Oriel College

Oriel College
Blazon: Gules, three lions passant guardant in pale or a bordure engrailed argent
University	University of Oxford
Coordinates	51°45′06″N 1°15′13″W / 51.751567°N 1.253702°W / 51.751567; -1.253702Coordinates: 51°45′06″N 1°15′13″W / 51.751567°N 1.253702°W / 51.751567; -1.253702
Full name	The Provost and Scholars of the House of the Blessed Mary the Virgin in Oxford, commonly called Oriel College, of the Foundation of Edward the Second of famous memory, sometime King of England
Latin name	Collegium Orielense
Established	1324
Founded	1326
Named for	Blessed Virgin Mary
Sister college	Clare College, Cambridge Trinity College, Dublin
Provost	Moira Wallace
Undergraduates	301 (2011/2012)
Postgraduates	158
Website	www.oriel.ox.ac.uk
Boat club	Boatclub
Map
Location in Oxford city centre

Oriel College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. Located in Oriel Square, the college has the distinction of being the oldest royal foundation in Oxford (a title formerly claimed by University College, whose claim of being founded by King Alfred is no longer promoted). In recognition of this royal connection, the college has also been known as King's College and King's Hall. The reigning monarch of the United Kingdom (since 1952, Elizabeth II) is the official Visitor of the College.

The original medieval foundation set up by Adam de Brome, under the patronage of Edward II, was called the House or Hall of the Blessed Mary at Oxford. The first design allowed for a Provost and ten Fellows, called 'scholars', and the College remained a small body of graduate Fellows until the 16th century, when it started to admit undergraduates. During the English Civil War, Oriel played host to high-ranking members of the King's Oxford Parliament.

The main site of the College incorporates four medieval halls: Bedel Hall, St Mary Hall, St Martin Hall and Tackley's Inn, the last being the earliest property acquired by the college and the oldest standing medieval hall in Oxford. The College has nearly 40 Fellows, about 300 undergraduates and some 160 graduates, the student body having roughly equal numbers of men and women.

Oriel's notable alumni include two Nobel laureates; prominent Fellows have included founders of the Oxford Movement. Among Oriel's more notable possessions are a painting by Bernard van Orley and three pieces of medieval silver plate.