Trevelyan College

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Trevelyan College
Durham University

Motto

Vera fictis libentius
Truth more readily than falsehood

Colours

Named after

George Macaulay Trevelyan

Established

1966

Principal

Dr Nigel Martin

Senior Tutor

Ian Latham

JCR President

Darren Starling

Undergraduates

625

Postgraduates

Website

Trevelyan College

JCR Website

Trevelyan College JCR

Campus

Durham City

Trevelyan College, affectionately known as Trevs, is a college of the University of Durham in North Eastern England. Founded in 1966, the college takes its name from the eminent social historian George Macaulay Trevelyan, Chancellor of the University from 1950 to 1957. Originally an all-female college (the last to open in England), the college became fully mixed in 1992. Trevelyan College is renowned for its friendly atmosphere and excellent degree results; it currently heads the collegiate academic league with an unprecedented 87.2% of those who graduated in 2006 doing so with first or upper second class degrees ^[1].

Although Trevs is a separately registered higher educational institution (HEI), it is different from Oxbridge colleges in that it is owned by the University and governed by the college council, on which the University has representatives. Again, unlike Oxbridge, all tutoring takes place in the university's departments.

Trevs' internal construction is very unusual. Essentially it comprises a string of hexagon-shaped blocks (apparently designed as a modern interpretation of Durham Castle), which means that many of the rooms contain somewhat unusual angles. One story is that the architect believed that women (for whom the college was originally designed) would be intimidated by a building full of right angles and corners. Others have speculated that the building is designed to minimise privacy, encouraging social interaction while making it difficult to 'misbehave', although in fact most windows face outwards at least partially. The blocks are labelled A-K, but strangely, there is no "I block" to be found, leading to much speculation among students about the existence of the mysterious Imaginary Block.

Otherwise, the layout is not atypical of an Oxbridge college, featuring rooms based around staircases, landings and courtyards. The entrance hall is referred to as "the Cobbles", although said cobbles are no longer there having been removed during a recent modern refit (they are now considered priceless college artefacts). Like most Durham colleges Trevs has its own comprehensive library, music rooms, bar, shop (or Buttery) and fitness suite; it also possesses a distinctive chapel (the Barn).

When the college became fully mixed, one of the central courtyards, 'the Cloisters', was roofed over to provide a new, much enlarged bar. The area above this new roof is nicknamed "The Goldfish Bowl" by students, due to the proximity of the windows looking into other rooms. It is not unknown for students to hang washing across this space, use it as a sunning spot, or to catch glimpses of fellow students in rooms opposite. The Undercroft, a relaxing seating area, links the bar with the rear of the college. All of these areas overlook the central quad (a setting for the college's famous musical events and formal ball) in which grows a magnificent silver-birch tree, garlanded in the summer with a stunning display of roses. To the rear of the college visitors will find tastefully landscaped lawns and a tennis court.

The building's unique design, undoubtedly a factor contributing to its success as an institution, has won it a Civic Design Award. Modern additions include an en-suite block (the Macaulay Wing, or K block) and the Sir James Knott Hall, catering for sports and conference events. A third of the college was fully refurbished in 2005. Approximately 320 fully caterered students can be housed in the building, and around 600 are members of the college, making Trevs the third smallest of Durham's seventeen colleges. Its shield bears the upper half of a horse swimming in water, representing the overcoming of adversity, an image humorously reflected in the title of the college’s alumni magazine, Hippocampus[1].