Early History of Magdalene College

The college today is situated  across the river from Quayside, one of Cambridge’s earliest settlements dating back to the iron age. The site was once a Roman river crossing along the route from Colchester in the south-east, to Chester in the north-west. Thousands of Roman coins have been discovered close by along with pottery and other household items.

Following the collapse of the Roman empire, the settlement was left defenseless and was mostly abandoned for several hundred years. The site was later inhabited for a brief time by Viking armies in 874 and Norman armies in1068, following William I victory at the Battle of Hastings. 

Initial Foundation as a Hostel for Monks

By the year 1428, England was under the rule of Henry IV, who licensed the site of what is now Magdalene college to become a hostel for Benedictine student-monks studying during their stay at Cambridge University, which had been founded just over 200 years prior in 1209.  

Benedict Monks belong to the catholic church and follow the Rule of Saint Benedict, written by Saint Benedict of Nursia in the 6th century as a foundation for monastic communities. The student monks were required to devote themselves to the study of Cannon Law and the original hostel – known as ‘Monks Hostel’ – was purposely built away from the temptations of the town to the south of the river.

The hostel became Buckingham College due to the patronage of Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, subsequently followed by Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham in 1519, who paid for the construction of the first college Hall.

Re-foundation by Lord Audley

Unfortunately for both Buckingham College, their primary patron was executed for treason in 1521 before he could endow the college. The college fell on hard times for the next 20 years until the college was re-founded by Thomas Audley in 1542.

Former speaker of the House of Commons, Thomas Audley was Lord Chancellor during the trials of Bishop John Fisher, one of the founders of St.John’s College and present during the execution of Anne Boleyn. Following the dissolution of catholic monasteries during the English Reformation, Henry VIII gifted Wadlen Abby, a Benedictine abbey associated with Buckingham college, to Thomas Audley. Audely introduced the motto, garde ta foy (‘keep faith) as well as the college crest.