Cambridge Colleges Gonville and Caius

History of Gonville and Caius

Founded by Edmund Gonville and John Caius, who gave the College its unique character. Edmund Gonville, a rector in Norfolk, first founded Gonville Hall in 1348. (could maybe be a see more here that if you click takes you down to the full history at the bottom of the page) It was one of the so-called ‘Plague Colleges’ (Pembroke, Gonville, Trinity Hall and Corpus Christi), founded in the aftermath of the Black Death due to a shortage of educated men in the clergy.

Gonville had ambitious plans to create a college for a Master and 20 scholars. However, within a relatively short period, the Hall’s finances were in a sorry state. Matters were made worse when Gonville died just a short while later, in 1351. Therefore, the executor of his will, William Bateman (the founder of Trinity Hall), moved the College to its current location beside Great St Mary’s Church and made provisions for its future.

However, the College entered a period of decline over the next two centuries. Thus, in 1557, Gonville alumni and fellow John Caius stepped in and rescued the College’s finances. Dr Cauis, as he was known, had studied at the College before going on to study medicine in Italy and then set up a medical practice in London. By 1557 he was wealthy enough to refound the College.

Under his direction, the college buildings grew to almost their current size. But his most powerful legacy is in the three famous gates he installed in the College to represent a student’s moral journey. The gates of ‘Humility’, ‘Virtue’ and ‘Honour’. When entering the College, students must pass through the gate of humility. They may pass through the gate of virtue within the College