Tuesday 10 June 2008

U for Universities in the U.K




By 1200, Cambridge was a thriving commercial community which was also a county town and had at least one school of some distinction. Then, in 1209, scholars taking refuge from hostile townsmen in Oxford migrated to Cambridge and settled there. At first they lived in lodgings in the town, but in time houses were hired as hostels with a Master in charge of the students. By 1226 the scholars were numerous enough to have set up an organisation, represented by an official called a Chancellor, and seem to have arranged regular courses of study, taught by their own members. From the start there was friction between the town and the students (Town and Gown). Students, usually aged about fourteen or fifteen, often caused disturbances; citizens of the town, on the other hand, were known to overcharge for rooms and food. King Henry III took the scholars under his protection as early as 1231 and arranged for them to be sheltered from exploitation by their landlords. At the same time he tried to ensure that they had a monopoly of teaching, by an order that only those enrolled under the tuition of a recognised master were to be allowed to remain in the town.

The inhabitants of Cambridge speak about Oxford as "The Other Place


Don't forget to visit mrs.Nesbitt to see the other great posts.

6 comments:

Texas Travelers said...

You link in Mr Linky for "U" is wrong. it's 'blogspot', not 'blogpost'.

You need more University. ;o)


U is Under scrutiny.
Come visit,
Troy and Martha

Kjersti said...

Great choice.

Have a nice ABC-Wednesday.

Reader Wil said...

Right you are texas travelers, I am not fit for Universities though. I quitted one of them after a year! So now you've discovered my secret.

Reader Wil said...

Thank you Kjerstis!

Daniel Chérouvrier said...

Smart post about Univer-cities !

Reader Wil said...

Thanks deslilas!