Life at Win Coll in 1825

Back in 1869, the Editor of The Wykehamist (Win Coll's erstwhile school newspaper, which is about to have new life breathed into it) issued a diatribe against his readership. His complaint was that they criticised the Editor for articles they judged poorly-written, but praised the author of a good letter or article if they could identify him. One who responded to this disguised appeal for content was an Old Wykehamist (you can judge for yourself whether he would have attracted praise) who had been in College two hundred years ago.

It was published in two parts and the first part of REMINISCENCES OF A JUNIOR IN 1825, originally published in December 1869, can be read here.

In it, the Correspondent 'Q' describes the hardships of life as a College Junior, even (perhaps especially) on a 'Remiday', which involved more than one visit to Hills (see image). Writing 45 years after the events described by Q, the activities were probably still familiar to the readers. 200 years on, much of the language and many of the practices are obscure. These notes might assist a 21st century reader:

Remiday - a spelling of Remedy, a partial holiday from lessons. As Q's article unfolds, it is clear that a Remedy is no holiday for a Junior. Elsewhere, The Wykehamist is taken to task for permitting the spelling Remiday, when it is presumed that the word Remedy derives from the Latin remedium (a cure), in the sense of leisure as a restorative after study. It still survives as Half Rem (currently every Tuesday and Thursday).

Remedy Ring - a plain gold ring sent down by the Headmaster as a sign that he had awarded a Remedy (see photograph). The inscription on the ring commendat rarior usus means 'the less it is used, the better'. The ring was the responsibility of the Collegemen during the Remedy until returned to the Headmaster at the end of the Rem.

Candle-keepers - these were Inferiors (i.e. not Prefects) who had been longest in College. They enjoyed certain privilege and higher status.

Sociati omnes incedunto - translates as 'everyone must walk together' or 'all must walk with a companion' - see the Tabula Legum board in School.