| In 1965 the University founded Iffley College, later renamed as Wolfson College, for graduate students. The liberal philosopher Sir Isaiah Berlin was instrumental in this and he was the college's first president. Along side ‘Cherwell' , the original old family house on the site, are some of the most modern buildings of all the Oxford colleges - designed by architects Powell and Moya and completed in 1974. The curved shape of ‘B block’ is the result of Isaiah Berlin persuading the architects to emulate the curve of the buildings he admired in Portofino harbour. Wolfson College gardens extend to approximately thirteen acres bordering the banks of the River Cherwell. Crossing the river via the Rainbow Bridge leads into two flood meadows owned by the College and designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest. The main buildings and bridge were grade II listed in June 2011. |
