Rhodes House Gardens
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For nearly a century Rhodes House has been the gathering place for Rhodes scholars and distinguished guests.
The will of Cecil John Rhodes (1853-1902) created scholarships which came to be called the Rhodes Scholarships, and appointed Trustees to oversee the implementation of Rhodes' vision.
Rhodes designed the Scholarships for the purpose of educating future leaders for the world. He had studied at Oxford and believed that its collegiate system especially fostered broad views and personal development.
There were originally 52 scholarships. During the ensuing 100 years, the Trustees added at one time or another approximately another 40 Scholarships, though not all have continued. Some of these extended the scheme to Commonwealth countries not mentioned in the will.
The first women Scholars came to Oxford in 1977.
