WINCHESTER COLLEGE, a public school at \1'inchester. England, the oldest of the 'Great Public Schools' of It was founded in 1382 by William of \‘')ke ham, and was opened in 1303, although it t.tlilchrIzc were not finished until 1305 The oriiziral foundation consAted of a warden, lo fellows, three chaplains, 16 choristers and ni who V1 ere to live at the school_ Out side scholar,. or "Commoners.' to the number 4. ( In. were admitted, and this number was after ward increased. The original buildings are still in use and are exceptionally fine architectural types. Newer buildings have been added at various times as the requirements of the school base demanded them. The Public School Com mission in 1862 abolished the sinecure fellow ships, thereby saving for the school consider able. revenues for improvements. The original foundation openings are filled by competitive examinations, and occur at the rate of about 12 annually. The school from the time of its
roablisfunent prepared for New College, Ox ford, and it has six scholarships at that insti tution- The new house built for the "Common ers.* together with the accommodations for the 70 students in the old house, permit a total stu dent body of about 450. The curriculum is classical in its base, gives mathematics, one mod ern language, and chemistry, geology or physics. There is lso an army class which offers special instruction for entrance examinations into the army. Consult Holgatc, C. W., 'Winchester Long Rolls' (1899); Leach, A. F. 'History of Winchester College' (London 1899); Vaughan, John, 'Winchester Cathedral Close' (New York 1914); Shawcll. L. L, 'Enact ments in Parliament' (4 vols., Oxford 1912).