ORIEL COLLEGE

ORIEL COLLEGE, founded in 1326, nominally by King Edward II., but really by Adam de Brome, his almoner, in a house on the High Street, removed in 1329 to 'la Oriole,' a house on the present site, whence it has its modern name. For a long time it was known as 'King's College' (Collegium Regale). The buildings are modern, the hall and chapel dating from 1637. William Langland, author of Piers Plowman, was, but erroneously, at one time believed to have been fellow here. Sir Walter Raleigh was probably commoner for a short time. In the first half of the 19th century Oriel College possessed a most distinguished body of fellows—Keble, Pusey, Thomas Arnold, Archbishop Whately, Cardinal Newman, Arthur Hugh Clough.