Explore Royal Holloway, University of London 2024
Join us for Heritage Open Days 2024, as we invite you to be a part of our very special anniversary year. We are celebrating 175 years since the foundation of Bedford College, the first Higher Education College for women in the United Kingdom, and one of the two Colleges which came together to create the University we are today.
Hear experts tell fascinating stories of what life was like for some of the earliest students at both Bedford College and Royal Holloway College. Take a tour of the Founder's Building, opened by Queen Victoria in 1886, and walk in the footsteps of the pioneering Victorian women who boldly broke with convention to get a university education.
Join our curators to view some of the treasures in our Victorian art collections including some made of egg! Delve into our archives with our archivist, and find out about how being a university of social purpose was part of our DNA from the beginning.
All talks and tours are free, and this year we have art talks for younger visitors and a special trail designed for children and families to see our campus and discover the fascinating history of an exceptionally radical University.
Tours and talks will last approximately 30-45 minutes each. Please arrive at the venue five minutes before the start time.
*Free tickets for these activities are available at the information desk in the Windsor Building foyer on the day.
Car parking is available in car parks 12 and 4.
A day in the life of the women of Royal Holloway and Bedford Colleges, Greg Leurs, Librarian
Windsor Building Auditorium, 10am, 12pm, 2pm (no ticket required)
Travel back in time to the early 1900s to discover what everyday life was like for students studying at Bedford and Royal Holloway Colleges. Drawing from our archival records and photos we’ll reveal what students studied, what they did for fun, their societies, and why Bedford College had a particularly luxurious fake beard collection. This talk is suitable for all ages.
* Archives and special collections at Royal Holloway, Anne-Marie Purcell, Archivist
Archives, Emily Wilding Davison Building, 12pm, 2pm (meeting point is in the EWD Building foyer)
Delve into the archives, special collections and rare books held by Royal Holloway, including a behind the scenes tour of the archives store. Highlights include a wide range of documents and photos which explore the history of Royal Holloway and Bedford Colleges, and special collections relating to women’s education and radical theatre.
Animals in the artworks, Peggy Ainsworth, Art Collections Officer
Picture Gallery, 10am, 12pm (no ticket required)
We’re inviting our younger visitors to explore our painting collection in this fun talk and trail activity! We’ll look at some of our best-known animal paintings, discover why artists chose to paint animals, and play art detective to try and spot some furry friends hidden in our art collection.
Creating a collection, Dr Naomi Lebens, Head of Cultural Services
Picture Gallery, 11am, 3pm (no ticket required)
Explore the creative impulse behind Thomas Holloway’s purchase of the art collection. Discover how the pictures he chose engaged with Victorian debates about art, it’s purpose and the audiences it inspired.
Picture Gallery highlights, Peggy Ainsworth, Art Collections Officer
Picture Gallery, 2pm (no ticket required)
Explore the highlights of the Picture Gallery and learn about the history of the collection, find out why Royal Holloway has a Picture Gallery, and discover the stories behind some of our visitors’ favourite paintings.
* The Italian job: inside the Chapel of Royal Holloway, Dr Naomi Lebens, Head of Cultural Services
Chapel, 1pm
Learn about the history and the hidden secrets of Royal Holloway's magnificent Chapel, including its extravagant decoration.
* Tours of the historic Founder’s Building, Student Ambassadors
Founder's Square, 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm
A guided tour visiting the Chapel, North and South Quadrangles, Founder's Dining Hall, Reading Room and the University’s original lecture theatre.
Adventurers all, Bedford travels stories, Doctoral Students
Event Space, Emily Wilding Davison Building, 10am-3pm (no ticket required)
Visit our mini exhibition, curated by two current students, looking at the founding motives of Bedford College and its international direction, identifying Bedford College as an institution with values and principles that transcended any one fixed place.
Ivan Kyncl: In the minute
Exhibition Space, Emily Wilding Davison Building, 10am-3pm (no ticket required)
A display of photographs by Czech-born theatre photographer Ivan Kyncl, celebrating his ability to capture the essence, atmosphere and emotion of a theatrical production. Royal Holloway’s culture team are delighted to bring this exhibition from the V&A to Egham for our students and wider community to enjoy.
