Durham College (17th century)

New College, Durham was a university institution set up by Oliver Cromwell, to provide an alternative to (and break the effective monopoly of) the older University of Oxford and University of Cambridge. It also had the aim of bringing university education to Northern England.

On paper

Such a project had been discussed at least since the 1640s. In 1641 a petition had asked for a university in Manchester or York. Later a scheme was promoted by Samuel Hartlib amongst others. The statutes drawn up in 1656 were worked over by Ralph Cudworth, John Crew, 1st Baron Crew, Sir William Ellis and others appointed from March 1655, and Sir Charles Wolseley and George Griffith in 1656.

The idea met with opponents, including John Conant.

The institution

It had an effective life of 1656 (when Cromwell and his Privy Council issued an order for the founding of the College) to 1659, being dissolved officially in 1660. The Chapter of Durham Cathedral had been dissolved in April 1649, leaving space in the cathedral close for the new institution. Cromwell signed letters patent setting it up formally in May 1657; and around this time Paul Hobson acted as visitor. Parliament allowed it to grant degrees in 1659.

The personnel included Philip Hunton appointed in 1657 as Master or Provost, and Israel Tonge as Fellow. The initial establishment was the Provost, two Senior Fellows, two Junior Fellows, and some other junior positions. Richard Gilpin was appointed the Visitor. Joseph Hill was an active supporter, and sought money to bring Hungarian students to Durham. Tonge looked to recruit both Hill and John Peachell. Hill's pupil William Pell was appointed a tutor in 1656. Georg Ritschel, then teaching in Newcastle, who was a Comenian reformer in contact with the Hartlib Circle, may have acted as a tutor in 1657.

The letters patent had mentioned besides Hunton and Hill as a Senior Fellow or Preacher:

• William Spinedge (Spinage) of Exeter College, Oxford as Preacher;
• as Professors Thomas Vaughan, John Kiffler (Anglicised name of Johannes Sibertus Kuffler, who declined), Robert Wood of Lincoln College, Oxford, and Peachell;
• as Tutors Tonge, Richard Russell, John Richell and John Doughty;
• as Schoolmasters Nathaniel Vincent of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, William Corker of Trinity College, Cambridge, William Sprigg of Lincoln College, Oxford, and Leonard Wastell, Rector of Hurworth-on-Tees.

The College never scaled up to these intentions.

Further reading

• G. H. Turnbull, Oliver Cromwell's college at Durham. Research Review [Durham], 3 (1952), 1-7.