[3] Robert's aim was to provide clergymen for his native Cumberland and where he lived in Westmorland (both part of modern Cumbria).

D'Eglesfield had grand plans for the college, with a provost, 12 fellows studying theology, up to 13 chaplains, and 72 poor boys.

By 1500, the college had started to take paying undergraduates, typically sons of the gentry and middle class, who paid the fellows for teaching.

Joseph Williamson, who had been admitted as a poor boy and went on to become a fellow, rose to Secretary of State and amassed a fortune.

[5][6] The college gained a large number of benefactions during this time, which helped to pay for the buildings and bring in more scholars from other, mostly northern, towns.

1. c. 2) sought to end this confusion by providing that it should be called by the one name "the Queen's College";[9] in practice, the definite article is usually omitted.

[citation needed] In April 2012, as part of the celebrations of the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II, a series of commemorative stamps was released featuring A-Z pictures of famous British landmarks.

There are symmetrical ranges on the east and west sides, while at the back of the quad is a building containing the chapel and the hall.

In the cupola above the college entrance is a statue of the British queen Caroline of Ansbach by the sculptor Henry Cheere; the legend 'Carolina Regina, 12 November 1733' may be found marking the laying of the foundation stone of the screen wall, which is visible from the High Street.

The east side is the Williamson building, which was originally built to a design by the architect Christopher Wren, known for his work in the English Baroque style, but has been largely rebuilt since then.

[citation needed] Holy Communion is celebrated every Sunday morning and at other times, and is open to all communicant members of any Christian church or denomination.

The ceiling plasterwork, its most outstanding feature, was designed by James Hands, whilst the library itself was built by John Townsend.

[19] On display in the middle of the library are two eighteenth century papier maché Senex globes and an orrery from the same period.

[21] The instrument is made of brass, steel, and wood, contained within a wooden case and resting on a mahogany stand with a glazed cover.

[22] Johnathan Betts, in an Excerpt from A report following the servicing and inspection of The Queen's College Grand Orrery in 2016, describes the instrument as standingon a fine mahogany table with six finely carved cabriole legs, the whole covered with a multi-panelled protective glass shade which can be locked securely onto the table, preventing access to the orrery.

The mechanical orrery itself incorporates within its compass the solar system out to Mars, including the Earth and Moon, with additional mountings fixed on the outside of the case for attaching static models of Jupiter and Saturn.

[23] This event most recently took place on 4 February 2020, during the Hilary term, with professor Jonathan Keating as the honorary orrery-turner.

The college also owns the Cardo Building opposite the Oxford University Sports centre on Iffley Road (where Roger Bannister ran the first ever four-minute mile in 1954).

[citation needed] The Florey Building in St Clement's, designed by James Stirling and named after former Queen's Provost and Nobel Prize winner Howard Florey, is a former annex that housed most of the college's first years until 2018, when it fell into disuse following complications that arose in attempts to refurbish the building.

The annex is situated down St Aldate's directly opposite the Christ Church Meadows, near Folly Bridge.

[citation needed] Queen's is an active community performing strongly in intercollegiate sport competitions, having a variety of societies and, as one of the larger colleges, hosting triennial Commemoration balls.

[citation needed] The college playing field, less than a mile from the main buildings, runs down to the banks of the Isis.

The football ground is nicknamed Fortress Riverside by the club and its supporters, owing to its close proximity to the Isis [citation needed].

[citation needed] On the opposite bank of the river is a boathouse, which Queen's shares with Oriel and Lincoln colleges.

As is the case with many Oxbridge colleges, Queen's uses a Latin grace which is recited every evening before the second sitting of dinner: Benedic nobis, Domine Deus, et his donis, quae ex liberalitate Tua sumpturi sumus; per Jesum Christum Dominum nostrum.