Brasenose College

Brasenose College, in Oxford

Brasenose College is a historic college of Oxford with an unusual name, located on Radcliffe Square. The Oxford audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this college founded in the sixteenth century, whose curious name dates back to an old bronze knocker.

The college with the unusual name

Brasenose College, one of the historic colleges of Oxford, is famous as much for its architecture as for its astonishing name. Founded at the beginning of the sixteenth century, it stands on Radcliffe Square, one of the finest ensembles of the town, facing the Radcliffe Camera. Its curious name, which evokes in English a nose of copper or bronze, would come from an old bronze knocker in the form of a head, which formerly adorned the door of the college and gave it its nickname. This emblematic object, linked to the ancient history of the institution, is part of its identity and its legends. Like the other colleges, Brasenose is an autonomous community within the university, organised around its courtyards, its chapel and its old buildings, where its members live and study. It formed numerous students become leading personalities. With its charm and its singular history, Brasenose College is a fine stop of the discovery of Oxford.

What to see

You admire the historic college founded at the beginning of the sixteenth century, on Radcliffe Square facing the Radcliffe Camera, with an unusual name coming from an old bronze knocker in the form of a head, organised around its courtyards, its chapel and its old buildings, an autonomous community of the university that formed numerous personalities. Brasenose College is a charming college of Oxford. It is a stop to be discovered, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

Brasenose College lies on Radcliffe Square, in the heart of Oxford, reachable on foot. The visit follows its own hours and conditions, which vary and depend on university life. It is best to check them before coming.

Where does the name of Brasenose College come from in Oxford?

It would come from an old bronze knocker in the form of a head, which formerly adorned the door of the college and gave it its nickname; this historic college, founded at the beginning of the sixteenth century, stands on Radcliffe Square, facing the Radcliffe Camera.

Where is Brasenose College of Oxford?

On Radcliffe Square, in the heart of Oxford, in England.