Magdalene College, Cambridge

The library of Magdalene College (Pepys Library)

Magdalene College is one of the colleges of the University of Cambridge, England. It was created in 1428 as Buckingham College, a Benedictine hostel. In 1542 this was changed, taking the name from the city of magda. It was built over many years thanks to money given by many different important people, such as the Dukes of Norfolk and Buckingham.^[1] Today, it has about 600 students.

The most famous person to have studied here is Samuel Pepys. He was an influential Member of Parliament. When he died, he gave lots of books to the college. The library in Magdalene, which is very old and beautiful, is named after him (the Pepys Library). Magdalene is one of the colleges that keeps many old traditions. It was the last one in Cambridge to allow women to study there: this only happened in 1988.

Magdalene College, Cambridge Media

Coronet of a British Baron/Life Peer
Street front of Magdalene College porter's lodge, with its 16th-century architecture retained
The modern gargoyle of Benedict Spinola in the Quayside site; he is considered to have defrauded the college
Magdalene College formal hall, c.1870
The dining hall of Magdalene College, Cambridge, England. The hall was prepared for a lunch.*
The wooden gate leading to the Magdalene Village
Porter's lodge of Magdalene College
The chapel of Magdalene College in Cambridge, England.
The view of First Court at Magdalene College, looking north-west towards the college chapel (middle) and hall (right).