St Hilda’s College is located in tranquil grounds on Cowley Place adjacent to the River Cherwell near Magdalen Bridge.
Our grounds include seven significant buildings as well as a riverside pavilion. Facilities available include teaching and meeting spaces, offices, student accommodation, the Dining Hall, the Kathleen Major library, the Jacqueline du Pré Music Building, and a gymnasium.
The College is also custodian of a range of other properties in and around Oxford including large student accommodation buildings on St Giles, Norham Gardens, Iffley Road, and Cowley Road. We have several smaller houses off-site, and we also own Radley Large Wood to the south of Oxford.
Our grounds and their history
The first building occupied by the College was Cowley House built by Humphrey Sibthorp. Together with later extensions, it is now known as Hall.
In 1920 the College acquired the lease of Cherwell Hall, now known as South, which was originally Cowley Grange, a house built by A. G. Vernon Harcourt. The lease of Milham Ford, a former school between Hall and South, was acquired in 1958.
The College's Wolfson building opened in 1964 while another, Garden, opened seven years later. The Christina Barratt Building was opened in 2001.
In 2018, Milham Ford was demolished to make way for a new riverside building, the Pavilion, and in 2020, another new building, Anniversary Building, replaced other older buildings.
In 2022 the College acquired Radley Large Wood, between Kennington and Radley, to the south of Oxford.
Also in 2022, the College acquired the former St Benet’s Hall properties at 38 St Giles and 11 Norham Gardens.
In 2023 a further property acquisition at 14-16 Norham Gardens enabled the College to provide additional student accommodation. These properties complement the existing St Hilda’s off-site portfolio including the Jocelyn Morris Quad on Iffley Road, and the accommodation at 205 Cowley Road, amongst our other smaller houses in Oxford.
Our library
Jacqueline du Pre building
Undergraduate accommodation
Graduate accommodation
Building
Hall Building
Dorothea Beale bought Hall Building, then called Cowley House, in 1893. Built in the 18th century, it is the oldest part of the College. Its spectacular foyer – Regency Square – is at the heart of the original building. The Kathleen Major Library and Archive is named after a former College Principal. The Val McDermid Bar in the JCR, which opened in 2014, is named after our alumna. The Buttery, or snack bar, is named after Cynthia Watson.
Building
South Building
In 1920, St Hilda’s leased Cherwell Hall, a teacher training college, from Christ Church College. Cherwell Hall was originally built as Cowley Grange in 1879 for Augustus Vernon Harcourt, Christ Church don, model for the White Knight in 'Through the Looking Glass', and nephew of one of Gladstone’s great cabinet ministers – Sir Vernon Harcourt. The College finally acquired the house and grounds in 1949. The house was later remodelled to provide students’ and Fellows’ rooms and a Dining Hall.
Building
Wolfson Building
Wolfson Building was opened in 1964, thanks to a grant from the Wolfson Foundation. The building was formally opened by H.R.H. Princess Margaret. The Rt Hon Harold Wilson also spoke at the opening ceremony on 26 June 1964.
Building
Garden Building
Garden Building is an additional residential block between South and Wolfson Buildings. It was designed by Peter and Alison Smithson and formally opened in 1971.
Building
Christina Barratt Building
Christina Barratt Building was opened in 2001. The building was funded by a legacy left by Professor Rosalind Hill, a graduate of St Hilda's. It was named in memory of one of her closest friends. Finalist students are given the first option to live in the Christina Barratt Building.
Building
Anniversary Building
The Anniversary Building includes a new entrance to the College and Porters' Lodge. It provides more student accommodation, and teaching and social spaces, including the new Middle Common Room. The Pisa Rooftop Suite has three meeting rooms and the Tower Suite has an observation room and a meeting room.
Room
Riverside Pavilion and Terrace
A stunning RIBA award winning multifunctional space situated next to the River Cherwell, ideal for conferences, dinners and receptions. The wall to ceiling windows create a panoramic vista harmonising the College’s beautiful gardens with the riverside location. Complementing the main space, the foyer provides a practical area for refreshments, pre-dinner drinks or a small breakout space. A bar can be provided by prior arrangement.
| Dining | Theatre | Cabaret |
|---|---|---|
| 88 | 120 | 88 |
Facilities
AV facilities: Large portable screen with HDMI connection. Built in PA and music system
Accessibility
Fully accessible
Building
Principal's Lodgings
Building
38 St Giles
The property at 38 St Giles’ is a pair of five-storey, Grade II listed Georgian townhouses with 1,500 square metres of floor space and currently offers 29 bedrooms, as well as extensive communal facilities. This site mainly hosts undergraduate students.
Accommodation
11 Norham Gardens
11 Norham Gardens, is an extended Victorian three-storey villa. The 1,350-square-metre building is set in a half-acre landscaped garden, currently with 39 bedrooms as well as extensive academic and communal facilities.
Facilities
Large kitchen/dining/lounge area, two small kitchens, a communal study space, and a spacious back garden. The bedrooms offer a mix of single and small double beds, while all kitchens are equipped with induction hobs.
Accessibility
Situated a 30-minute walk from the college, with local shops within a 10-minute walk and a 10-minute walk to town.
Accommodation
14-16 Norham Gardens
14-16 Norham Gardens will initially provide 13 ensuite student bedrooms for a mix of graduates and visiting students on full-year licences. That number is expected to rise to around 45 residents.
Facilities
Additionally, there's a large kitchen/dining/lounge area, a communal study space, and a spacious back garden.
Building
Jocelyn Morris Quad
The Jocelyn Morris Quad is the new name for the cluster of student accommodation buildings on the junction of Iffley Road and Stockmore Street in Oxford. The buildings - Stockmore House, Rosalind Hill House (extension to Stockmore House), Catherine Fulford House (formerly Fulford House) and Sylvia Mann House (formerly 85/87 Iffley Road) - all share a central garden.
Building
205 Cowley Road
33 ensuite rooms for graduate student accommodation.
Building
257 Iffley Road
Accommodation in one of several smaller houses in Oxford that we own.
Building
19 Tyndale Road
Accommodation in one of several smaller houses that we own in Oxford.
Building
25-25a Alma Place
Accommodation in one of several smaller houses that we own in Oxford.
Accommodation
58 Raymund Road
Accommodation in one of several smaller houses that we own in Oxford.
Facilities
2 ensuite bedrooms and three standard bedrooms with a shared bathroom (1 shower & 1 toilet), along with a separate dining/lounge area and a garden. All bedrooms feature small double beds, and the kitchen is equipped with an induction hob.
Accessibility
Located a 30-minute walk from the college, with local shops accessible within a 10-minute walk. It's a 15-minute walk to the JR Hospital and situated just off the cycle path to town.
Point of interest
Radley Large Wood
St Hilda’s College purchased nearby Radley Large Wood in Oxford in 2022 to keep it as woodland in perpetuity for the benefit of the environment and for the health and enjoyment of local people and students. The College’s vision is to protect and enhance the 22.4-hectare wood.