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Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge

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Colleges of the University of Cambridge

Sidney Sussex College

College name

The College of the Lady Frances Sidney Sussex

Motto

Dieu me Garde de Calomnie
(French: God preserve me from calumny)

Founder

Lady Frances Sidney, Countess of Sussex

Established

1596

Location

Sidney Street

Admittance

Men and women

Master

Prof. Dame Sandra Dawson

Undergraduates

340

Graduates

190

Sister college

St John's College, Oxford

Official website

Boat Club website

Chapel Court, Sidney Sussex College

Hall Court, Sidney Sussex College

Sidney Sussex College (often informally shortened to just Sidney) was founded in 1596 and named after its foundress, Frances Sidney, Countess of Sussex. It is one of the 31 Colleges that makes up the University of Cambridge. It was from its inception an avowedly Puritan foundation: some good and godlie moniment for the mainteynance of good learninge. Oliver Cromwell was among the first students (although his father became ill and he never graduated), and his head is now buried beneath the College's chapel.

While the College's geographic size has changed little since 1596, the exterior of the original E-shaped building was changed significantly in the 1830s under the leadership of Master Chafee. By the early 1800s the building's original red brick was aging poorly. This also coincided with a brief revival of gothic architecture. It was decided then that the exterior brick would be covered with a layer of cement and given the appearance of a castle.

The college is nicknamed "Sidney Sainsbury's" by neighbouring Cambridge students, due to its proximity to the Sidney Street branch of Sainsbury's, frequented by Cambridge students from all colleges thanks to its central location.

Sidney student population is relatively small with roughly 350 undergraduate students and 190 graduates. Academically speaking, Sidney Sussex performs well though not exceptionally when compared with the other Cambridge colleges (placing 12th out of 29 in the unofficial Tompkins Table 2007). However, the college has traditionally excelled in certain subjects, notably Engineering, History and Law.

Sidney's sporting performance is equally unexceptional, although it does boast strong women's football and netball teams, and performs well at darts.

The college claims to have the cheapest bar in Cambridge, which is one of the few student-run bars in Cambridge University, a source of much pride for Sidney students. Darwin, Downing and Emmanuel Colleges also have student-run bars.

Sidney Sussex has a proud history in the television show University Challenge, putting together a winning team in both 1971 and 1978–79. The 1978 team, comprised of John Gilmore, John Adams, David Lidington, and Nick Graham, went on to win the "Champion of Champions" University Challenge Reunion competition in 2002.

The Confraternitas Historica, or Confraternitas Historica Dominae Franciscae Comitis Sussexiae, is the history society of Sidney Sussex College and is reputed to be the longest-running student history society in Cambridge University, with uninterrupted activity dating back to 1908.

The Society places a strong emphasis on student participation, and was conceived as a forum which would allow history Fellows and students of the College to socialise in an informal environment. This ethos can be observed in many of the founding articles of the society, where a strong emphasis is placed on regular dinners and historical talks and debates. Membership is open to all Sidney history students, both undergraduate and graduate. No joining-fee or subscription is required, and students are automatically enrolled on matriculation. Membership is entirely voluntary and life-long.