Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge - Heritage

Heritage

Name

The name refers ultimately to the Fitzwilliam family, prominent members of the Anglo-Irish nobility, whose ancestral seat Milton Hall is located to the north of Cambridge and who, as students and benefactors, have been associated with the university for several hundred years; more directly, it refers to the Fitzwilliam Museum, founded in 1816 with the bequest of the library, art collection and personal fortune of the 7th Viscount Fitzwilliam and situated directly opposite the original headquarters of the Non-Collegiate Students Board, and also to the adjacent Fitzwilliam Street, where many of the non-collegiate students were housed.

Coat of Arms

Along with the name, the college's coat of arms first came into use in the 1880s when Fitzwilliam Hall needed an emblem to represent its newly formed boat club. The result was a combination between the University coat of arms and the lozengy shield used by the Earls of Fitzwilliam. Initially, the design was used unofficially and it was only when Fitzwilliam was in the process of attaining collegiate status, some 80 years later, that it actually applied for a Grant of Arms. The design was formally recorded by the Duke of Norfolk on behalf of the Queen-in-Council in the late 60s. Notably, the Fitzwilliam coat of arms is the only college emblem to reference the University's own coat of arms.

Motto

What the coat of arms achieves with its new combination of age-old symbols, is an encapsulation of the college motto: Ex antiquis et novissimis optima (the best of the old and the new). The sentiment can also be seen in college's architectural design, with award-winning modern buildings complemented by a classical layout and such iconic old buildings as The Grove and the graduate lodge. In general, however, the expression is regarded to apply to a balance of customs and ideas. It expresses a progressive attitude coupled with a will to conserve the achievements of tradition.

Colours

The earliest records of the college’s sporting clubs describe the colours as 'grey and ruby'. By Easter 1892, the colours were more closely defined as 'cardinal and French grey'. Since then various shades have been used, although the Middle Combination Room’s ties, which celebrate the foundation in 1869, have reverted to cardinal as their main colour. Today, the College is firmly associated with the colours grey and red, although they were at one time 'blue and buff', with blue remaining the principal colour of some sporting blazers right up until the 1960s.

Mascot

Students from Fitzwilliam are sometimes informally referred to as Fitzbillys or Billygoats. As a consequence, the goat has become a popular college mascot and can be found on the front of the boat house, on the boat club flag, and in various places around the college.