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Corpus Christi College (St Benet’s)

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:

• a charming little girl in a frilly white dress
• a sad Cavalier who sits slumped by the front door
• an elderly Puritan who stamps around the ground floor in a bad temper

The Cambridge Ghost Book, Halliday and Murdie, 2000, tells the story of Dr John Spencer, master of Corpus in 1667.  in 1688 his daughter, Elizabeth, fell in love with student, James Betts. Spencer disapproved of the relationship and Betts had to hide in a cupboard that could only be opened from the outside. Spencer took his daughter away from Corpus leaving Betts trapped in the cupboard. When Betts and his daughter returned to Cambridge no-one would open the cupboard. Elizabeth died in December of 1688, Spencer, just five years alter. When a new Master arrived, the cupboard was opened and a skeleton found inside.

In another story, Dr Butts was appointed Master in 1626. In 1632 Charles I visited Cambridge and it was customary to stage a play in front of a royal party. Dr Butts and Dr Comber, Master of Trinity, could not agree on a play, so two were shown. Dr Comber’s was a success; Dr Butts’s a flop which was booed by the audience. Dr Butts hanged himself ten days later.

The part of the college. the Old Lodge, where the two 17th century Masters had lived was converted in the 19th century to kitchens. After this took place numerous strange bangs and footsteps were heard. Apparitions were seen. Particularly frightening encounters were made by a student called Walter Moule in 1883, as well as by his uncle, Charles Moule, a senior fellow of the college. Both were traumatised but never fully revealed what had made them so.

In 1903 another student, Llewellyn Powys, saw an apparition of a man in Old Lodge. In 1904, the student Arthur wade and friends, decided to carry out an exorcism in Old Lodge. An entity materialised which was seen by more students who had entered the room.

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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