Balliol College, Oxford

Balliol College is situated on Broad Street and boasts a rich history, having been established in 1263, making it the second oldest among Oxford University's colleges. Its founder, John de Balliol, once served as the Sheriff of Nottinghamshire, although this occurred in a different era than the legendary exploits of Robin Hood and his Merry Men in Sherwood Forest.

The original structures of the college have long since vanished, with the oldest surviving sections dating back to 1431, comprising the north and west ranges of the Front Quad. The Masters' Dining Hall, libraries, and Senior Common Room, though slightly older, also contribute to its historical charm. The buildings surrounding the Garden Quad are more recent additions, with the south-west side being constructed in 1720, the Fisher Building in 1759, the west side in 1826, the Masters' Lodgings in 1860, and the Junior Common Room in 1912. In 1857, the chapel, designed by William Butterfield, was erected.

Balliol College has its share of cherished traditions, one of which hails from the 1960s when a student introduced a tortoise named Rosa to the college. Rosa resided there for an impressive 43 years, and the individual responsible for her well-being held the esteemed title of "Comrade Tortoise." Rosa disappeared in 2004, but another tortoise has since taken her place.

Each June, Corpus Christi College hosts a tortoise race, with students bringing their own tortoises to participate. During Rosa's tenure, Balliol College emerged victorious in the race three or four times, and they continue to harbor high hopes for her successor.

The list of notable alumni from Balliol College is impressive and includes the current (as of 2020) Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, as well as three former prime ministers, H. H. Asquith, Harold Macmillan, and Edward Heath. Other distinguished alumni encompass Harald V of Norway, Empress Masako of Japan, five Nobel laureates, and a multitude of literary and philosophical luminaries such as Shoghi Effendi, Adam Smith, Gerard Manley Hopkins, and Aldous Huxley.