Magdalen College, College of the University of Oxford in Oxford, England
Magdalen College is a college of the University of Oxford in Oxford, England, covering roughly 100 acres along the River Cherwell. The site includes a great tower, cloisters, chapels, a library, and wide open spaces with meadows and tree groves.
William Waynflete founded the house in 1458 as Bishop of Winchester, initially for one president and six scholars. Buildings expanded through the 16th century with new wings and academic rooms during the Tudor period.
The college is dedicated to St Mary Magdalene, whose medieval English name Maudelen gave the modern pronunciation "Mawdlin". The founder's statutes of 1487 provided for a choral foundation of men and boys, a tradition maintained today; the director of music still holds the title informator choristarum.
The main entrance sits on High Street near Magdalen Bridge at the eastern edge of the old town. Visitors can walk to the complex from other parts of the university, and the outdoor areas offer quiet spots between buildings.
A herd of fallow deer lives within the grounds and moves freely among the old trees and open meadows. The animals have been part of the landscape for centuries and give the place a woodland character in the middle of town.
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