History
The contract for building a new hall of residence was awarded in April 1993 and after seventeen months of building problems, including particularly inclement weather, combined with financial problems of the contractors who were forced to withdraw from the project, Durdham admitted its first intake of students in October 1994.
The Planning Officers, who felt that this proposed building would adversely affect the distant views of Wills Hall and its attractive parkland setting, initially resisted the development project. The issue was finally resolved by locating the building further down the slope from Wills. As design progressed, the project was threatened by the discovery of a large badger sett within the trees close to the site. Following advice by noted experts on badgers, and with the support of English Nature, the problem was overcome by a protective fence around the woodland along with an undertaking that foundation work would not take place in the vicinity of the sett during the breeding season. It was no surprise therefore that the working name of the project was dubbed "Badger Court".
Throughout this period there was much discussion about what the new Hall would be named and so suggestions were called for throughout the University. It was the Student Union that put forward the name "Durdham" arguing that as Durdham Down was on our doorstep, this would be a worthy name. It was accepted, much to the disappointment to those who wished to retain the name "Badger Court". As a compromise we adopted the Badger as our mascot and called the Hall bar the "Badger Bar".
With the poor weather and the forced withdrawal of the original contractors, time was against us, and as the October 1 deadline loomed it became highly improbable that the building would be completed in time to receive our first intake of students. On the evening of September 28, 1994 a small group of invited guests sat down to dinner in the Hall Bar (minus electricity) to celebrate completion of the project and on October 12 the opening ceremony took place.
Durdham opened its doors (still wet with paint) on October 1, 1994 with a skeleton staff comprising a Warden, Deputy Warden, 3 Hall Tutors, Hall Secretary, Housekeeper, Porter and three domestic assistants and 230 students.
As the tiny saplings in our Silver Birch Grove have grown over the past seven years into fine strong trees, so too has the culture and history of Durdham, and it is through the talents and interests of a diverse range of students that our unique culture has emerged.
Dr Robyn Sheppard (Warden 1994-2001).