College News

Grade II Listing for Rayne Building and Dining Hall

 The Rayne Building and the Dining Hall, both built in the late 1960s shortly after the foundation of the College, have both been listed at Grade II by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on the advice of Historic England. Newnham Grange and the Hermitage have also been relisted at Grade II. 

The buildings were designed by architects Howell, Killick, Partridge and Amis to blend unobtrusively with the existing historic buildings on site. Housing the Porters' Lodge, staff offices, student accommodation and the Dining Hall, they form a central hub of the College, without detracting from the original houses in which it is based.

The Arts and Heritage Minister, Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay, said:

“Darwin College’s sympathetic fusion of old and new is a key part of the post-war evolution of the ancient University of Cambridge. I am delighted that these accomplished buildings have been listed in time for the 60th anniversary of the College’s foundation. This status will ensure that they are protected and can continue to nurture and inspire exceptional graduate minds for generations to come.”

Darwin College Bursar, John Dix, said:

“We are pleased that the sympathetic design of the buildings, and the sense of cohesion they create within the College, has been recognised in this way. While the historic significance and aesthetic appeal of Newnham Grange and the Hermitage have long been recognised, the Dining Hall and the Rayne Building are more than simply filler. They are fine modern buildings central to much of Darwin’s life as a College, and a worthy reflection of the ambitions of the College’s founders.”

 Darwin Fellow develops revolutionary new needle-free vaccine

Darwin Fellow Professor Jonathan Heeney has developed a breakthrough innovation in the prevention of future pandemics. DIOS-CoVax targets both SARS-Cov-2, the virus which causes Covid-19, and related coronaviruses, and is delivered through a needle-free blast of air directly into the skin. 

Having undergone safety trials in Southampton, clinical trials are now underway in Cambridge.

Professor Heeney said: “Our vaccine is innovative, both in terms of how it aims to protect against the virus responsible for our current pandemic and future coronaviruses, but also in how it is delivered. If you’re someone who hates needles, our vaccine could be the answer as it’s delivered by a jet of air, not a needle."

   Grant to decarbonise Frank Young House

 Darwin has been awarded funding by Salix under Phase 3b of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, which will support plans to reduce the carbon impact of student accommodation.

The grant will contribute to the cost of a refurbishment of Frank Young House, which will be closed for six months from September. The building’s existing gas-fired boilers will be replaced with air source heat pumps, and the accommodation will also be fitted with double glazing.

The project forms part of the College’s wider targets to achieve net zero over the next decade.

The Bursar, John Dix, said: "We are delighted to have been awarded this grant. The work at Frank Young House is a very significant project as we embark on decarbonising our estate and making our contribution to addressing the climate change challenge.”

 Painting on loan to Palace

A painting of Josiah Wedgwood, which has hung for many years in the Richard King Room, left Darwin this spring for an adventure of its own, on display at Kensington Palace. The portrait, thought to be by Joshua Reynolds, forms part of the exhibition ‘Crown to Couture’, exploring how the fashions of the 18th century nobility have inspired outfits worn on the red carpet 300 years later. The exhibition runs from 5th April to 29th October.

Wedgwood, the maternal grandfather of Charles Darwin, was the founder of the Wedgwood ceramics company. His innovative techniques led the industrialisation of British pottery, and his entrepreneurial approach meant his tableware was hugely in demand among the fashionable of the day. He was also a prominent campaigner for the abolition of slavery.