Pembroke’s quads, 300m from Carfax, range from mediaeval marvels to modern misdemeanours, but even Alan Titchmarsh could get some tips from their gardens – in particular the purty Chapel Quad. It's known for chuminess and sporting prowess – despite the wussy pink colours – but academic achievement hovers around the adequate mark (by Oxford standards). One of their more deranged traditions is the ‘burning of the boats’ after rowing victories – with the crew still on board – leaving a 60m scorch mark on the North Quad for most of the year. The College has been the butt of some jokes about its financial well-being (or lack of it) in recent years – not helped by the word ‘broke’ in its name. Recent staff turnaround is restocking the treasury, however.
| Sex ratio (M:F): 54:46 |
Founded: 1624 |
| Full-time u’grads: 405 |
Part-time: 0 |
| Postgrads: 118 |
Mature: 0 |
State:private school: 36:64
|
International: 7% |
| Academic ranking: 26 |
Disabled: 13% |
College bar (bops, quizzes, theme nights, pool table and video games) and private bar for postgrads; ball every other year; regular muck-raking Bogsheet; raucous Yearbook. Modern library (40,000 books, 64 study places, 24 with network sockets), 24-hr during term. 24 computers for undergrads, MCR computer room (four PCs); web access in all rooms (£25 a year), lots of WiFi access in communal areas. Interdenominational chapel with CofE chaplain. Claims to have best attended JCR meetings in Oxford – not big on out-of-college issues though; common room with pool, arcade games; TV room with DVD player. Hugely sporty: won Sporting College of the Year Award 2006 and made Oxford rowing history in 2003 when both men’s and women’s 1st VIIIs won the Headship in the annual Summer Eights competition. All first years and most others live in; relatively high quality rooms (£98-£163 for 24wks), priced according to size; modern Geoffrey Arthur Building most sought after – mainly finalists; Macmillan Building is the obligatory 60s carbuncle, but buzzing inside; no one shares; three formal dinners a week – pretty much compulsory for first years; decent food (£207 a term) complemented by JCR pantry (8am-5pm); limited parking – only available at GAB. Postgrad Officer and soc; LGBT Officer and soc; Women’s Officer and soc; free attack alarms, condoms, sanitary towels, pregnancy tests; doctor; nurse on site 2hrs a day. Limited hardship fund; Oxford Opportunity Bursaries; £200 scholarships for First-nabbers, £100 to those who come close; assortment of prizes.
FAMOUS ALUMNI
Thomas Love Beddoes (poet); William Blackstone (lawyer); Denzil Davies MP (Lab); Richard Graves (writer); Michael Heseltine (former MP, Con); Samuel Johnson (dictionary-inventing polymath misery-guts); John Pym (socialist, historian, revolutionary); James Smithson (founded Washington DC’s Smithsonian Institute). Roger Bannister (4-min mile runner) is a former Master of the College. J R R Tolkien was a fellow for 19 years.