geologist and artist. Her interest in science stemmed from a fascination with the natural world, which began when she was a child in Burntisland in Fife. She received a little, basic schooling, and instead educated herself in Latin, Greek algebra and geometry, hiding her studies from her disapproving… Read More »Mary Somerville Collections
Margaret Kennedy (1896-1967) read Modern History at Somerville from 1915-19. She was celebrated in the 1920s and 1930s for her novels, the most famous of which was The Constant Nymph (1924), her second published work. It brought her instant recognition, was a commercial and literary success, and was reprinted in several editions in Britain and America. Margaret Kennedy adapted The Constant… Read More »Margaret Kennedy Papers
Margery Fry (given name Sara Margery Fry, 1874-1957) was the descendant of a large and notable Quaker family of chocolate manufacturers and philanthropists. Her great-aunt was Elizabeth Fry, the 19th century prison reformer. Margery’s father was a high court judge and her siblings included Joan, a social reformer, Anna, a pacifist, and Roger, artist, critic and member of the Bloomsbury… Read More »Margery Fry Collection
Amelia Ann Blanford Edwards (1831-1892) is celebrated as the ‘Founding Mother’ of Egyptology. She was a writer, famed in her lifetime for her novels which included Barbara’s History (1864) and Lord Brackenbury (1880). She contributed short stories to Charles Dickens’ magazines, Household Words and All the Year Round, and wrote for newspapers including the Morning Post. A talented musician, artist,… Read More »Amelia Edwards Collection
Hall and Maitland shortly after construction almost a hundred years ago and below as it is today. The building was designed by Edward Fisher (brother of historian and politician H.A.L.Fisher) and built in 1913 to house a dining hall, senior common room, private dining room, kitchen and a block of twenty new student rooms and allowed the College to dine together in one… Read More »Hall and Maitland, c.1913
The cast on the steps of the library loggia, featuring Edith Pearson (1903) as Dis, Octavia Myers (1903) as Persephone & Henrietta Escreet (1903) as Demeter Demeter was the College Masque, performed to celebrate the opening of the Library in 1904. It was written by Robert Bridges (husband of Margery Fry’s cousin Monica) with music by Sir Henry Hadow, brother of… Read More »Demeter, 1904
In the early days of Somerville Hall, the grounds were described in the College Log book as being quite rural and included a meadow, cows and a pig which were later replaced with a donkey and a pony. The pony, pictured here, was ocasionally pressed into service to transport students and staff on weekend outings. Back to Snippets from the Archives
Approach to House in the early days of Somerville, almost unrecognisably rural! The cottages on the right were originally used to house students but were demolished in 1930s to make way for the East quadrangle which is now known as Darbishire. Below is the roughly equivalent view today. Back to Snippets from the Archives
Many Somervillians have gone on to great things and in this photo from 1915 we see Somerville College students Dorothy L Sayers (first standing row from the front, far left) and Vera Brittain (same row but at the far right). Dorothy L Sayers went on to write fiction including the well-known detective novels featuring Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane. One… Read More »Dorothy L Sayers and Vera Brittain at Somerville in 1915
There was a strong dramatic tradition at Somerville in the first half of the twentieth century with plays being written and performed in College most years. In its dramatic heyday, the College could boast a Second Year play in Michaelmas Term, a First Year play in Hilary and The Going Down Play (by the finalists) in Trinity. This scene is taken… Read More »Twelfth Night