User:Medarduss/Wallmann

Foundation
Wadham College was founded by Dorothy Wadham in 1610, according to the wishes set out in the will of her husband Nicholas Wadham (1531–1609). The Wadhams were wealthy landowners, who owned the Devonshire estates of Edge and Wadham, as well as that of Merryfield in Somerset, amongst other properties. Nicholas and Dorothy had no children, and Nicholas decided to leave his wealth to found a college at Oxford for the "poor and needy scholars in the University."

After her husband's death in 1609, Dorothy began searching for a site for the college, initially seeking to take over the buildings of Gloucester Hall, before settling on a new location outside Oxford's medieval city wall, which was the site of the dissolved Augustinian friary. The site was purchased on 6 March 1610, and construction of the college began on 9 April. The trust for Wadham College was constituted in July 1610, and James I issued the college's royal charter in December of the same year. The college statutes were promgulated by Dorothy in 1612, and the first sholars and fellows admitted on 20 April 1613. The first Warden, Robert Wright, served for only a few months before resigning to marry.

By this point construction, led by master builder William Arnold, had progressed substantially, and the initial buildings (now known as the college's front quad) were completed by July 1613.

Although Dorothy Wadham did not visit Oxford during her lifetime, she played a significant role in the college's first years; the foundress reserved the right to nominate every position, including the Warden, and directed the foundation through her letters. Furthermore, by the time of Dorothy's death in 1618, she had added much of her own wealth to the college's intial endowment.

17th century
In the college's first years, its students and fellows were largely recruited from the Wadhams' native West Country (though not exclusively), and the college's first major benefaction similarly came from this area. Dr Phillipe Bisse, Archdeacon of Taunton and friend of the Wadhams, donated his books to furnish the new library in 1613.

As Charles I's disputes with the English parliament grew, the college's was subjected to forced loans, which put a strain on its finances. Furthermore, in the build up to and during the Civil War, admissions dropped greatly, with three new students admitted in 1644 and none in 1645.

Wadham was fortified during the Civil War, and a mound in the college gardens is said to have formed part of the fortifications.

During the 1648-59 wardenship of John Wilkins, Wadham became the meeting place for the

20th century
Wells, Wars, Bowra

21st century
New buildings etc