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St Benet’s / Corpus Christi College

History of Corpus Christi College

Benett College (Corpus Christi) 1574

In its early centuries, the college was relatively poor and so could not construct new buildings; thus Old Court has survived to the present day. It had no chapel, so the members worshipped in St Bene’t’s Church next door. From the late 14th century through to the 19th century, particularly during the Reformation when Catholic references were discouraged, Corpus was known as St Benet’s College.

Corpus Christi College circa 1831

General information about Corpus Christi College can be found on Wikipedia.


There are three ghosts associated with the college:


Henry Joseph Moule, the watercolour artist, was a student at the college circa 1850.

Henry Joseph Moule, artist 1825-1904 (MoC168/57)


Rattee and Kett were responsible for the life size figure of Archbishop Matthew Parker at Corpus Christi College.

A recent attraction has been the Corpus Clock which was unveiled in 2008 in the doorway to the former Westminster Bank.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corpus_Clock


In 1939 excavations for an air-raid shelter revealed a cellar that may date from the 18th century and have been part of the Dolphin Inn.

Corpus Christi – 18th century cellar discovered 1939. (photo G H S Bushnell)

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