The college grew up out of a small society which enabled less financially well off students to become members of the University without having to become members of a particular college.

The new buildings, opened in 1962, were designed by the Danish architect Arne Jacobsen, right down to the fitments and the cutlery. Note the unusual Bell Tower, the tapestries hanging in the Hall (which is the largest in either Oxford or Cambridge), the Music House set in a corner of the gardens by the river and the Barbara Hepworth sculpture in front of the lodge. (Open dawn to dusk.)

Photo Credit - St Catherine's College.