@freehandlines: A college which is so old, has never moved and is very beautiful. Balliol College is one of Oxford’s oldest colleges, founded in 1263 and still on its original Broad Street site; it is also one of the university’s largest. It was shaped by a remarkable founding story: John de Balliol’s widow, Dervorguilla of Galloway, secured its future with a permanent endowment and statutes in 1282, making her a central figure in the college’s identity. Balliol has long been associated with Oxford intellectual life, producing prominent alumni including several British prime ministers, scholars, writers, and public figures. Its history page also notes that it is likely the oldest academic institution in the English-speaking world still on its original site. The college’s patron saint is St Catherine of Alexandria, and its arms derive from Dervorguilla’s seal. Interesting facts.. Balliol likes to claim continuity on the same site since about 1263, which makes it unusually ancient even by Oxford standards. #watercolour #watercolor #painting #drawing #sketches

Christian

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Tuesday 18 August 2026 21:40:19 GMT